If the Utility Players Hall of Fame existed, video of the last three innings of Sunday’s Twins-Cardinals game would be enshrined there. Twins super-sub Ryan Kreidler’s RBI double with two outs in the eighth lifted the Twins to a 5-4 victory over the Cardinals on Sunday at Target Field. Kreidler, who has started games at shortstop, third base, left field and center field this season, entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the seventh and singled off lefty JoJo Romero to initiate a game-tying two-run rally. Then, with two outs and nobody on in the bottom of the eighth, Luke Keaschall doubled off George Soriano (3-1). Kreidler followed with a drive to the gap in left-center field that easily scored Keaschall for the go-ahead run. It was a rare opportunity for the right-handed-hitting Kreidler to face a tough righty pitcher, and he made the most of it. “Just trying to be on the heater,” Kreidler said of his approach against Soriano. “Threw me a changeup, which I didn't really expect, and then gave me a good slider to hit late. So that was nice.” Kreidler also contributed with his glove, making the defensive play of the game in the top of the ninth. José Fermin led off with a grounder up the middle against Yoendrys Gómez. Racing over from shortstop, Kreidler made a diving grab and a quick throw to first base that Royce Lewis dug out of the dirt like a guy who’s been playing the position for years, rather than just the past couple of weeks. “I gave Royce a lot of credit,” Kreidler said. “It’s not an easy play, and I throw a tough sinker sometimes, and he dug it out for me.” Twins manager Derek Shelton heaped praise on both ends of the exchange. “It’s not easy to come in a game late in the game and make a play like that, and he did a really good job,” Shelton said. “No thought process at all about leaving his feet and again, on the flip side, Royce made a really nice pick.”
