Metrodome Memories

July 1, 1987 at Royals Stadium
Royals 4, Twins 3  (43-35)

Seth Atherton gave up an RBI double in the bottom of the ninth and that proved to be the game winner in the Twins loss to the Royals.  The run was unearned because the winning run reached base on an error by Gary Gaetti.  Atherton fell to 4-3 on the season.  Frank Viola struck out ten in his start.

Kirby Puckett singled and he drove in two runs.  Dan Gladden went three for five and he scored a run.

June 30, 1987 at Royals Stadium
Twins 3, Royals 1  (43-34)

The Twins didn’t get a lot offense in their game against they Royals but they didn’t need much because Bert Blyleven was on fire.  He gave up one unearned run on six hits and a walk with two strikeouts in 8 2/3 innings.  Jeff Reardon got the final batter out and he picked up his sixteenth save of the season.

Kirby Puckett had a great and he went two for four with a solo homerun.  Greg Gagne went two for four with a double and an RBI.

June 29, 1987 at Royals Stadium
Royals 3, Twins 2  (42-34)

The Twins lost a tough because they took a 2-0 lead into the fifth, Les Straker gave up three runs in the bottom half of the inning and then the game was called on account of rain.  The game winner was a solo homerun by Bo Jackson.

Les Straker took the loss and he fell to 3-5 on the season.  He gave up three runs on four hits and a walk in 4 1/3 innings.  Kirby Puckett went two for three and Al Newman doubled and scored a run in the loss.

June 28, 1967 at Arlington Stadium
Rangers 6, Twins 3  (42-33)

The Twins were glad to get out of Texas as they lost their fourth straight game after getting swept by the Rangers.  Mike Smithson had a rough start and he fell to 4-4 on the season.  He gave up six runs on six hits and three walks with five strikeouts in seven innings.

Kent Hrbek hit homerun number 20 in the loss.  Kirby Puckett was the only Twin with two hits and he went two for four.

June 27, 1987 at Arlington Stadium
Rangers 11, Twins 6  (42-31)

The Rangers took it to Joe Niekro and the rest of the Twins pitches in a blowout.  Niekro gave up six runs in 3 2/3 innings and George Frazier gave up four runs in 2 1/3 innings and he took the loss.

Kent Hrbek hit his nineteenth homerun of the season with a two run shot.  Kirby Puckett went four for four and he scored a run.

June 27, 1987 at Arlington Stadium
Rangers 7, Twins 2  (42-32)

The Twins lost this one with a team effort from the pitching staff.  In their third loss in a row, all four Twins’ pitchers gave up at least a run and three of four gave up at least two.  Seth Atherton took the loss and he fell to 4-2 on the season and he gave up two runs in 1 1/3 innings.

Mark Davidson went two for four and he both scored a run and drove in one.  Gary Gaetti went two for four and he scored a run. 

June 26, 1987 at Arlington Stadium
Rangers 1, Twins 0  (42-30)

Mike Witt was just a little bit better then Frank Viola in the Rangers win over the Twins.  Regardless, a great start by Frank Viola went to waste.  He gave up one run on seven hits and one walk with six strikeouts in a complete game.

Roy Smalley singled in the second inning and that was the only hit that the Twins would get in the entire game.  Tom Bruanansky was the only Twin to reach base twice with two walks.

June 25, 1967 at the Metrodome
Twins 4, Indians 3  (42-29)

The Twins won their fourth straight game and they did it with some solid pitching and the long ball.  All four Twins’ runs were scored on homers with Roy Smalley and Dan Gladden hitting solo shots and Kent Hrbek belting a two run homer in the win.

Bert Blyleven improved to 6-6 on the season with a decent start.  He gave up three runs on eight hits and five walks with four strikeouts in six innings.  Jeff Reardon struck out four in two shutout innings and he picked up his 15th save of the season.

June 24, 1967 at the Metrodome
Twins 14, Indians 8  (41-29)

Just about everyone was a hitting star in the Twins third straight win.  Al Newman went two for four with two RBIs and four runs while Kirby Puckett went three for four with a triple, two RBIs and three runs.  Kent Hrbek blasted homerun number 17 with a big three run shot in the fourth inning.

The pitching wasn’t great, but it didn’t have to be.  Les Straker picked up the win and he went five innings in his start. He improved to 3-4 on the season and he gave up three runs on nine hits and one walks with six strikeouts.

June 23, 1987 at the Metrodome
Twins 9, Indians 4  (40-29)

The Twins won their 40th game of the season and it was Gary Gaetti and Kent Hrbek who got it done at the plate.  Gaetti went two for four with a homerun and four RBIs.  Kent Hrbek went two for three with a walk and three runs and Tom Brunansky belted his sixteenth homerun of the season.

Mike Smithson picked up the and he improved to 4-3.  He gave up four runs on six hits and two walks with three strikeouts.  George Frazier pitched 2 1/3 scoreless frames and he picked up his second save of the season.

June 21, 1987 at the Metrodome
Twins 8, White Sox 6  (39-29)

Tom Brunansky had a big day at the plate in the Twins win over the White Sox.  He went three for four with his fifteenth homerun, three RBIs and two runs.  Kirby Puckett, Dan Gladden and Gary Gaetti all went yard as well.

Frank Viola had a pretty mediocre start in which he gave up four runs in six innings but the offense picked him up.  Juan Berenguer improved to 5-0 with a 1 2/3 shutout innings and Jeff Reardon picked up his fourteenth save despite giving up a run in the ninth.

June 20, 1987 at the Metrodome
White Sox 10, Twins 5  (38-29)

Bert Blyleven and Juan Berenguer were tagged for eight runs in the top of the seventh inning as the Twins lost to the White Sox 10-5.  Blyleven dropped to 5-6 with the loss and he gave up eight runs (three earned) on seven hits and four walks with three strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.

The Twins scored most of their runs on solo homeruns.  Kirby Puckett, Kent Hrbek and Randy Bush all belted solo homeruns in the loss.

June 19, 1987 at the Metrodome
Twins 7, White Sox 6  (38-28)

Tim Laudner hit a pinch hit walk off solo homer in the bottom of the ninth to win it for the Twins.  Kent Hrbek also went yard and he belted his fifteenth homerun of the season.  He went one for three with two RBIs and two runs.  Kirby Puckett went two for three with a walk, a run and an RBI.

Jeff Reardon picked up the win and he improved to 4-4 on the season. He gave up one hit with one strikeout in 1 2/3 innings.

June 17, 1987 at County Stadium
Brewers 8, Twins 5  (37-28)

The Twins couldn’t finish up their sweep over the Brewers and instead, they saw three of their pitchers hit hard in the loss.  Mike Smithson was tagged for four runs in 3 1/3 innings in his start and Les Straker took the loss when he gave up two runs in 2 1/3 innings.

Gene Larkin provided most of the offense in the loss.  He went two for four with a homerun and three RBIs. Dan Gladden went two for three with an RBI.

June 16, 1987 at County Stadium
Twins 7, Brewers 3  (37-27)

It’s hard to believe this game was 2-1 after seven innings before both team’s ran up the score.  The Twins scored five runs in the final two frames while the Brewers tagged Seth Atherton for two runs in the ninth.  Frank Viola picked up the win and he improved to 6-5 on the season.  He gave up one unearned run on four hits with six strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings.

Greg Gagne had a huge day at the plate.  He went three for four with two doubles, a triple and four RBIs.  Tom Brunansky singled twice and he scored two runs.

June 15, 1987 at County Stadium
Twins 5, Brewers 0  (36-27)

The Twins continued their impressive month of June with another win, this one behind a five hit shutout by Bert Blyleven.  He gave up two walks and he struck out six and the win improved his record to 5-5 on the season.

Randy Bush had the big hit of the game.  He belted a three run homer in the fourth inning that opened the game up.  Kirby Puckett went three for four and he scored two runs.

June 14, 1987 at Comiskey Park
Twins 6, White Sox 3  (35-27)

Tim Laudner hit a grand slam and added a sac. fly to drive in five runs as the Twins took care of the White Sox in their series finale.  Kirby Puckett was three for four and Steve Lombardozzi went three for four with a run.

Joe Niekro picked up the win and he improved to 5-4 on the season.  He gave up three runs on five hits and three walks with five strikeouts in six innings.  Juan Berenguer threw three perfect innings and he picked up his second save of the season.

June 13, 1987 at Comiskey Park
White Sox 6, Twins 2  (34-27)

The Twins seven game winning streak ended with a tough loss to the White Sox.  The Twins scored just two runs and those didn’t come until the final two innings.  Kent Hrbek hit a solo homerun in the eighth inning and then Tom Brunansky hit a solo homerun in the ninth.

Rookie Les Straker took the loss and he fell to 2-3 on the season.  He gave up three runs on six hits and a walk with three strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings.  Randy Niemann hit a batter and walked one and both batters scored without him getting a single out.

June 12, 1987 at Comiskey Park
Twins 5, White Sox 2  (33-26)

The Twins won their sixth straight game with seven shutout innings from Frank Viola.  He pushed his record to 5-5 on the season and he gave up four hits and he struck out two.  Jeff Reardon picked up save number eleven with an inning and third of shutout ball.

Roy Smalley had the big hit of the game with a three run homerun.  Greg Gagne contributed with a solo homerun and Tim Laudner went two for three.

June 12, 1987 at Comiskey Park
Twins 7, White Sox 4  (34-26)

The Twins made it seven straight as they completed a sweep of their doubleheader over the White Sox.  Mike Smithson was tagged for four early runs and he left in the fifth and then Juan Berenguer took over with a 3 1/3 scoreless innings.  He gave up four hits and he struck out four en route to a win that pushed his record to 4-0.

Gary Gaetti went two for five and he drove in two runs.  Dan Gladden went one for two with two RBIs and a run but he was also caught stealing twice.

June 10, 1987 at the Metrodome
Twins 4, Royals 3  (32-26)

The Twins won their fifth straight game with late inning heroics in a ten inning win over the Royals.  The Twins rallied for three runs in the eighth to tie the game and then Gene Larkin singled home Greg Gagne in the bottom of the tenth to win it for the Twins.  Gagne finished the game with two runs and Dan Gladden went two for four with a double and a run.

A pretty good start by Bert Blyleven almost went to waste.  He gave up three runs and he struck out nine in eight innings.  Jeff Reardon threw two scoreless innings and he picked up the win.

June 9, 1967 at the Metrodome
Twins 5, Royals 2  (31-26)

Joe Niekro had a nice outing and he improved to 4-4 on the season with a nice start in the Twins 5-2 win over the Royals.  He gave up two runs on nine hits and three walks with six strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings.  Seth Atherton threw a perfect 2 2/3 innings to close the game out and he picked up his first save of the season.

Tim Launder hit a two run homer in the win.  Dan Gladden went three for five in the win.

June 8, 1987 at the Metrodome
Twins 5, Royals 3  (30-26)

The Twins won their third straight game behind a big hit by Gene Larkin in the seventh inning.  With the game tied, the rookie belted a bases loaded clearing pinch hit triple to give the Twins the runs they’d need for the win.  Kirby Puckett hit a solo homerun and that was his eleventh homerun of the season.

Mike Smithson threw six solid frames in his start and he gave up two runs.  Randy Niemann picked up the with 2/3 of an inning and Jeff Reardon threw a shutout ninth to pick up his eleventh save of the season.

June 7, 1987 at the Metrodome
Twins 7, Rangers 4  (29-26)

The Twins won the rubber game in their three game series with the Rangers.  Juan Berenguer didn’t pick up the win but he had an impressive enough start with ten strikeouts in six innings.  He gave up four runs (three earned) on eight hits and two walks.  Seth Atherton improved to 4-1 and he pitched three shutout innings.

Sal Butera had a nice day at the plate in the win.  He went two for three with three RBIs and a run.  Roy Smalley singled and he drove in two runs.  The Twins scored their runs in bunches.  They picked up four in the fifth and three more in the seventh to break a 4-4 tie.

June 6, 1987 at the Metrodome
Twins 3, Rangers 2  (28-26)

Mark Salas led off the ninth inning with a solo homer that eventually sent the Twins game with the Rangers into extra frames and then Steve Lombardozzi singled home Tom Brunansky in the bottom of the thirteenth to win it for the Twins.  Gene Larkin also had a nice day at the plate and he finished three for five.

A great start by Frank Viola almost went to waste.  He gave up two runs (one earned) on ten hits and three walks with nine strikeouts in seven innings.  Seth Atherton picked up the win with a shutout thirteenth inning and he improved to 3-1 on the season.

June 5, 1987 at the Metrodome
Rangers 15, Twins 9  (27-26)

Normally, when you score nine runs you expect to win.  Unfortunately, three different Twins pitchers gave up five runs a piece in a brutal blowout loss at the hands of the Rangers.  Bert Blyleven took the loss and he gave up five runs on six hits and one walk with one strikeout in three innings pitched.  The Rangers scored a run in each of the first seven innings of the game.

Roy Smalley hit a three run homer in the loss.  Al Newman went one for two with three RBIs and a run.

June 3, 1987 at Fenway Park
Red Sox 7, Twins 6  (27-25)

The Twins took a 6-2 lead into the eighth inning and then the pen collapsed again.  George Frazier gave up two runs in the eighth and then Reardon blew another save and he gave up two in the ninth to send the game into extra frames.  Then Joe Klink gave up a run in the tenth and he took the loss.

Roy Smalley went four for five with two runs and an RBI.  Mark Salas also had a nice game and he went two for four with an RBI and two runs.  Kent Hrbek hit a solo homerun and that was his twelth homerun of the season.

June 2, 1987 at Fenway Park
Red Sox 6, Twins 5  (27-24)

The Twins took a lead into the ninth again and Jeff Reardon continued his struggles and gave up two runs to notch his fourth loss of the season.  Juan Berenguer struggled in his start and he gave up four runs on three hits and nine walks with five strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings.

Kent Hrbek him homerun number eleven with a three run shot.  Tom Brunansky hit number thirteen with a solo homer in the fifth inning.