Twins 2, Angels 1
(This game was the result of a simulation done through What If Sports. It matched the Colorado Rockies All-Time Team against the Chicago Cubs All-Time Team. This game did not actually happen.)
In a pitchers’ duel with many ground ball outs and strikeouts, both Twins/Senators Ace Walter Johnson and Angels Ace Nolan Ryan lived up to the hype as the Twins/Senators held on for a 2–1 win.
Start of Game
Rod Carew led off and walked. Ryan picked up his first strikeout when he got Joe Judge swinging and missing on a third strike. Goose Goslin reached on a fielder’s choice that forced Carew out at second. Harmon Killebrew struck out when he chased a high fastball.
Darin Erstad led off the Angels first by grounding to second. Brian Downing struck out swinging for the second out. Mike Trout tripled but was left stranded when Troy Glaus grounded to shortstop Joe Cronin.
Oliva Singles to start the Second
Tony Oliva lined a single to start the second inning before Joe Mauer hit a liner that Tim Salmon turned into a diving catch. Joe Cronin reached base on a Glaus error that put Oliva at second. A passed ball put the runners in scoring position, but Kirby Puckett grounded out to third. Sam Rice struck out, leaving Oliva stranded in scoring position.
Angels Get a Run
The Angels picked up an early run when Tim Salmon led off the bottom of the second with a home run. After Garret Anderson flied to center, Bobby Grich hit a hard line drive for a double. Grich was left in scoring position, however. Jim Fregosi popped to first baseman Joe Judge before Judge caught a hard Vladimir Guerrero line drive to end the inning.
Quiet Third Inning but then some Noise
After a quiet third inning from both teams, the Twins/Senators got it going in the top of the fourth. After an Oliva groundout to Erstad, Joe Mauer walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch. He reached third on a passed ball. Joe Cronin singled to bring him in and tie the game at one.
Twins/Senators Take the Lead
The top of the fifth inning saw both Rod Carew and Joe Judge ground out. But with two outs, the Twins/Senators took the lead. Goose Goslin belted a hard fly ball for a home run that put them up, 2–1. After Killebrew walked, the Angels escaped. Ryan got Oliva to chase a low curve and strike out.
Johnson dominates the Middle Innings
In the middle innings, Johnson kept the Angels in check. They could only get three hits off him. He was in control and trusted his mix of pitches and his team’s defense.
Eighth Inning Action
Oliva hit a hard line drive for a single and that brought up Mauer. Mauer hit a short fly to center, but Mike Trout made a diving catch for the second out.
Oliva made it to second on a passed ball, but Cronin hit a line drive to third for the third out.
The Angels saw Downing ground out on a hard throw from Killebrew to first baseman Joe Judge. Trout grounded out to short, and Glaus struck out swinging.
Twins/Senators Close out the Game
After the Twins/Senators went three-up-three-down, Johnson was on the mound to see if he could close the game out for a complete game win.
He gave up a single to Tim Salmon to start the bottom of the ninth. Garret Anderson hit a line drive toward first that looked like trouble, but Judge made a diving catch toward the line for the first out.
Bobby Grich reached base on a fielder’s choice as Tim Salmon was forced out at second. Jim Fregosi hit a grounder for a single, moving Grich to third. That brought up Vladimir Guerrero, but he popped to third to end the game and give the Twins/Senators a 2–1 win.
Pitching Game Statistics
Game statistics had Walter Johnson with a complete game, allowing one run while scattering nine hits, walking one, and striking out six.
Nolan Ryan pitched a complete game, giving up two runs on six hits while walking four and fanning eight.
Hitting Statistics
Tony Oliva had two hits, and the following contributed with a hit. Rod Carew, Joe Judge, Joe Cronin, and Goose Goslin, whose hit was a home run.
For the Angels, Tim Salmon had two hits, including a home run. Jim Fregosi had two hits as well. Mike Trout, Vladimir Guerrero, Bobby Grich, Troy Glaus, and Darin Erstad each contributed a hit.
Looking Ahead
The Twins/Senators advance to the American League Round of Eight. They will face the Baltimore Orioles and Jim Palmer. Walter Johnson will start again for the Twins/Senators.
Main Photo:
Embed from Getty Images
Players mentioned:
Walter Johnson, Nolan Ryan, Rod Carew, Joe Judge, Goose Goslin, Harmon Killebrew, Darin Erstad, Brian Downing, Mike Trout, Troy Glaus, Joe Cronin, Tony Oliva, Joe Mauer, Tim Salmon, Kirby Puckett, Sam Rice, Garret Anderson, Bobby Grich, Jim Fregosi, Vladimir Guerrero, Jim Palmer
