Metrodome Memories

May 31, 1987 at Tiger Stadium
Twins 9, Tigers 5  (25-23)

Kent Hrbek had a big day at the plate in the Twins win over the Tigers.  He went two for four with a homerun, three RBIs and two runs.  Gary Gaetti also went yard and he finished with two runs.

Bert Blyleven gave the Twins six decent innings in which he gave up four runs before yielding to the pen.  Jeff Reardon picked up the win with 2 2/3 shutout innings to close the game out.

May 31, 1987 at Tiger Stadium
Twins 11, Tigers 3  (26-23)

The Twins routed the Tigers in the second game of their doubleheader to complete the sweep.  Tim Laudner led the way with two homeruns and he finished with three RBIs.  Tom Brunansky also had a nice day at the plate.  He went two for three with his tenth homerun and he finished with three runs scored.

Lost in all the offense was some pretty good pitching.  Allan Anderson threw only three innings before yielding the pen and George Frazier threw 3 1/3 shutout innings and he picked up the win to improve his record to 5-2.

May 29, 1987 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 15, Twins 7  (24-23)

The Twins pitchers were hit hard in a blowout loss to the Tigers.  Les Straker took the loss and he gave up six runs in three innings.  Rookie Joe Klink was really hit hard and he gave up nine runs in four innings.

Lost in the beatdown was a career game by Mark Salas.  He went two for two with two homeruns and five RBIs.   He’d only hit one homerun the rest of the year.

May 28, 1987 at the Metrodome
Twins 13, Brewers 1  (24-22)

The Twins had plenty of hitting stars in the their 13-1 blowout win over the Brewers.  Tom Brunansky was a step above the rest.  He went two for two with a homerun, three RBIs and two runs.  Dan Gladden went two for five with three runs scored.

Lost in all the offense was a nice start by Juan Berenguer.  He gave up four hits with five strikeouts in seven shutout innings.

May 27, 1987 at the Metrodome
Twins 7, Brewers 2  (23-22)

Frank Viola improved to 3-5 on the season with a nice start.  He gave up two runs on five hits and two walks with seven strikeouts in six innings.  George Frazier threw three shutout innings and he picked up his first save of the season.

Gary Gaetti went one for three with a homerun and two runs.  Greg Gagne went two for five with a run and an RBI.

May 26, 1987 at the Metrodome
Twins 4, Brewers 2  (22-22)

Bert Blyleven improved to 4-4 on the season with a nice start against the Brewers.  He gave up just two runs on four hits and two walks with eight strikeouts in seven innings.

Tom Brunansky was the hitting star.  He went two for four with a  triple, a homerun, two RBIs and two runs.  Steve Lombardozzi went two for four with a run scored.

May 24, 1987 at the Metrodome
Tigers 7, Twins 2  (21-22)

A nice start by Les Straker was wasted by the pen in a tough loss to the Tigers.  Straker gave up one run on six hits and two walks with five strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.  Three relievers then gave up two runs a piece in the loss.

Kent Hrbek was the hitting star in the loss.  He went two for three with a homerun and two runs scored.

May 23, 1987 at the Metrodome
Twins 7, Tigers 5  (21-21)

Tom Brunansky had a nice day at the plate in the Twins win over the Tigers.  He went three for four and he scored three runs.  Kent Hrbek and Gary Gaetti each hit solo homeruns in the win.

Allan Anderson picked up the win.  He gave up three runs on six hits and four walks with one strikeout in 5 2/3 innings.

May 22, 1987 at the Metrodome
Tigers 3, Twins 2  (20-21)

Frank Viola threw a good game but Jack Morris was a big better in the Twins 3-2 loss to the Tigers.  Greg Gagne tripled home a run and scored while Kirby Puckett singled home a run.

Viola gave up three runs on four hits and two walks with one strikeout in a complete game.

May 21, 1987 at Cleveland Stadium
Indians 6, Twins 3  (20-20)

The Twins scored three late runs but it wasn’t enough as the lost to the Indians 6-3.  Bert Blyleven was hit hard and he dropped to 3-4 on the season.  He gave up five runs on eleven hits and one walk with one strikeout in five innings.  Blyleven gave up four homeruns and Mark Portugal gave up one and three of those five were hit by Cory Snyder.

Tim Laudner went two for four with a homerun, two RBIs and a run in the loss.  Gene Larkin was two for four and he drove in a run.

May 20, 1987 at Cleveland Stadium
Twins 8, Indians 2  (20-19)

Tom Brunansky had the big hit of the game in the Twins win over the Indians.  His grand slam in the sixth inning broke a 2-2 tie and the opened the game for the Twins.  Kirby Puckett also had a nice day at the plate.  He went three for five with an RBI and two runs.

Juan Berenguer had a nice start and he improved to 2-0. He gave up just two runs on eight hits and two walks with eight strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings.

May 19, 1987 at Cleveland Stadium
Indians 4, Twins 3  (19-19)

The Twins took a 3-2 lead into the ninth inning only to see Mark Portugal give up two runs in the bottom of the ninth on a walk off homerun by Cory Snyder.  Portugal dropped to 1-3 on the season and a decent start by Les Straker (two earned runs in 5 1/3 innings) went to waste.

Gary Gaetti provided most of the offense with two run double in the first inning.  Kent Hrbek and Tom Brunansky were the only Twins with two hits.

May 17, 1987 at the Metrodome
Twins 10, Red Sox 8  (19-18)

The Twins came out on top in a crazy game.  They took a 5-1 lead into the eighth only to see the Red Sox scored seven runs in the eighth.  Then Gary Gaetti and Tom Brunansky hit solo homeruns in the bottom of the ninth to send the game into extra frames only to have Kent Hrbek win it with a two run walk off homer in the bottom of the tenth.

Gaetti finished the game four for four and he scored three runs in the game.  Seth Ahterton picked up the win and he shut the Red Sox out in the final two frames.

May 16, 1987 at the Metrodome
Red Sox 6, Twins 1  (18-18)

Bert Blyleven threw eight great innings but he got into trouble and lost it in the ninth.  He ended up giving up five runs in the game in 8 1/3 innings and the loss dropped him to 3-3 on the season.

Gary Gaettie was the hitting star.  He went two for three and he drove in the lone Twins’ run.

May 15, 1987 at the Metrodome
Twins 3, Red Sox 1  (18-17)

Juan Berenguer pitched eight great innings but unfortunately he left the game tied.  He gave up one run on three hits and a walk with four strikeouts.  George Frazier threw a shutout ninth and he picked up his fourth win of the season.

Kirby Puckett had the big hit of the game.  His two run walk off homerun won it for the Twins.  Steve Lombardozzi finished two for four and he scored a run.

May 14, 1987 at the Metrodome
Blue Jays 16, Twins 4  (17-17)

The Twins dropped back to .500 with an ugly loss to the Blue Jays.  Les Straker dropped the first game of his career and he gave up five runs in four innings while each of the three Twins relievers each gave up at least three runs.

Kent Hrbek hit a solo homerun and that was the fifth homerun of the season for him.  Roy Smalley was the only Twin with two hits and he scored a run.

May 13, 1987 at the Metrodome
Blue Jays 7, Twins 0  (17-16)

The Twins were held to just three singles in a 7-0 blowout loss at the hands of the Blue Jays.  Roy Smalley picked up two of those hits and no other Twin reach base more then once.

Mark Portugal was shelled and he didn’t even finish the third inning.  He gave up six runs on seven hits and one walk with one strikeout in 2 1/3 innings.

May 12, 1987 at Memorial Stadium
Orioles 10, Twins 7  (17-15)

For the second time in a week, Jeff Reardon was hit hard and blew a game.  It wasn’t completely his fault though and you have to feel for Frank Viola.  He threw seven solid innings and while he began to get into trouble in the seventh, he was credited with just four runs and he had a 7-4 lead.  Keith Atherton gave up two more runs and then Jeff Reardon was shelled for four runs as he took the his second loss of the season.

Tom Brunansky had a nice game and he went three for four with two RBIs and a run.  Steve Lombardozzi finished with three hits and he drove in one run.

May 11, 1987 at Memorial Stadium
Twins 10, Orioles 4  (17-14)

The Twins got their bats going and put ten runs on the board against the Orioles.  Tom Brunansky had a big game and he went three for four with a homerun and three RBIs.  Kent Hrbek had just one hit but it was a two run homer and Gary Gaetti had three hits and he scored three runs in the blowout win.

Bert Blyleven improved to 3-2 with a solid start.  He went the distance and he gave up four runs (three earned) on eight hits and a walk with five strikeouts.  He was a victim of the long ball though and three of the eight hits he gave up went over the fence.

May 10, 1987 at Yankee Stadium
Yankees 6, Twins 1  (16-14)

The Twins were shut down at the plate in their series finale  with the Yankees.  Randy Bush drove in the lone run and no Twin had more then one hit.

Mike Smithson was bounced early and he dropped to 3-3 on the season.  He gave up four runs on four hits and two walks with one strikeout in just two innings.

May 9, 1987 at Yankee Stadium
Twins 2, Yankees 0  (16-13)

Rookie Les Straker improved to 2-0 with 5 2/3 shutout innings against the Yankees. He gave up just two hits with three walks and he struck out two.  Juan Berenguer and Jeff Reardon closed out the game to complete the shutout and Reardon picked up his eighth save of the season.

Al Newman was the hitting star.  He went two for three with a double and he drove in both the Twins two runs.

May 8, 1987 at Yankee Stadium
Yankees 11, Twins 7  (15-13)

The Twins continued their struggles and this time it was Jeff Reardon who couldn’t get it done.  Heading into the ninth, the Twins had a 7-5 lead and after giving up two runs to tie the game, he gave up a walk off grand slam homer to Mike Pagliarulo that cost the Twins the game.

Mark Portugal wasn’t all that great in his start either.  He gave up five runs on seven hits and two walks with two strikeouts in six innings of work.  Tom Brunansky was the hitting star and he went two for three with a homerun and three RBIs while Mark Davidson went yard for the first time in the season.

May 7, 1987 at the Metrodome
Twins 5, Orioles 2  (15-12)

The Twins avoided a sweep at the hands to the Orioles with a 5-2 win today.  Frank Viola picked up his second win with a solid start.  He gave up two runs on six hits and two walks with six strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings.

Gary Gaetti had a nice day at the plate.  He had three hits and two RBIs while Al Newman and Kirby Puckett both scored twice and stole a base.

May 6, 1987 at the Metrodome
Orioles 6, Twins 0  (14-12)

Scott McGregor held the Twins to a mere three hits in a shutout loss to the Orioles.  Tom Nieto had two of the hits and the third went to Steve Lombardozzi.

Bert Blyleven took the loss and he dropped to 2-2.  He gave up six runs on seven hits and a walk with one strikeout in 8 1/3 innings.

May 5, 1987 at the Metrodome
Orioles 5, Twins 4  (14-11)

Orioles starter Eric Bell had a no hitter going in this game heading into the ninth before the Twins almost came from behind to steal a win.  They were down 5-0 but the four ninth inning runs at least made things interesting.  Kirby Puckett had the big hit of the inning with a three run homerun.  It was his eighth homerun of the season.

Mike Smithson took the loss for the Twins.  He gave up four runs on eight hits and two walks with two strikeouts in five innings of work.  Juan Berenguer threw 3 1/3 innings of solid relief to help the Twins get back into the game.

May 3, 1987 at the Metrodome
Twins 4, Yankees 3  (14-10)

Mark Portugal gave up three early runs to put the Twins down 3-0 but the home team fought back with solo homeruns.  Gary Gaetti, Dan Gladden, Tom Brunansky and Kirby Puckett all hit solo homeruns in different innings to put together the comeback.

George Frazier picked up the win in relief with a shutout ninth and Jeff Reardon closed it out for his sixth save.  Rickey Henderson ran all over the Twins pitchers.  He picked up four stolen bases just in this one game.

May 2, 1987 at the Metrodome
Yankees 6, Twins 4  (13-10)

Frank Viola had a rough time with the Yankees today and he didn’t even last five innings in his start.  He gave up four runs on nine hits and a walk with two strikeouts.  Three of those nine hits were homeruns.  Juan Berenguer had a decent game in a long relief outing.  He gave up two runs in his four innings of work.

At the plate, Kent Hrbek did most of the damage for the Twins.  He hit a two run shot, his third of the year.  Al Newman and Tom Nieto each had two hits.

May 1, 1987 at the Metrodome
Twins 7, Yankees 4  (13-9)

Steve Lombardozzi homered twice and scored three runs as the Twins topped the Yankees.  Gary Gaetti also went yard and that was his seventh of the season. 

Bert Blyleven struck out ten and improved to 2-1 with the win.  He gave up four runs on eight hits with two walks.  Jeff Reardon threw a no-hit ninth to pick up his fifth save of the season.