The Twins don't have a reputation for risk-taking, but they gamble here and there. They took a handful of chances on Wednesday night — and lost their wager each time.
That kind of night.
Zack Greinke kept the Twins from collecting any clutch hits, Los Angeles got just enough, and the Dodgers held on earn their 10,000th victory in franchise history, 6-4 in Target Field.
There were about a dozen ways the game might have been different, but Trevor Plouffe's seventh-inning at-bat stood out. Trailing 5-1 with the bases loaded and two outs, Plouffe watched reliever Chris Withrow throw his first three pitches out of the strike zone. Manager Ron Gardenhire made a quick calculation: Plouffe's a good fastball hitter and this is a fastball count. He flashed the swing-at-a-strike sign.
"We were excited about that situation. He's a great fastball hitter," Gardenhire said. "That's why he's here — when you get him in a fastball situation like that, that's what we want to see."
Plouffe swung at a high fastball — a little too high. He popped it up to short, and the Twins' threat was history.
"He tried to get on top. I would have liked to seen it down just a little bit lower, but I'm happy with the way he took a swing at it," Gardenhire said. "I'm glad he was willing to take that rip."
Gardenhire had taken a calculated risk himself a few innings earlier, choosing to challenge a play at the plate. Former Twins catcher Drew Butera came home on Hanley Ramirez's two-out single to left in the third inning, and it appeared that Jason Kubel's threw beat Butera to the plate. Starting pitcher Kyle Gibson even cheered the play, then appeared shocked by umpire Chris Segal's safe call.
