Twins' Power Too Much for Palms in 3-1 Loss

MINNEAPOLIS – The Miami Palms' offense remained ice-cold on a rainy evening at Target Field, as the Minnesota Twins used a trio of home runs to hand Miami a 3-1 defeat. The Palms fell to 0-2 on the young season, still in search of their first win.

Veteran left-hander Manny Parra gave Miami everything he had, tossing eight innings and allowing just three runs, but the Twins’ power proved too much. Nelson Cruz, Jorge Polanco, and Eddie Rosario all homered off Parra, accounting for Minnesota’s scoring.

“He gave us a real chance to win,” said Palms manager Scott Hatteberg. “We’ve got to give him some help.”

The Palms’ bats, however, were once again held in check. Minnesota starter Jake Odorizzi went eight strong innings, striking out nine while surrendering just one run. Miami’s lone breakthrough came in the eighth inning when Matt Wieters lined an RBI single to score Greg Garcia, who had doubled earlier in the frame.

Brett Gardner was a bright spot at the top of the lineup, collecting two of Miami’s seven hits. Despite getting runners aboard, the Palms struggled to generate momentum, going 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position.

“We’re putting the ball in play, just not in the right spots,” said Wieters. “Once we get that one big hit, I think things will start rolling.”

The Palms will try to avoid the sweep tomorrow afternoon in the series finale. Right-hander Dylan Bundy is scheduled to take the mound for Miami, while the Twins counter with veteran Homer Baily. 

Minnesota Twins 3, Miami Palms 1  

Saturday, March 28, 2020


Miami Palms (0-2)                 Minnesota Twins (2-0)

Player              AB  R  H BI BB SO       Player              AB  R  H BI BB SO

Gardner cf          4   0  2  0  0  1         Buxton cf          4   0  0  0  0  1

Sohn rf             4   0  1  0  0  1         Donaldson 3b       4   0  1  0  0  0

Grant lf            4   0  0  0  0  2         Cruz dh            4   1  4  1  0  0

Encarnacion dh      4   0  0  0  0  2         Sano 1b            4   0  0  0  0  2

Holt 2b             4   0  1  0  0  1         Rosario lf       4   1  1  1  0  0

Koch ss             4   0  1  0  0  1         Polanco ss       3   1  1  1  0  0

Garcia 3b           4   1  1  0  0  0         Kepler rf         3   0  1  0  0  0

Wieters c           3   0  1  1  0  0         Avila c           3   0  0  0  0  0

Castillo 1b         3   0  0  0  0  1         Adrianza 2b       3   0  0  0  0  1


Totals            34   1  7  1  0  9      Totals            32   3  8  3  0  4


                1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9    R  H  E

Miami Palms     0  0  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    1  7  0

Minnesota Twins 0  1  0  0  0  2  0  0  X    3  8  0


LOB - Miami Palms 6, Minnesota Twins 5

2B - Koch (1), Garcia (1), Cruz (2)

HR - Cruz (1), Polanco (1), Rosario (1)

RBI - Wieters (1), Cruz (2), Polanco (1), Rosario (1)

DP - Miami Palms 1


Miami Palms              IP   H  R  ER BB SO   ERA

Parra (L, 0-1)           8.0  8  3   3  0  4   3.38


Minnesota Twins          IP   H  R  ER BB SO   ERA

Odorizzi (W, 1-0)        8.0  6  1   1  0  9   1.13

Rogers (S, 1)            1.0  1  0   0  0  0   0.00


Pitches-Strikes - Parra 94-64, Odorizzi 97-64, Rogers 10-6

Batters Faced - Parra 32, Odorizzi 30, Rogers 4


Temp - 46°F, Sky - Light Rain, Wind - ENE 15 MPH


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