In a memorable moment for Minnesota baseball fans, Twins right‑hander Taj Bradley achieved a historic feat on Tuesday night at Sutter Health Park. Facing the Oakland Athletics in the fifth inning, Bradley delivered an immaculate inning – nine pitches, all strikes, resulting in three strikeouts.
How the inning unfolded
Bradley began the sequence against the A’s No. 8 hitter, left fielder Carlos Cortes, with a 96 mph fastball for strike one. He followed with another 96 mph fastball that Cortes fouled off, earning strike two. The third pitch, a 92 mph splitter, induced a swing‑and‑miss for the final strike.
Bradley then turned his attention to catcher Brian Serven. A low‑zone curveball was swung through for strike one, and a 98 mph fastball whizzed past Serven for strike two. A second curveball, this time low and in the dirt, completed the second out.
For the third out, Bradley mixed in a 0‑1 curveball that clipped the inside corner, followed by a 100‑mph fastball that froze center fielder Henry Bolte for the final strikeout. Catcher Victor Caratini recalled calling for the fastball on the last pitch, noting, “He threw, like, 100 mph and the batter was frozen. That’s pretty nice.”
Game context and Bradley’s season
Despite the historic inning, the Twins fell 4‑2. Bradley logged 6 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out 11 batters, matching his career high. The performance sits within a solid season for Bradley, who is 9‑6 with a 3.97 ERA over 147 1/3 innings and has amassed 169 strikeouts.
The Twins (64‑69) will look to rebound in the series finale on Wednesday at 9:05 p.m. ET, hoping to even the three‑game set against the Athletics (52‑81).
Why the immaculate inning matters
An immaculate inning is a rare accomplishment in Major League Baseball, highlighting a pitcher’s precision and dominance. Bradley’s achievement marks the first time any Twins pitcher has recorded such a feat in the franchise’s history, underscoring his role as a key contributor to Minnesota’s pitching staff.
Fans and teammates alike praised the milestone, viewing it as a bright spot in an otherwise challenging stretch for the club. As the Twins continue their push for a postseason berth, moments like Bradley’s immaculate inning provide both motivation and a reminder of the talent on the roster.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
