Twins Win 15th Straight Game
The Twins won their team-record 15th straight game on this date in 1991, beating Cleveland 4-2 in 10 innings. The streak began in Kansas City back on Jun. 1, 1991. At that time, the Twins were in fifth place in the AL West—5.5 games behind Oakland. With the win in Cleveland, the Twins moved half a game ahead of Oakland.
The streak came to an end the next night in Baltimore, when Rick Aguilera blew a two-run lead in the ninth. The Twins then won another four in a row (and six of their next seven) before going on a seven-game losing streak.
Dick Such Pitches Against Twins
Twins fans will remember Dick Such as the pitching coach for the 1987 and 1991 World Series championship teams, but he also played in the majors for one season. Playing for the Ted Williams-managed Washington Senators, Such made his only career appearance against the Twins at Met Stadium on this date in 1970. He entered in the seventh with his team down 5-2 and walked Rod Carew to lead off the inning. Carew stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. It was a moot point, however, as Tony Oliva hit a two-run homer. (Of course, Oliva was the hitting coach on the 1987 World Series team.)
After the Oliva homer, Such loaded the bases, but got pitcher Jim Perry to ground out to end the inning. It was Perry’s only out in the game, going 3-for-4 (raising his average to .361) with an RBI and run scored.
Such retired Tovar, Carew, and Killebrew in order in the bottom of the eighth. The Twins won 7-3.
Viola Earns First MLB Win
Frank Viola earned his first major-league win on this date in 1982, holding the Royals to just one run (a Hal McRae homer) over seven innings. Ron Davis earned a six-out save, giving up an RBI double to McRae in the ninth before securing the 5-2 Twins win at Kauffman.
This was Viola’s third start. He lasted just 4 ⅓ innings in each of the first two. Altogether, he made 22 starts in 1982, compiling a 4-10 record with a 5.21 ERA and 1.51 WHIP.
Twins Sign Sauk Rapids Native Out of Tryout Camp
The Twins signed 1979 Sauk Rapids graduate Dick Henkemeyer out of their annual tryout camp held at Met Stadium, on Jun. 15 & 16, 1981.
While at Brainerd Community College in 1980, Henkemeyer led the nation with 1.93 strikeouts per inning. He didn’t become a star, but he did enjoy some interesting highlights.
Roommates with Kirby Puckett at spring training in 1982
Longtime Phy Ed teacher in Sauk Rapids
Played for the townball Sartell Muskies in the 1980s
ALSO ON THIS DATE:
1889: The first Golden Gopher to play in the majors, Ralph Capron, is born in Minneapolis
1977: Rob Wilfong hits a two-out walk-off single off Nolan Ryan
1995: Kirby Puckett hits a grand slam off fellow Hall of Famer Randy Johnson in a 10-1 Twins win at the Kingdome
(Obviously, the one run Brad Radke gave up was a first-inning homer by Edgar Martínez.)
Are you interested in Twins history? Then check out the Minnesota Twins Players Project, a community-driven project to discover and collect great information on every player to wear a Twins uniform!