April 6, 1972. Minnesota 8, California 2

The Twins completely outclassed the Angels in this one 8-2.  After the Angels put up 2 in the top of the 1st, the Twins came right back with 4 in the bottom of the 1st and never looked back.  Blyleven was in control, scattering 4 hits and a walk over the final 8.  Messersmith had control problem, walking 5 before being lifted after 5.

Rod Carew was a sparkplug at the top of the lineup, getting on base 4 times with 1 stolen base.  Bobby Darwin provided the thump with a solo HR in the 5th.  Ken Berry was the lone bright spot for the Angels with 3 hits, including an RBI double.

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL CALIFORNIA ANGELS AT MINNESOTA TWINS GAME ID: 5 - THURSDAY, APRIL 6TH , 1972 - GAME LOG   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E California Angels (0-1) 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 7 0 Minnesota Twins (1-0) 4 0 0 2 1 0 0 1 X 8 10 0

Twins Roll to 8-2 Win Over Angels The Minnesota Twins satisfied the home crowd at Metropolitan Stadium 1965-1976, treating them to a season-opening win, 8-2, over the California Angels. Starting Pitcher Bert Blyleven was the standout performer for Minnesota. Blyleven, now 1-0, was the winner. In 9 innings, he gave up 7 hits, while striking out 6, walking 2, and allowing 2 runs. Eric Soderholm aided the Minnesota cause with a run-scoring walk in the bottom of the first. For the game, the third baseman drew 2 walk in 4 trips to the plate. "We cashed in when we had the chance," said Minnesota manager Frank Quilici.

CALIFORNIA BATTING LINESCORE MINNESOTA BATTING LINESCORE

Player AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI S. Alomar 2B 4 1 1 0 0 2 2 .250 0 0 V. Pinson RF 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 0 0 K. McMullen 3B 4 1 1 1 0 0 0 .250 0 1 A. Kosco 1B 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 .000 0 0 L. Stanton LF 3 0 0 0 1 1 0 .000 0 0 K. Berry CF 4 0 3 1 0 1 0 .750 0 1 L. Cardenas SS 3 0 0 0 1 0 2 .000 0 0 J. Azcue C 4 0 1 0 0 0 5 .250 0 0 A. Messersmith P 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .500 0 0    D. Lange P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0    a-C. Vinson PH 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000 0 0    D. Rose P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0    b-C. Coletta PH 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 0 0 Totals 34 2 7 2 2 6 12       a - C. Vinson pinch hit for D. Lange in the 7th b - C. Coletta pinch hit for D. Rose in the 9th BATTING Doubles: K. Berry 2 (2, 1st Inning off B. Blyleven, 2 on, 2 outs; 6th Inning off B. Blyleven, 0 on, 1 out) , A. Messersmith (1, 4th Inning off B. Blyleven, 1 on, 2 outs) Total Bases: S. Alomar , K. McMullen , K. Berry 5 , J. Azcue , A. Messersmith 2 2-out RBI: K. Berry Runners left in scoring position, 2 outs: S. Alomar , J. Azcue 2 Team LOB: 7 BASERUNNING SB: S. Alomar (1) Player AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI R. Carew 2B 4 2 3 1 1 0 0 .750 0 1 C. Tovar RF 4 1 1 0 1 0 2 .250 0 0 H. Killebrew 1B 4 1 2 1 0 1 0 .500 0 1 S. Braun LF 2 1 1 2 1 0 2 .500 0 2 E. Soderholm 3B 2 0 0 1 2 0 2 .000 0 1 B. Darwin CF 4 1 1 2 0 0 4 .250 1 2 D. Thompson SS 3 0 0 1 0 1 3 .000 0 1 G. Borgmann C 4 1 1 0 0 1 0 .250 0 0 B. Blyleven P 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 .333 0 0 Totals 30 8 10 8 5 3 13       BATTING Doubles: G. Borgmann (1, 4th Inning off A. Messersmith, 0 on, 0 outs) Triples: R. Carew (1, 8th Inning off D. Rose, 1 on, 2 outs) Home Runs: B. Darwin (1, 5th Inning off A. Messersmith, 0 on, 0 outs) Total Bases: R. Carew 5 , C. Tovar , H. Killebrew 2 , S. Braun , B. Darwin 4 , G. Borgmann 2 , B. Blyleven 2-out RBI: R. Carew Runners left in scoring position, 2 outs: C. Tovar , E. Soderholm , D. Thompson Sac Bunt: B. Blyleven Sac Fly: S. Braun , D. Thompson Team LOB: 6 BASERUNNING SB: R. Carew (1) CS: B. Darwin (1)

CALIFORNIA PITCHING LINESCORE MINNESOTA PITCHING LINESCORE

Player IP H R ER BB K HR PI ERA    A. Messersmith L (0-1) 5.0 8 7 7 5 1 1 116 12.60    D. Lange 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 12 0.00    D. Rose 2.0 2 1 1 0 1 0 29 4.50    PITCHING Game Score: A. Messersmith 19 Batters Faced: A. Messersmith 27, D. Lange 3, D. Rose 8 Ground Outs - Fly Outs: A. Messersmith 7-6, D. Lange 1-1, D. Rose 3-2 Pitches - Strikes: A. Messersmith 116-66, D. Lange 12-9, D. Rose 29-21 Player IP H R ER BB K HR PI ERA    B. Blyleven W (1-0) 9.0 7 2 2 2 6 0 116 2.00    PITCHING Game Score: B. Blyleven 69 Batters Faced: B. Blyleven 36 Ground Outs - Fly Outs: B. Blyleven 7-14 Pitches - Strikes: B. Blyleven 116-80

GAME NOTES

Player of the Game: Bert Blyleven Ballpark: Metropolitan Stadium 1965-1976 Weather: Clear skies (46 degrees), wind blowing out to center at 13 mph Start Time: 2:05 PM CT Time: 2:38 Attendance: 17968 TOP OF THE 1ST California Angels batting - Pitching for Minnesota Twins : RHP Bert Blyleven Pitching: RHP Bert Blyleven Batting: SHB Sandy Alomar 0-0: Ball 1-0: Called Strike 1-1: Called Strike 1-2: SINGLE (Groundball, 6MS, EV 63.8 MPH) (infield hit) Batting: LHB Vada Pinson Pickoff Throw to First - No movement. 0-0: Called Strike 0-1: Swinging Strike Pickoff Throw to First - No movement. 0-2: Fly out, F9 (Flyball, 9D, EV 79.4 MPH) Batting: RHB Ken McMullen 0-0: Called Strike Sandy Alomar steals 2nd base 0-1: SINGLE (Groundball, 6MD, EV 96.9 MPH) Sandy Alomar to third Runner from 3rd tries for Home, SAFE, throw by CF to home Batting: RHB Andy Kosco 0-0: Ball 1-0: Fly out, F7 (Line Drive, 7D, EV 99.4 MPH) Batting: RHB Leroy Stanton 0-0: Ball 1-0: Ball 2-0: Ball 3-0: Called Strike 3-1: Base on Balls Ken McMullen to second Batting: RHB Ken Berry 0-0: Ball 1-0: DOUBLE (Line Drive, 7LS, EV 94.4 MPH) Ken McMullen scores Leroy Stanton to third Batting: RHB Leo Cardenas 0-0: Called Strike 0-1: Ball 1-1: Ball 2-1: Ball 3-1: Base on Balls Batting: RHB Joe Azcue 0-0: Ball 1-0: Swinging Strike 1-1: Ball 2-1: Foul Ball, location: 2F 2-2: Fly out, F8 (Line Drive, 8LD, EV 106.2 MPH) Top of the 1st over - 2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 3 left on base; California 2 - Minnesota 0 BOTTOM OF THE 1ST Minnesota Twins batting - Pitching for California Angels : RHP Andy Messersmith Pitching: RHP Andy Messersmith Batting: LHB Rod Carew 0-0: Ball 1-0: Ball 2-0: Foul Ball, location: 2F 2-1: Swinging Strike 2-2: SINGLE (Groundball, 6D, EV 106.2 MPH) Batting: RHB Cesar Tovar Pickoff Throw to First - No movement. Pickoff Throw to First - No movement. 0-0: Called Strike Pickoff Throw to First - No movement. 0-1: Swinging Strike 0-2: Ball 1-2: SINGLE (Line Drive, 9S, EV 98.8 MPH) Rod Carew to second Batting: RHB Harmon Killebrew 0-0: Called Strike 0-1: Foul Ball, location: 2F 0-2: Foul Ball, location: 2F 0-2: Foul Ball, location: 9LSF 0-2: Ball 1-2: Foul Ball, location: 2F 1-2: Ball 2-2: Foul Ball, location: 2F 2-2: Ball 3-2: SINGLE (Groundball, 6MD, EV 105.6 MPH) Rod Carew to third Cesar Tovar to second Batting: LHB Steve Braun 0-0: Ball 1-0: Foul Ball, location: 2F 1-1: Ball 2-1: Foul Ball, location: 3DF 2-2: Ball 3-2: Base on Balls Rod Carew scores Cesar Tovar to third Harmon Killebrew to second Batting: RHB Eric Soderholm 0-0: Ball 1-0: Ball 2-0: Foul Ball, location: 2F 2-1: Ball 3-1: Base on Balls Cesar Tovar scores Harmon Killebrew to third Steve Braun to second Batting: RHB Bobby Darwin 0-0: Ball 1-0: Swinging Strike 1-1: Called Strike 1-2: Foul Ball, location: 2F 1-2: Ball 2-2: Fielders Choice at 2nd, 4-6 (Groundball, 4M, EV 84.4 MPH) Harmon Killebrew scores Steve Braun to third Batting: RHB Danny Thompson 0-0: Fly out, F7 (Flyball, 78M, EV 83.8 MPH) Runner from 3rd tags up, SCORES, no throw by LF Batting: RHB Glenn Borgmann 0-0: Ball 1-0: Called Strike 1-1: Called Strike 1-2: Ball Bobby Darwin is caught stealing 2nd base 2-4 Bottom of the 1st over - 4 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on base; California 2 - Minnesota 4 TOP OF THE 2ND California Angels batting - Pitching for Minnesota Twins : RHP Bert Blyleven Batting: RHB Andy Messersmith 0-0: Fly out, F9 (Flyball, 89S, EV 90.6 MPH) Batting: SHB Sandy Alomar 0-0: Foul Ball, location: 2F 0-1: Foul Ball, location: 2F 0-2: Ball 1-2: Ball 2-2: Strikes out looking Batting: LHB Vada Pinson 0-0: Called Strike 0-1: Foul Ball, location: 2F 0-2: Ground out 5-3 (Groundball, 5, EV 80.0 MPH) Top of the 2nd over - 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on base; California 2 - Minnesota 4 BOTTOM OF THE 2ND Minnesota Twins batting - Pitching for California Angels : RHP Andy Messersmith Batting: RHB Glenn Borgmann 0-0: Foul Ball, location: 2F 0-1: Called Strike 0-2: Ball 1-2: Ground out 4-3 (Groundball, 4, EV 83.1 MPH) Batting: RHB Bert Blyleven 0-0: Ball 1-0: Ground out 5-3 (Groundball, 56, EV 87.5 MPH) Batting: LHB Rod Carew 0-0: Ball 1-0: Called Strike 1-1: Called Strike 1-2: Ball 2-2: Foul Ball, location: 2F 2-2: Foul Ball, location: 2F 2-2: Ball 3-2: SINGLE (Groundball, 34S, EV 70.0 MPH) (infield hit) Batting: RHB Cesar Tovar 0-0: Ball 1-0: Ball 2-0: Called Strike 2-1: Called Strike 2-2: Fielders Choice at 2nd, 6-4 (Groundball, 56, EV 82.5 MPH) Bottom of the 2nd over - 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on base; California 2 - Minnesota 4 TOP OF THE 3RD California Angels batting - Pitching for Minnesota Twins : RHP Bert Blyleven Batting: RHB Ken McMullen 0-0: Ball 1-0: Fly out, F7 (Flyball, 78M, EV 88.1 MPH) Batting: RHB Andy Kosco 0-0: Fly out, F9 (Flyball, 9, EV 87.5 MPH) Batting: RHB Leroy Stanton 0-0: Fly out, F7 (Line Drive, 7, EV 88.8 MPH) Top of the 3rd over - 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on base; California 2 - Minnesota 4 BOTTOM OF THE 3RD Minnesota Twins batting - Pitching for California Angels : RHP Andy Messersmith Batting: RHB Harmon Killebrew 0-0: Called Strike 0-1: Ball 1-1: Foul Ball, location: 25F 1-2: Ball 2-2: Foul Ball, location: 3DF 2-2: Fly out, F9 (Flyball, 89S, EV 93.8 MPH) Batting: LHB Steve Braun 0-0: Ball 1-0: Ball 2-0: Ball 3-0: Called Strike 3-1: SINGLE (Groundball, 25, EV 74.4 MPH) (infield hit) Batting: RHB Eric Soderholm 0-0: Ball 1-0: Called Strike 1-1: Ball 2-1: Ball 3-1: Base on Balls Steve Braun to second Batting: RHB Bobby Darwin 0-0: Fly out, F9 (Flyball, 89M, EV 75.0 MPH) Batting: RHB Danny Thompson 0-0: Ground out 4-3 (Groundball, 4, EV 80.6 MPH) Bottom of the 3rd over - 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 left on base; California 2 - Minnesota 4 TOP OF THE 4TH California Angels batting - Pitching for Minnesota Twins : RHP Bert Blyleven Batting: RHB Ken Berry 0-0: Ball 1-0: Called Strike 1-1: Swinging Strike 1-2: Strikes out swinging Batting: RHB Leo Cardenas 0-0: Ball 1-0: Ground out 1-3 (Groundball, 13S, EV 69.4 MPH) Batting: RHB Joe Azcue 0-0: Called Strike 0-1: Ball 1-1: SINGLE (Line Drive, 9S, EV 92.5 MPH) Batting: RHB Andy Messersmith 0-0: Called Strike 0-1: Foul Ball, location: 2F 0-2: Ball 1-2: DOUBLE (Line Drive, 78D, EV 103.8 MPH) Joe Azcue to third Batting: SHB Sandy Alomar 0-0: Called Strike 0-1: Swinging Strike 0-2: Strikes out swinging Top of the 4th over - 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on base; California 2 - Minnesota 4 BOTTOM OF THE 4TH Minnesota Twins batting - Pitching for California Angels : RHP Andy Messersmith Batting: RHB Glenn Borgmann 0-0: Called Strike 0-1: Ball 1-1: Foul Ball, location: 2F 1-2: DOUBLE (Line Drive, 3D, EV 96.9 MPH) Batting: RHB Bert Blyleven 0-0: Ball 1-0: Sac Bunt to 23 - play at first, batter OUT! 3-4 Glenn Borgmann to third Batting: LHB Rod Carew 0-0: Ball 1-0: Ball 2-0: Ball 3-0: Foul Ball, location: 2F 3-1: Base on Balls Batting: RHB Cesar Tovar 0-0: Called Strike 0-1: Ball Rod Carew steals 2nd base 1-1: Ball 2-1: Ball 3-1: Base on Balls Batting: RHB Harmon Killebrew 0-0: Foul Ball, location: 2F 0-1: SINGLE (Flyball, 4D, EV 93.8 MPH) Glenn Borgmann scores Rod Carew to third Cesar Tovar to second Batting: LHB Steve Braun 0-0: Fly out, F7 (Line Drive, 7D, EV 96.2 MPH) Runner from 3rd tags up, SCORES, throw by LF Cesar Tovar to third Batting: RHB Eric Soderholm 0-0: Ball 1-0: Ball 2-0: Called Strike 2-1: Fly out, F8 (Flyball, 8RD, EV 94.4 MPH) Bottom of the 4th over - 2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on base; California 2 - Minnesota 6 TOP OF THE 5TH California Angels batting - Pitching for Minnesota Twins : RHP Bert Blyleven Batting: LHB Vada Pinson 0-0: Called Strike 0-1: Fly out, F5 (Popup, 6S, EV 73.8 MPH) Batting: RHB Ken McMullen 0-0: Ball 1-0: Called Strike 1-1: Foul Ball, location: 2F 1-2: Ball 2-2: Ground out 5-3 (Groundball, 56, EV 86.2 MPH) Batting: RHB Andy Kosco 0-0: Ball 1-0: Fly out, F9 (Flyball, 89M, EV 86.2 MPH) Top of the 5th over - 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on base; California 2 - Minnesota 6 BOTTOM OF THE 5TH Minnesota Twins batting - Pitching for California Angels : RHP Andy Messersmith Batting: RHB Bobby Darwin 0-0: Swinging Strike 0-1: Foul Ball, location: 2F 0-2: Ball 1-2: SOLO HOME RUN (Flyball, 9D, EV 97.5 MPH), Distance : 378 ft Batting: RHB Danny Thompson 0-0: Fly out, F6 (Flyball, 56D, EV 88.1 MPH) Batting: RHB Glenn Borgmann 0-0: Swinging Strike 0-1: Called Strike 0-2: Ball 1-2: Foul Ball, location: 2F 1-2: Strikes out swinging Batting: RHB Bert Blyleven 0-0: Ball 1-0: Foul Ball, location: 2F 1-1: Ball 2-1: Called Strike 2-2: Ground out 5-3 (Groundball, 5, EV 86.2 MPH) Bottom of the 5th over - 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on base; California 2 - Minnesota 7 TOP OF THE 6TH California Angels batting - Pitching for Minnesota Twins : RHP Bert Blyleven Batting: RHB Leroy Stanton 0-0: Swinging Strike 0-1: Ground out 4-3 (Groundball, 13, EV 82.5 MPH) Batting: RHB Ken Berry 0-0: Ball 1-0: DOUBLE (Line Drive, 9LD, EV 104.4 MPH) Batting: RHB Leo Cardenas 0-0: Ball 1-0: Ball 2-0: Foul Ball, location: 2F 2-1: Ball 3-1: Fly out, F8 (Flyball, 78D, EV 93.8 MPH) Batting: RHB Joe Azcue 0-0: Called Strike 0-1: Ball 1-1: Swinging Strike 1-2: Fly out, F9 (Flyball, 9D, EV 90.0 MPH) Top of the 6th over - 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on base; California 2 - Minnesota 7 BOTTOM OF THE 6TH Minnesota Twins batting - Pitching for California Angels : RHP Andy Messersmith Pitching: RHP Dick Lange Batting: LHB Rod Carew 0-0: Ball 1-0: Called Strike 1-1: Ground out 2-3 (Groundball, 2L, EV 76.2 MPH) Batting: RHB Cesar Tovar 0-0: Called Strike 0-1: Ball 1-1: Foul Ball, location: 2F 1-2: Fly out, F8 (Flyball, 89M, EV 80.0 MPH) Batting: RHB Harmon Killebrew 0-0: Called Strike 0-1: Ball 1-1: Foul Ball, location: 2F 1-2: Foul Ball, location: 9LMF 1-2: Strikes out swinging Bottom of the 6th over - 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on base; California 2 - Minnesota 7 TOP OF THE 7TH California Angels batting - Pitching for Minnesota Twins : RHP Bert Blyleven Pinch Hitting: LHB Charlie Vinson 0-0: Called Strike 0-1: Called Strike 0-2: Strikes out swinging Batting: SHB Sandy Alomar 0-0: Ball 1-0: Ball 2-0: Foul Ball, location: 2F 2-1: Ground out 6-3 (Groundball, 56D, EV 106.9 MPH) Batting: LHB Vada Pinson 0-0: Called Strike 0-1: Called Strike 0-2: Ball 1-2: Ground out 4-3 (Groundball, 4, EV 91.9 MPH) Top of the 7th over - 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on base; California 2 - Minnesota 7 BOTTOM OF THE 7TH Minnesota Twins batting - Pitching for California Angels : RHP Dick Lange Pitching: RHP Don Rose Batting: LHB Steve Braun 0-0: Ball 1-0: Foul Ball, location: 2F 1-1: Ball 2-1: Foul Ball, location: 2F 2-2: Foul Ball, location: 2F 2-2: Ball 3-2: Foul Ball, location: 23F 3-2: Foul Ball, location: 2F 3-2: Foul Ball, location: 2F 3-2: Foul Ball, location: 2F 3-2: Ground out 4-3 (Groundball, 4, EV 89.4 MPH) Batting: RHB Eric Soderholm 0-0: Ball 1-0: Fly out, F8 (Flyball, 8RS, EV 85.0 MPH) Batting: RHB Bobby Darwin 0-0: Called Strike 0-1: Foul Ball, location: 2F 0-2: Ground out 5-3 (Groundball, 56, EV 111.2 MPH) Bottom of the 7th over - 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on base; California 2 - Minnesota 7 TOP OF THE 8TH California Angels batting - Pitching for Minnesota Twins : RHP Bert Blyleven Batting: RHB Ken McMullen 0-0: Called Strike 0-1: Swinging Strike 0-2: Fly out, F9 (Flyball, 9, EV 96.2 MPH) Batting: RHB Andy Kosco 0-0: Called Strike 0-1: Foul Ball, location: 2F 0-2: Foul Ball, location: 2F 0-2: Strikes out swinging Batting: RHB Leroy Stanton 0-0: Called Strike 0-1: Ball 1-1: Swinging Strike 1-2: Foul Ball, location: 2F 1-2: Foul Ball, location: 2F 1-2: Foul Ball, location: 2F 1-2: Strikes out swinging Top of the 8th over - 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on base; California 2 - Minnesota 7 BOTTOM OF THE 8TH Minnesota Twins batting - Pitching for California Angels : RHP Don Rose Batting: RHB Danny Thompson 0-0: Ball 1-0: Ball 2-0: Called Strike 2-1: Foul Ball, location: 9LMF 2-2: Strikes out swinging Batting: RHB Glenn Borgmann 0-0: Ground out 1-3 (Groundball, 15S, EV 70.0 MPH) Batting: RHB Bert Blyleven 0-0: SINGLE (Line Drive, 9S, EV 109.4 MPH) Batting: LHB Rod Carew 0-0: Called Strike 0-1: Ball 1-1: Ball 2-1: Foul Ball, location: 2F 2-2: TRIPLE (Line Drive, 89XD, EV 110.0 MPH) Bert Blyleven scores Batting: RHB Cesar Tovar 0-0: Fly out, F4 (Popup, 34, EV 68.1 MPH) Bottom of the 8th over - 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on base; California 2 - Minnesota 8 TOP OF THE 9TH California Angels batting - Pitching for Minnesota Twins : RHP Bert Blyleven Batting: RHB Ken Berry 0-0: Ball 1-0: SINGLE (Line Drive, 56D, EV 105.0 MPH) Batting: RHB Leo Cardenas 0-0: Called Strike 0-1: Fly out, F8 (Flyball, 78D, EV 73.1 MPH) Batting: RHB Joe Azcue 0-0: Ball 1-0: Ball 2-0: Called Strike 2-1: Fly out, F7 (Line Drive, 7D, EV 99.4 MPH) Pinch Hitting: LHB Chris Coletta 0-0: Ball 1-0: Called Strike 1-1: Swinging Strike 1-2: Ground out 4-3 (Groundball, 4, EV 85.0 MPH) Top of the 9th over - 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on base; California 2 - Minnesota 8