Brewers 6, Twins 5
Brewers now 10-8 (3rd)
Box Score | Season Schedule
MINNEAPOLIS — What a start to May!
Through seven innings, the Brewers’ offense was lifeless. The Crew’s boppers were at the mercy of Twins starter Brad Havens.
Through seven innings, the Brewers managed only three hits and six total baserunners.
On the mound, it seemed to be an early mismatch for the Brewers. The Twins had seven baserunners in the second and third innings off of Brewers starter Pete Vuckovich and scored four runs.
But Vuke held on and straightened himself out. Neither team scored from the fourth through seventh innings. Entering the eighth, the Twins held onto a comfortable 4-1 lead. And while the Brewers had Rollie Fingers to keep the Twins at bay, Minnesota turned to Doug Corbett and Darrell Jackson.
Paul Molitor led off with a ground ball that was booted by third baseman Gary Gaetti. Following a wild pitch and walk to Robin Yount, Twins manager Billy Gardner had seen enough and made a call to the bullpen.
Brad Havens was dominant through seven. But once his rookie third baseman booted a grounder and he walked Yount, that was it? I’m thinking if Gardner had to do it over, he’d stick with Havens.
Cecil Cooper greeted Corbett with a double to right that brought home both Molitor and Yount and made it a 4-3 game. Ted Simmons singled home Cooper, and Gorman Thomas finally erupted with his first home run of the season to make it 6-4.
Fingers allowed a solo homer to Jesus Vega in the bottom of the eighth, but the Twins would need more than one miracle against the top closer. It would be their only hit off Fingers.
Everything came together. Vuke didn’t have his best stuff, but he kept the game within reach. The Brewers’ offense started slow, but they stuck around. They stayed within striking distance. And when they smelled blood, they went in for the kill.
It was an awesome, awesome win.
Game Notes: Robin Yount had two of the Brewers’ hits and is now hitting .386 on the season … Cecil Cooper went 1-for-3 with two walks and two RBI and is hitting .392 … After not hitting a home run in April, Gorman Thomas hit his first home run of the season … Jim Gantner went 0-for-2 with two walks and his seven game hitting streak came to an end … Twins rookie first baseman Kent Hrbek, who leads the AL in home runs (8), RBI (22) and total bases (60) sat out the game with a migraine headache … Twins rookie centerfielder Jim Eisenreich was taken out in the fifth for the 2nd straight game due to a nervous disorder.