Stanzel’s Sports Takeout — BREAKING NEWS: 8-21-23.
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Real job had some big doings last week, sorry let’s get back to sports today.
Gray Takes Perfecto into Sixth, then Keuchel to the Seventh
The Twins have won five of their last seven after taking two of three at home against the Pirates this weekend. Should have been three of three honestly, but the Twins unraveled Saturday after Sonny Gray had a perfect game interrupted in the sixth.
Yesterday, it was Dallas Keuchel’s turn to flirt with perfection. He didn’t allow a baserunner till the seventh. But unlike Saturday, the Twins did enough, winning 2-0 as Eddy Julien drove in Donovan Solano twice.
This is the recipe that the Twins will need into October. Strong pitching into the seventh, a couple timely hits and Caleb Thielbar and Jhoan Duran being lights out in the eighth and ninth. How good has Thielbar been? His ERA is just a shade over 2.00.
The Twins’ lead is up to six games - sure seems insurmountable with the Guardians fading behind them, but I’ve seen this movie before. Off days for the Twins on Monday and Thursday again this week, with a two-game series in Milwaukee in between. The Brewers lead the NL Central.
Vikings Fall to 0-2 in Pre-Season
The Vikings elected to play none of their offensive stars - even semistars - in a 24-16 loss to the Titans at U.S. Bank Stadium on Saturday. At least Greg Joseph kicked three field goals?
Look, you don’t want to get guys hurt in the pre-season. But would it hurt Kirk Cousins and Justin Jefferson to go through a warm-up? A series? They’ll get the chance in the pre-season finale at home against Arizona. It’s a rare Saturday noon pre-season game, followed by two full weeks of preparation for the regular season opener Sept. 10 against Tampa Bay.
Loons Slide by NYC
Jan Gregus was mostly invisible, at least on the scoresheet, since the Loons reacquired him, but he picked a perfect time to reinsert himself. Gregus scored the Loons’ first goal in a 2-0 win at New York City last night on a terrible Citi Field pitch.
New York was originally given a penalty kick with five minutes left that could have tied the game, but it was overturned by video review.
The Loons host Seattle on Sunday.
Lynx Beaten at Home by Seattle
The Lynx came out of their eight-day hiatus with a good win, but followed that up with a 88-74 home loss to a 10-win Seattle team last night.
The Lynx hosts Dallas on Tuesday.
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