Victorian Lewis Thorpe took a no-decision in his first start of the 2020 Major League Baseball season after Minnesota surged late to claim a walk-off win over Pittsburgh at Target Field on Monday, 3 August.
The 24-year-old lasted four innings in his third career big league start, allowing three runs on six hits, ahead of Nelson Cruz’s deep single giving the Twins a 5-4 walk-off win.
Pirates @ Twins: Box Score
Thorpe, who played for Doncaster and Greenhills Montmorency Baseball Clubs, was on the back foot early after giving up a lead-off homer to Cole Tucker on the first pitch of the game.
The left-hander retired the next three batters on eight pitches to end the opening frame ahead of the Pirates doubling their advantage an inning later. Thorpe struck out Bryan Reynolds to start the second before allowing three-straight singles. Jacob Stalling made it 2-0 with the third single.
Thorpe retired each of the three batters he faced in the third inning and escaped the fourth with minimal damage despite issuing four walks. He walked Reynolds to start the inning ahead of Minnesota turning a double play to erase the baserunner. Back-to-back walks and Erik Gonzalez’s RBI-double added a third run for Pittsburgh.
Thorpe allowed his sixth walk of the outing before recording the final out of the fourth to end the inning. He was replaced by Jorge Alcala to start the fifth.
Thorpe struck out three Pirates. Pittsburgh added a fourth run in the fifth but the Twins pulled level with a four-run sixth.
Cruz singled to drive in Mitch Garver and Max Kepler made it a one-run contest with a two-run double. Minnesota drew level on a wild pitch from Pirates reliever Miguel Del Pozo.
Cruz’s third hit of the game in the ninth lifted the Twins to their first walk-off win of 2020.
Queensland Aaron Whitefield did not enter the game for Minnesota.
The Twins improved their record to 8-2.
Game two of the series is scheduled for 4.10am AEST tomorrow.