Nelson Cruz, who has spent the latter half of his career laughing in Father Time’s face, was used sparingly during the Twins’ recent trip to Milwaukee, logging all of three at-bats on National League turf (the aging slugger hasn’t played the outfield in three years). Monday, however, brought a welcome change of venue for Cruz with Minnesota heading to the Motor City (conditions appeared slightly more favorable than Thursday’s Opening Day blizzard) for a matinee against the Tigers.
Stepping in with the bases chucked against right-hander Jose Urena, Cruz belted a 94-mph fastball deep to right field, coming to rest just right of the foul pole. Cruz tried to argue the ball landed fair, turning to the dugout in hopes that manager Rocco Baldelli might challenge the ruling on the field. Baldelli didn’t take the bait, but no matter. Cruz only had to wait one more pitch for his desired outcome, tattooing a 377-foot missile to left for his 10th career grand slam.
The veteran DH continues to amaze. Including his second home run of Monday afternoon (his fifth-inning solo shot extended the Twins’ lead to 7-0), Cruz now has 419 round-trippers on his big-league resume, a total good for 53rd all-time. Only Barry Bonds (340), Hank Aaron (245) and Rafael Palmeiro (210) have submitted more homers after age 35 than Cruz (203). If not for a PED suspension early in his career, the prolific 40-year-old would probably be a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame.
The Twins are beating the absolute tar out of their division rival right now, leading Detroit 11-1 through five innings. That’s probably not what the Tigers were hoping to project in their first nationally-televised game of 2021.
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