MLB notebook: Twins on cusp of amazing turnaround
When Brian Dozier’s home run cleared the right-field wall, Minnesota’s dugout burst into joyous celebration with players excitedly bouncing off each other.
The turnaround Twins are just one win from the playoffs.
Dozier’s three-run homer in the eighth inning pushed Minnesota to the brink of the postseason as the Twins, with manager Paul Molitor using a club-record 10 pitchers, rallied for an 8-6 victory over host Cleveland on Tuesday night, handing the Indians just their third loss in 32 games.
Dozier connected for his 33rd homer against Bryan Shaw as the Twins, a 103-loss team in 2016, lowered their magic number for clinching a playoff berth to one.
As he rounded first, Dozier pumped his fist following a hit that resounded back to the Twin Cities.
“I couldn’t wait until I could get back to the dugout and celebrate with my brothers,” Dozier said.
Minnesota’s 38th come-from-behind win was symbolic of the club’s stunning role reversal.
“The willingness to never give up, never stop fighting, always competing in at-bats, that’s been our identity all year,” said center fielder Byron Buxton, who made a diving catch in the eighth. “Just because we’re so close to the playoffs, we didn’t go out there and try to be something we’re not.”
The Twins’ first trip to the postseason since 2010 will have to wait at least one more day as the Los Angeles Angels beat the Chicago White Sox 9-3.
Minnesota is also seeking to become the 13th team, and first since the 2009 Seattle Mariners, to go from 100-plus losses to a winning record the following season.
Harper plays first time since injury
Nationals star Bryce Harper played for the first time since hyperextending and bruising his left knee on Aug. 12 in a 4-1 loss to host Philadelphia. He was 0 for 2 with a walk before being lifted in the fifth inning.
Manager Dusty Baker hasn’t decided if Harper will play Wednesday.
“I feel fine,” Harper said after the game. “Just try and get past tonight and see what I feel like tomorrow. If I feel good, then I’ll play. If I don’t, take a day and see what I feel like the next day.”
Giants will expand netting
The San Francisco Giants plan to expand the protective netting behind home plate going into next year.
Spokeswoman Staci Slaughter said more safety netting is in the works and the club is “in the process of figuring out the engineering aspects.”
The Mariners, Reds, Rockies and Padres announced last week that they would expand netting for the 2018 season after a young girl was injured by a foul ball at Yankee Stadium. Cincinnati and San Diego plan to extend the netting to the ends of each dugout.
The line drive off the bat of Yankees slugger Todd Frazier last Wednesday hit the girl in the face in less than a second, and the game came to a halt as she was treated in the stands.
Mets manager wants to return
With his contract set to expire, Mets manager Terry Collins told The Record of Hackensack, New Jersey, he will remain in baseball in 2018, and has not considered retirement. Collins would prefer to remain with the Mets.
Both Collins and Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said no decision has been finalized, but one should be made shortly after the season ends.
“I’m going to be somewhere. If after we have discussions, if it feels I shouldn’t be here, then I won’t be,” Collins said.“We’ve created something here that’s pretty good.”