Imitation, Flattery

Michael Kopech did in fact borrow a page out of Johnny Cueto’s playbook for his start at Target Field last night, putting on a ton of runners while keeping most of them from scoring over the course of five laborious innings. Kopech exits with a lead in a game where he walks twice as many batters as he strikes out, four to two, and you know things are going your way. Ditto Adam Engel going in for Luis Robert in the second inning (it apparently being Robert’s turn for the floating injury). The White Sox were up 3-2 in the seventh inning with Engel batting and two runners on. Boom, three-run homer, and the Sox go on to win 6-2. Clare and I have rooted for Engel from the time he arrived during the 2017 season. Some people can hit falling out of bed, Engel can make shoestring and over-the-wall catches the same way. For someone who once hit .166 in 301 at-bats, Engel has come a long way offensively. I once asked him if he knew who Ken Berry was. Too bad he didn’t. There are some interesting parallels between the two outfielders. So, the visitors have taken two from the first-place Twins. They have to win at least one more this weekend for it to matter. Yes, Lance?