40-Year-Old Hits for 12 Total Bases, Drives in Seven
On This Date in 2020: In just the third game of the COVID-shortened season, 40-year-old DH Nelson Cruz hit two home runs, two doubles, knocked in seven, and scored four runs in a 14-2 Twins win in Chicago. 

He was just the sixth player in MLB history age 40+ with 12 or more total bases in a game. Babe Ruth holds the record with 13, and Stan Musial, Reggie Jackson, Rickey Henderson, and Jason Giambi also had 12-total base games after age 40. Cruz was just the fourth player in his 40s with seven RBI in a game (Musial, Jackson, Giambi).

Cruz Homers in Fifth Straight Game
Nelson Cruz homered in his fifth straight game on this date in 2019, tying the Twins record. He hit three home runs the previous day, and, remarkably, had a second three-home run game just nine days later. 

Three previous Twins had five-game home run streaks. Harmon Killebrew did it in 1964 and on two separate occasions in 1970. Marty Cordova did it in 1995 in just his 23rd major league game. And Brian Dozier did it in 2016, also with a three-homer game mixed in.

Twins Connect for 11 Extra-Base Hits
The Twins connected for 20 hits—11 for extra bases—in a 19-1 win in Kansas City on this date in 2010.

Mauer went 5-for-5 with a home run and seven RBI. Danny Valencia went 4-for-4, hitting his first major league home run—a two-out opposite field grand slam off reigning Cy Young winner Zack Greinke in the first.

Joe Mauer was just the third catcher in major league history with five hits and seven RBI in a game. (The first two were Walker Cooper in 1949 and Victor Martinez in 2004.)

Danny Valencia is the only player in Twins history to hit a grand slam for his first major league home run.

Hunter Steamrolls Catcher
Torii Hunter steamrolled White Sox catcher Jamie Burke on this date in 2004. Burke spent the night in the hospital and was diagnosed with a concussion. “I feel like a truck hit me,” Burke said.

Twins Sitting Pretty atop the Division
Twins fans must have been feeling pretty good on this date in 1992, as their defending World Series Champions had a three-game lead in the AL West.   

“There was no single explanation for their collapse,” wrote legendary sportswriter Roger Angell, “because so many things went wrong at the same time.”

Molitor Steals Second, Third, and Home
St. Paul native Paul Molitor singled and stole second, third, and home in the bottom of the first on this date in 1987. The leadoff-hitting DH finished a home run shy of the cycle in the 7-4 Brewers win over Oakland.

Blyleven Dominates in Return to Minnesota
In his first game against the Twins since being traded to the Rangers at the beginning of June, Bert Blyleven pitched a two-hit shutout at Met Stadium on this date in 1976. Dave Goltz took the tough-luck loss for the Twins, holding the Rangers to three runs (two earned) over 8.1 innings. 

Merritt Pitches 13 Innings
Starting pitcher Jim Merritt pitched a Twins record 13 innings in a 3-2, 18-inning win at Yankee Stadium on this date in 1967. Mickey Mantle went 0-for-6 with a walk in the game. The winning run scored when Rod Carew walked, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by the catcher, and scored on a Rich Rollins hit to the shortstop. Small ball for the win!

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