On a night during which the Twins offense was quieted - and my scorebook unusually clean - there was one nice play turned by Miguel Sano.
Well, it was better than nice. It was the best play many of us have seen him make in his young career.
In the fifth inning, Austin Jackson hit a ball just inside the third base bag. The ball was heading for foul territory when Sano moved quickly to his right to gobble the ball up. Now, Sano's momentum carried him well into foul territory, but he turned and unleashed a one-hop throw that Joe Mauer was able to scoop up for the final out of the inning.
It was reminiscent of a former Orioles third baseman, Brooks Robinson.
"For us old schoolers, Brooks would have been proud," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "It kind of had that look of the World Series play that he made. The fact that he ranged as far as he did and, in all one motion, get off an accurate throw."
If fired up the crowd. Sano even slapped hands with fans near the wall at it's completion. Yes, the momentum carried Sano that far.
Mauer's role can't be overlooked. It wasn't a routine hop he had to handle. And he's scooped many throws in the dirt this season.
"He completes the plays when guys give him an opportunity," Molitor said.
