Two rookie pitchers generating considerable buzz square off Saturday as the Minnesota Twins continue their three-game series against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers. The Twins’ Fernando Romero has won two of his first three starts, while Milwaukee’s Freddy Peralta dazzled in his major-league debut Sunday, taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning and finishing with 13 strikeouts.
Jesus Aguilar went 3-for-4 with two home runs and three RBIs in Friday’s 8-3 victory as Milwaukee won for the sixth time in its last eight games. Jonathan Villar added three hits and is 9-for-22 during the Brewers’ 10-game road trip, while Christian Yelich has recorded a hit in 15 of his last 17 games, including five straight. Minnesota has dropped four of its last five games and could be without hot-hitting Joe Mauer on Saturday after the first baseman left Friday’s contest in the fifth inning due to neck tightness. Max Kepler homered and drove in two runs for the Twins, who have lost seven of their past 10 home games.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), FS North (Minnesota)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Freddy Peralta (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Twins RH Fernando Romero (2-0, 0.54)
Peralta set a club rookie record for strikeouts in a game and earned the victory in his debut, allowing one hit over 5 2/3 innings in the 7-3 victory over Colorado. The 21-year-old was filling in for Chase Anderson (illness) and earned at least one more start after relying on a fastball that left the Rockies shell-shocked. “The fastball had cut on it, no question,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell told reporters. “You could see by their swings they weren’t comfortable with the fastball.”
Romero found himself in a pitching duel against the Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani on Sunday and received a no-decision after allowing one run over five innings. The run was the first allowed by the 23-year-old native of the Dominican Republic, who tossed 11 2/3 scoreless innings with 14 strikeouts across his first two starts. Signed as an undrafted free agent in 2011, Romero started the season at Triple-A Rochester and went 0-1 with a 2.57 ERA in four games (three starts).
WALK-OFFS1. The Brewers are 15-1 against teams currently under .500.
2. Twins OF Eddie Rosario is hitting .347 with four home runs and 10 RBI in 14 career games against Milwaukee.
3. Milwaukee 1B/OF Ji-Man Choi homered Friday in his first game since being recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs to replace OF Ryan Braun, who landed on the 10-day disabled list with middle back tightness.