Twins 'play to take it' in Lee's breakout game
This browser does not support the video element.
MINNEAPOLIS -- Playing without their two best hitters in the lineup and needing a win to avoid a back-breaking sweep at home to a non-contending team, the Twins dug really deep and found the biggest game of Brooks Lee’s young career.
This perhaps wasn’t the loose play and reclaiming of a team identity that manager Rocco Baldelli had preached to right the ship, but something seemed to change after the Twins scratched together a three-run, go-ahead rally in the sixth, highlighted by Lee’s two-run, go-ahead single as part of a five-RBI day to turn the momentum in a 9-2 victory over the Reds at Target Field.
With the Tigers also victorious on Sunday, the Twins’ lead for the final AL Wild Card slot held steady at 2 1/2 games, while their deficit behind the division-leading Guardians is 6 1/2 games, with four more head-to-head matchups slated to begin on Monday in Cleveland.
Lee had a huge afternoon on both offense and defense, further highlighted by his first career triple, a three-run, bases-clearing knock as part of the Twins’ five-run seventh. He also made a nice stop and throw from deep in the hole at shortstop and a great tag at second, all while starting in place of the newly healthy-ish Carlos Correa, who returned to the roster on Saturday.
This browser does not support the video element.
That highlighted the mindset that veteran Kyle Farmer had hoped the Twins’ rookies would internalize as the times got tough in their first playoff push: “Don't play to give it up. Play to take it.”
That is, play like the Twins are the chasers trying to seize a spot, not like the team losing its grasp on a spot and afraid to give it up.
That’s what Lee and the Twins did as they turned deficit into advantage in the sixth, when Carlos Santana doubled and Trevor Larnach walked before Ryan Jeffers hit a two-out double to tie the game, 2-2, then Lee’s two-run bloop to right field put the Twins on top.
That seemed to break the seal.