Bats Go Silent to Moose the Over in Minnesota

The Highlights

• Lucas Giolito (7.53 ERA) and a pitcher making his major league debut for the Twins were set to "duel" in Minnesota.
• Four runs in the first and eight runs by the fourth inning caused the live total to reach 14.5.
• However, the teams only scored one run after the top of the fourth, causing the under 9.5 to inexplicably cash.

Do moose live in Minnesota? Looks like they do. Sort of a no-brainer now that I think of it …

Though they only tend to live in the northern portion of the state, one wandered down in to the booming metropolis of Minneapolis on Tuesday evening.

For the second game of their doubleheader, the White Sox and Twins didn't exactly send their aces to the mound. Lucas Giolito and his 7.53 ERA limped out to the hill for Chicago, while the Twins started a guy named Zack Littell. The major league debut for the latter didn't start off well, as the White Sox bruised him up early.

The Sox scored four times in the first, eventually chasing Littell after 3+ innings in which he allowed six earned runs. Nothing like an 18.00 ERA to start your career.

At that point, Chicago led 6-2, and the live total at Pinnacle sat at 14.5 — five runs higher than the 9.5 closing number. Seventy-two percent of bettors took the over given the lackluster starters, and they probably thought they had a sure winner.

But some way, somehow, the bullpens went to work. Just one run would be scored the remainder of the game — not without drama, though. Just take a gander at the final three half innings.

Max Kepler stepped up for the Twins with men on second and third with just one out in the bottom of the eighth. He would face a lefty, but Kepler actually leads all MLB lefties in batting average against southpaws. However, he struck out. Then Mitch Garver did the same.

In the top of the ninth, the Sox made the final out in the inning at third base on a hit. You're a good hitter, Jose — but you're certainly aren't fast.

And obviously, over bettors would get one final tease. Brian Dozier reached on a hit by pitch with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning. The Sox wouldn't hold him on, so Dozier ran on the first pitch, which Robbie Grossman hit into the outfield for a single. If only that came on the second pitch. And with runners on first and third with Sunday's three-homer hero, Eddie Rosario, at the plate … no cigar this time. He grounded out to end the game.

Just goes to show you, there's no such thing as a sure thing. The White Sox and Twins combined for 19 hits and eight walks (and a HBP) — but could only score nine runs — leaving over bettors a half-run short.