Cole Sands was cruising on Saturday. The Minnesota righty set down the first six Pittsburgh Pirates he faced after starting what would eventually be a 12-4 Twins win, and needed just 19 pitches to do so. Even though Sands was designated in an opener role, did the early success and low pitch count have Twins manager Rocco Baldelli considering giving Sands a third inning of work?
Not a chance.
“He hasn’t thrown, really, more than an inning and two-thirds or two innings is a rarity for him, so no, that wasn’t a consideration,” Baldelli said, looking back on a day that was dominated by Byron Buxton becoming the first player to hit for the cycle at Target Field.
But after a game in which practically no one was focused on the pitching, Baldelli singled out the men on the mound for their success in giving the Twins some momentum headed into the All-Star break.
“We’ve played well in every way. I would say we’ve pitched really well, and I think everything is going to start there, always,” he said. “You’re not going to beat good teams, and you’re not going to play consistently good baseball unless your pitchers are going out there and giving you a great chance.”
Baldelli noted that the Twins have won two bullpen games recently, and specifically praised pitchers like Sands for being willing and happy to take on the opener role, knowing that he was going to have two innings, tops.
“He’s pitched good when we’ve asked him to do it,” Baldelli said. “And I think part of it is the mental side of when you’re told that you’re opening, you’re up for it. You’re not just thinking negatively, because not every pitcher wants to do it.”
OK being overshadowed
With a big crowd on hand for Saturday’s meeting with the Pirates, Twins infielder Kody Clemens had himself a day. Clemens, who came over in a trade from Philadelphia early in the season, went 2-for-4 with his sixth multi-hit effort of the season, and just his second multi-hit game at Target Field.
In the second inning, Clemens brought the big crowd to life by turning the first pitch he faced into a three-run homer – his 12th of the season – to give Minnesota an early 3-0 lead. And on a day where Buxton’s heroics have his batting helmet being shipped to the Baseball Hall of Fame, Clemens’ early offense became an afterthought.
And Clemens was fine with that.
“I’m always down to watch somebody hit for the cycle. That was obviously extremely impressive and fun to be a part of,” said Clemens, who entered Sunday’s game after putting up a .308 batting average with five homers in his previous eight Twins home games. “(Buxton is) just so impressive to watch. He’s so dangerous when he gets in the box and he has a plan. And when he gets his pitch, he’s gonna do damage.”
Smoke not a factor
Soccer pictures for Baldelli’s young daughter were cancelled on Saturday due to the persistent smoke from Canadian wildfires drifting into Minnesota, which had some folks in the Twin Cities wearing facemasks to filter the unhealthy air.
The manager said it was maybe because they’re so focused on what’s happening on the field, but he and the players did not take note of the haze until they were done with work on Saturday.
“Mostly when I got out of the stadium is when I felt it, more than in the stadium,” he said, noting that none of the players or trainers expressed any concern or performance issues from the smoke.
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