Metrodome Memories

April 29, 1987 at Exhibtiion Stadium

Blue Jays 8, Twins 1  (12-9)

For the second straight game, the Twins managed only one run against Blue Jays pitching.  That run didn’t come until the eighth inning when Greg Gagne doubled home Tom Brunansky.

Mike Smithson was knocked around for five runs (four earned) on six hits and four walks with two strikeouts.  Keith Atherton was also hit hard and he gave up three unearned runs in his one inning.

April 28, 1987 at Exhibition Stadium

Blue Jays 5, Twins 1  (12-8)

The Blue Jays took it to Frank Viola and the Twins never could get the bats going in their loss to the Blue Jays.  Viola was bounced around for all five runs in five innings of work. Ironically he gave up five hits and walked five as well.  Les Straker and Jeff Reardon kept the Twins in the game with three perfect innings of relief but the Twins couldn’t hit the ball to take advantage of it.

The only run for the Twins came in the fourth inning.  Kent Hrbek hit a solo homerun and he also had two of the Twins’ six hits in the game.

April 26, 1987 at the Metrodome

Twins 10, Angels 5  (12-7)

The Twins took it to the Angels with four homeruns.  Gary Gaetti, Kirby Puckett, Steve Lombardozzi and Greg Gagne all hit homeruns while Roy Smalley led the way with three RBIs. 

Bert Blyleven once again failed to secure a decision.  He gave up four runs on eight hits and walk with seven strikeouts in six innings of work.  Three of the eight hits were homeruns.  George Frazier picked up the win with three solid innings of relief pitching.

April 25, 1987 at the Metrodome

Twins 8, Angels 7  (11-7)

Greg Gagne helped the Twins snap their three game winning streak with two homeruns today.  He drove in three runs and they were his first two homeruns of the season.  Roy Smalley and Gary Gaetti also went deep for the Twins.

Mike Smithson was chased out of the game in the sixth inning after giving up four runs.  Jeff Reardon ended up picking up the win despite having a poor outing.  He gave up three runs in his two innings of work.

April 24, 1987 at the Metrodome

Angels 8, Twins 1  (10-7)

Mark Portugal was bombed by the Angels.  He gave up six runs (four earned) on six hits and two walks with strikeouts in three innings of work.  Juan Berenguer and Joe Klink also gave up runs in relief of Portugal.

The only run for the Twins came in the seventh inning.  Al Newman drove home Roy Smalley on a ground out to first base.

April 23, 1987 at the Metrodome

Angels 7, Twins 3  (10-6)

The Twins lost despite the Angels making five errors in this game.  While the Twins failed to capitalize on the Angels’ mistakes, the Angels’ hitters took it to Frank Viola and Keith Atherton.  Viola gave up four runs on seven hits and a walk with six strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings while Atherton was knocked around for three runs in 1 2/3 innings.

Gary Gaetti accounted for most of the Twins offense with a two run homerun.  Kent Hrbek had two hits and he was caught stealing.

April 22, 1987 at the Metrodome

Mariners 4, Twins 3  (10-5)

Yet another solid start by Bert Blyleven went to waste.  When he left the game in the seventh, the bases were loaded but the Twins still had the lead.  Two runs scored in that inning and Blyleven took the credit.  Then in the eighth, George Frazier gave up the go ahead run and took the loss. Blyleven gave up the three runs on eight hits and a walk in six innings of work.

Al Newman had two hits and two RBIs for the Twins.  Dan Gladden had two hits, a stolen base and an RBI.

April 21, 1987 at the Metrodome

Twins 6, Mariners 1  (10-4)

The Twins continued their solid April with their third straight win.  Tom Brunansky hit a three run homerun in the second inning and the Mariners never came close the rest of the way.  Kent Hrbek and Gary Gaetti each scored two runs in the win.

Rookie Les Straker threw seven shutout innings and he picked up his first career win.  He gave up three hits and three walks with five strikeouts.

April 20, 1987 at the Metrodome

Twins 13, Mariners 5  (9-4)

The Twins ran up the score against the Mariners and for the second straight game, Gary Gaetti hit a three run homerun.  Roy Smalley also went yard while Al Newman and Steve Lombardozzi each scored two runs.

Mike Smithson improved to 3-0 on the season.  He gave up four runs (three earned) on eight hits and a walk.

April 19, 1987 at Anaheim Stadium

Twins 6, Angels 5  (8-4)

The Twins avoided a sweep at the hands of the Angels with some solid offense for the first time in the series.  Gary Gaetti hit a big three run shot that gave the Twins the lead and despite a late inning flurry by the Angels, the Twins held on to win it.

Kirby Puckett had a solid day at the plate.  He went two for four with an RBI and two runs.  Kent Hrbek also had two hits and he scored a run.

Mark Portugal picked up the win for the Twins.  He gave up three runs on four hits and three walks with four strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings of work.  Jeff Reardon picked up his fourth save despite giving up two ninth inning runs and nearly blowing the game.

April 18, 1987 at Anaheim Stadium

Angels 1, Twins 0  (7-4)

For the second straight game, a good pitching performance by a Twins starter went to waste.  This time it was Frank Viola who was the victim of the Twins hitting woes.  He gave up just one unearned run on six hits and a walk with three strikeouts in eight innings of work.  Viola dropped to 1-1 on the season.

The Twins managed only five hits the entire game, two of which came off the bat of Kent Hrbek.

April 17, 1987 at Anaheim Stadium

Angels 2, Twins 1  (7-3)

Mike Witt completely shut down the Twins lineup as only one run crossed the plate on three hits.  The only Twins run came in the fourth inning when Kirby Puckett drove home Randy Bush on a single.

Bert Blyleven had a nice start that went to waste.  He gave up only two runs on eight hits and three walks with four strikeouts in eight innings of work.

April 15, 1987 at the Oakland Coliseum

Twins 5, Athletics 2  (7-2)

The Twins continued their hot start and won their third straight series with a nice pitching performance by Mike Smithson.  He improved to 2-0 and he gave up two runs on four hits and a walk with five strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings of work.  Jeff Reardon got the Twins out of a jam in the ninth and he picked up his third save of the season.

Kirby Puckett continued his hot start.  He had two hits and two RBIs.  Al Newman had three hits and an RBI while Dan Gladden scored three times.

April 14, 1987 at the Oakland Colliseum

Twins 9, Athletics 8  (6-2)

The Twins outhit the A’s in a game that saw the two teams combine for 17 runs and 24 hits.  Pitching went out the window and the Twins got it done with the bats.  Dan Gladden had three hits and two runs while Kent Hrbek, Gary Gaetti and Tom Nieto all drove in two runs.

Mark Portugal was bounced in the fourth inning after he gave up four runs but the pen didn’t fare much better.  Keith Atherton ended up with the win and Jeff Reardon picked up the save despite giving up a run in the ninth.

April 13, 1987 at the Oakland Colliseum

Athletics 6, Twins 3  (5-2)

The A’s scored two runs in the seventh and then three in the eighth to top the Twins.  Frank Viola was roughed up in that seventh inning but George Frazier was bombed in the eighth for all three runs and he took the loss.

Kirby Puckett remained red hot and he hit his fifth homerun.  Kent Hrbek drove in two runs while Roy Smalley had two hits.

April 12, 1987 at the Kingdome

Twins 8, Mariners 5  (5-1)

Kirby Puckett led the way for the Twins in their fifth win in their first six games.  He went three for five with his fourth homerun, three RBIs and two runs.  Tim Launder also had a big day in the place of Kent Hrbek.  He homered and drove in two runs.

Bert Blyleven picked up the win for the Twins.  He gave up three runs on seven hits and two walks with two strikeouts in six innings of work.  Juan Berenguer finished the game and despite giving up two more runs, he picked up his first save of the season.

April 11, 1987 at the Kingdome

Mariners 6, Twins 5  (4-1)

You can’t win them all.  The Twins lost their first game of the season in a tight game with the Mariners.  Les Straker had a rough start in his major league debut and he lasted only four innings.  Jeff Reardon gave up the game winner in the ninth inning to take the loss after the Twins came back from being three down to tie the game.

Kirby Puckett his his third homerun of the season and Randy Bush also went yard.  Randy Bush scored twice and Puckett finished the game with three hits.

April 10, 1987 at the Kingdome

Twins 8, Mariner 1  (4-0)

The Twins kept up their winning ways on the road with a blowout win over the Mariners.  It was the Twins fourth straight win to open up the season and they won it mostly with the long ball.  Randy Bush homered and drove in three runs while Kirby Puckett and Gary Gaetti both homered and drove in two runs.

Lost in all of the offense was a great start by Mike Smithson. He gave up one unearned run on five hits and a walk with three strikeouts in eight innings.

April 9, 1987 at the Metrodome

Twins 5, Athletics 4  (3-0)

The Twins continued to roll as they swept the A’s in an exciting game.  Down 4-2, the Twins rallied for three runs in the ninth inning to steal the game.  Dan Gladden drove in both the tying run and the game winner with a two run single with the bases loaded.

Kent Hrbek hit his first homeruns of the season with a solo shot in the second inning and Tom Brunansky had three hits, a run and an RBI.  Mark Portugal was hit hard in his start but the pen picked him up.  Juan Berenguer was particularly good with three shutout innings and he picked up the win.

April 8, 1987 at the Metrodome

Twins 4, Athletics 1  (2-0)

The Twins made it two straight behind a four hit outing by Frank Viola and the bullpen.  Viola struck out eleven in only six innings and he gave up just one run on five hits and three walks.  Jeff Reardon pitched a perfect ninth to pick up his first save of the season.

Tom Brunansky went yard for the first time this season while Randy Bush scored two runs.  Kent Hrbek drove in a run for the second straight game.

April 7, 1987 at the Metrodome

Twins 5, Athletics 4  (1-0)

The Twins edged the A’s in ten innings on opening day at the Metrodome.  Kirby Puckett and Kent Hrbek led the way and the pair drove in all five Twins runs.  Hrbek drove in three runs including a walk off RBI single in the tenth inning to win it while Puckett went three for five with a homerun, two RBIs and two runs.

Bert Blyleven pitched eight decent innings but he didn’t pick up a decision.  He gave up four runs on four hits and three walks with six strikeouts in eight innings.  George Frazier picked up the win and held the A’s scoreless in the ninth and tenth innings.