Ache #23: Twins Don't Record An Out At First Base

Joe Mauer hanging out at first base against Milwaukee

Photo/Dylan Buell, Getty Images

Although he has never been nominated for a Gold Glove since moving to First Base, Joe Mauer is one of the more consistent defensive first baseman in the league. Nothing flashy, but he gets the job done.

But on July 3rd, 2018, Paul Molitor may as well have kept him in the dugout and played eight men in the field. Mauer played all eight innings in a 2-0 loss to the Brewers at Miller Park at first base - and never recorded a putout or assist...the first time that had happened in the Twins' 57 year history.

Forget just Mauer. It was the first time that the Twins failed to record an assist as a team.

Twins starter Jake Odorizzi struck out nine batters and got five batters to flyout in his five innings of work. Ryan Pressley struck out the side in the sixth and Gabriel Moya struck out four batters and induced two fly outs over his two innings of work.

The Brewers scored their runs on a two-run home run by Eric Thames off Odorizzi in the bottom of the fifth.

Junior Guerra, Josh Hader and Corey Knebel held the Twins to only two hits in the loss.

The last time a first baseman failed to record a putout was Edwin Encarnacion for Toronto in August 2012. It has only happened six times since 1998. The Yankees were the last team to play a full game without recording assist, doing it against Boston in 2014.

It's also worth noting that the Twins had been scoreless for their last 14 innings and counting.