Stanzel’s Sports Takeout — BREAKING TAKEOUT NEWS: 4-5-23.
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Twins Won’t Go Undefeated
Sandy Alcantara has the inside track on a second straight NL Cy Young Award. The Marlins’ ace blanked the Twins 1-0 last night in Miami, becoming the first MLB starting pitcher this season to even record an out in the eighth inning, much less the ninth.
But the story for the Twins was Kenta Maeda, who struck out nine in five innings in his first game since 2021 due to Tommy John surgery. Curiously, Rocco Baldelli sent him back out for the sixth (very un Rocco like especially coming off that injury), and Maeda gave the Twins a scare, having to leave the game with an apparent hand injury. But the Twins said he was fine.
Byron Buxton got the night off and was available to pinch hit, though for some reason he didn’t in the ninth with Nick Gordon leading off. We saw last year, this team has a much different swagger with or without Buxton in the lineup.
Buxton is expected to play in today’s series finale, a matinee. Pablo Lopez faces his former team for the first time.
Thursday’s Twins home opener has been moved until Friday due to temps in the 30’s expected, along with strong winds.
Wolves Inch Closer to 9 Seed; 8 Possible
Maybe the Wolves can do some damage if they get into an actual playoff series, because they sure play up or down to their level of opponent.
The Wolves slid past Brooklyn 107-102 on the road last night, as ANT connected for a go-ahead bucket late and hit some free throws down the stretch. ANT wasn’t great - he shot 7-of-18, but he scored 23 points and KAT added 22 and 14 rebounds as the Wolves won despite not having an answer for Nets PG Spencer Didwiddie (30 points).
The Wolves are all but in the play-in round - Dallas would need to win three games and the Wolves lose both remaining contests (at San Antonio on Saturday and at home versus New Orleans on Sunday). Sunday’s game could decide who gets the eighth seed and who’s nine. Should they get the nine, they’ll host that game, but whoever wins that needs to play yet another game just to have the right to be the No. 8 seed and play Denver, which has been the class of the West all year. Of course, if they finish eighth, they’ve got to play either the Clippers, Lakers or Warriors.
Wild Falters Late vs. VGK; in Three-Way Tie for First
The Wild played its most complete game in a couple weeks Monday night, but allowed a goal with 35 seconds left and ultimately fell to Vegas 4-3 in a shootout. Minnesota still clinched a playoff berth, though. Coupled with Colorado’s win last night, there’s a three-team tie for first in the Central. The Wild technically sits in third - Colorado has a game in hand on both teams, and Dallas has more regulation wins than Minnesota.
Two nights after getting bossed around in Vegas, the Wild looked like a team that could win a playoff game or two Monday. Brandon Duhaime, John Klingberg and Matt Boldy each scored a goal. Boldy has 30 now. But Pavel Dorofeyev scored late in regulation after a bad attempted clear by the Wild.
The Wild, which is at Pittsburgh on Thursday, plays just one of its final five games against teams currently in the playoff race. The Penguins will be fighting mad, though, after a blowout loss to the Devils last night that dropped them below the playoff line.
Kirill Kaprizov skated Monday and could return for a regular season game or two, or could return in the playoffs. Gustav Nyquist, acquired at the trade deadline in hopes his injured arm would be ready for the playoffs, could make his Wild debut this week too. Kaprizov’s return is obviously important, but especially because Mats Zuccarello has looked like a lost puppy without him.
Gopher Hockey at Frozen Four Thursday
The Gophers play Boston University in the first national semifinal at the Frozen Four tomorrow in Tampa. Gametime is 4 p.m. central. Michigan and Quinnipiac face off in the second game, with the national championship game Saturday at 7. Sure seems like a Gopher/Wolverine all Big 10 matchup is on a collision course. One thing is for sure - the Gophers can’t afford a slow start like they had against Canisius against the Terriers tomorrow.
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