Game Preview
On Wednesday night in Minneapolis, as the Minnesota Twins look to win the series against the Oakland Athletics, All-Star right-hander Pablo Lopez will make his final start before the playoffs.
Twins manager Rocco Baldelli has selected Lopez (11-8, 3.61 ERA) and fellow All-Star Sonny Gray to start the opening two playoff games next week. In January, the Marlins traded the National League hitting leader Luis Arraez to the Mets for Lopez and two minor league prospects.
Over his previous 16 starts, Lopez is 8-3 with a 2.79 ERA and 108 strikeouts in 93 2/3 innings. On Friday against the Los Angeles Angels, he allowed three runs on five hits over six innings while striking out seven, leading his team to an 8-6 triumph and a division-clinching AL Central victory. Against the Athletics, Lopez has a 1-0 record and a 5.40 ERA in two career starts.
Oakland will send right-handed pitcher Joey Estes (0-1, 9.64 ERA) out on the road for his second career start. Estes, 21, became the A’s youngest starting pitcher since Brett Anderson in 2009 when he threw in a 6-3 defeat to the Mariners on Wednesday. He was acquired in a trade that sent first baseman Matt Olson to Atlanta.
In the fifth inning alone, Estes gave up home runs to both Julio Rodriguez and Cal Raleigh, scoring five runs, and a two-run homer to Dominic Canzone, scoring two more. Over 4 2/3 innings, Estes only allowed one walk while striking out two.
With Tuesday night’s 11-3 loss in the series opener, the rebuilding A’s (48-109) set a single-season record for losses since coming to Oakland in 1968.
In the first inning, the Twins scored five runs against starter Paul Blackburn. After being hit by a pitch, Blackburn walked three straight players, including Kyle Farmer with the bases loaded to push in the first run, and then rookie outfielder Matt Wallner hit a monster 463-foot grand slam.
The Twins have won five of their previous six games thanks to performances by Donovan Solano (sixth career four-hit game, three runs scored), Alex Kirilloff (two-run homer), and Christian Vazquez (three-run double).
Wallner hit his 13th home run of the season, and his second grand slam of the year. The ball was driven right-center and landed on the upper deck towards the very top.
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Oakland Athletics vs Minnesota Twins Game Information
- Date: 09/27/2023
- Time: 07:40 PM ET
- Location: Target Field, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
- How to Watch: Athletics vs Twins MLB.TV
- Live Stream: MLB.TV
