03 September, 2017
Brian Dozier added a three-run homer and Byron Buxton had three hits in his return to the lineup for Minnesota, which drew within a game of the New York Yankees for the top wild card in the American League and extended its lead for the second wild card over Baltimore and the Los Angeles Angels.
The Minnesota Twins scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth, but couldn't push the tying run across in a 7-6 loss to Kansas City Friday.
Minnesota would add seven more runs before all was said and done in the 9th. Jorge Polanco came through with an RBI double. He limited Kansas City to five singles and tallied five strikeouts while not issuing a single walk. "He's the same, and I think that's something that's resonated with a lot of our young guys to be able to model themselves in that type of mind-set of how you go about being successful in this game". RBIs: Dozier 3 (77), Mauer 2 (56), Buxton 2 (40), Polanco 2 (60), E.Escobar 6 (54), Garver (1), Rosario (60). In that span, he's given up just three runs over 19.2 innings (1.37 ERA) and has 20 Ks against just two walks.
Twins starter Kyle Gibson went six innings going up no runs on hits. Goodrum, the team's second-round draft pick in 2010, also became the 51st player used by the Twins in 2017. He entered the game in the sixth inning, played second base and was 0-for-2.
"There's been times this year where we've said, 'What is he doing now to make himself have better success?' And then he's reverted back". "We're obviously pretty late in the season where we can't afford to give up any games".
Molitor and Yost began emptying their benches by mid-game to rest regulars, and Molitor offered Mauer the opportunity to stay in the game for a fifth hit. "We just hope that he can have a good month here in September and fill that spot in the rotation the way that we know that he can".
