1978 Minnesota Twins season

Offseason

• October 3, 1977: Jim Hughes was released by the Twins.
• October 3, 1977: Steve Luebber was released by the Twins.
• October 25, 1977: Bombo Rivera was purchased by the Twins from the Montreal Expos.
• December 6, 1977: Jesús Vega was drafted by the Twins from the Milwaukee Brewers in the minor league draft.
• January 10, 1978: Jesse Orosco was drafted by the Twins in the 2nd round of the 1978 Major League Baseball draft.
• March 23, 1978: Don Carrithers was released by the Twins.

Regular season

On May 7, shortstop Roy Smalley Jr. set a Twins record by drawing five walks in a 15–9 win over the Baltimore Orioles. Smalley went 1 for 1 and scored three times.

Third baseman Mike Cubbage, on July 27, became the fifth Twin to hit for the cycle (following Rod Carew, 1970; César Tovar, 1972; Larry Hisle, 1976 and Lyman Bostock, 1976). Cubbage went double, homer, single, triple off Toronto Blue Jays' pitching. In subsequent years, five others will match the feat: Gary Ward, 1980; Kirby Puckett, 1986; Carlos Gómez, 2008; Jason Kubel, 2009; and Michael Cuddyer, 2009.

787,878 fans attended Twins games, the second lowest total in the American League. Only one Twins player made the All-Star Game: first baseman Rod Carew. In that game at San Diego Stadium, Carew—in his twelfth consecutive All-Star appearance—performed an All-Star first by hitting two triples in the game.

Carew won his seventh AL batting title with a .333 average, leading the team in hits and runs scored. Shortstop Roy Smalley hit 19 HR and collected 77 RBI. Dan Ford hit 11 HR and collected 82 RBI.

Reliever Mike Marshall was signed in May and replaced Tom Johnson and Bill Campbell as manager Gene Mauch's all-purpose reliever. Marshall went on to rack up 10 relief wins along with 21 saves. Three starters had double digit wins: Dave Goltz (15–10), Roger Erickson (14–13), and Geoff Zahn (14-14).

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Opening Day starters

• Rod Carew
• Dan Ford
• Craig Kusick
• Willie Norwood
• Bob Randall
• Bombo Rivera
• Roy Smalley
• Larry Wolfe
• Butch Wynegar
• Geoff Zahn

Notable transactions

• May 15, 1978: Mike Marshall was signed as a free agent by the Twins.
• June 6, 1978: 1978 Major League Baseball draft
  • Lenny Faedo was drafted by the Twins in the 1st round (16th pick).
  • Kent Hrbek was drafted by the Twins in the 17th round.

Roster

Game log

|-bgcolor=#fbb | 1 || April 5 || @ Mariners || 2–3 || Abbott (1–0) || Goltz (0–1) || Romo (1) || 45,235 || 0–1 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 2 || April 6 || @ Mariners || 5–4 || Erickson (1–0) || Pole (0–1) || T. Johnson (1) || 10,311 || 1–1 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 3 || April 7 || @ Mariners || 3–6 || Honeycutt (1–0) || Redfern (0–1) || Romo (2) || 11,530 || 1–2 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 4 || April 8 || @ Mariners || 8–2 || Thormodsgard (1–0) || Mitchell (0–1) || || 12,896 || 2–2 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 5 || April 9 || @ Mariners || 8–6 || Serum (1–0) || House (0–1) || || 11,803 || 3–2 || W2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 6 || April 10 || @ Angels || 0–3 || Brett (1–0) || Goltz (0–2) || || 10,074 || 3–3 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 7 || April 11 || @ Angels || 8–1 || Erickson (2–0) || Aase (0–1) || || 12,217 || 4–3 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 8 || April 12 || @ Angels || 5–9 || Tanana (2–0) || Redfern (0–2) || LaRoche (2) || 12,295 || 4–4 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 9 || April 13 || @ Angels || 0–1 (11) || LaRoche (1–0) || T. Johnson (0–1) || || 11,702 || 4–5 || L2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 10 || April 14 || Mariners || 14–5 || Zahn (1–0) || House (0–2) || || 17,425 || 5–5 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 11 || April 15 || Mariners || 6–5 (11) || T. Johnson (1–1) || Montague (0–1) || || 7,471 || 6–5 || W2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 12 || April 16 || Mariners || 5–8 || Pole (1–2) || Erickson (2–1) || Rawley (1) || – || 6–6 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 13 || April 16 || Mariners || 2–7 || House (1–2) || D. Johnson (0–1) || || 14,021 || 6–7 || L2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 14 || April 17 || Athletics || 2–7 || Broberg (2–0) || Thormodsgard (1–1) || || 2,054 || 6–8 || L3 |-bgcolor=#bbb | — || April 18 || Athletics || colspan=7| Postponed (rain); Makeup: August 11 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 15 || April 19 || Athletics || 5–6 (11) || Sosa (1–0) || T. Johnson (1–2) || || 1,935 || 6–9 || L4 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 16 || April 21 || Angels || 2–3 || Aase (1–1) || Goltz (0–3) || LaRoche (3) || 4,516 || 6–10 || L5 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 17 || April 22 || Angels || 3–5 || Tanana (4–0) || Erickson (2–2) || Hartzell (3) || 6,566 || 6–11 || L6 |-bgcolor=#bbb | — || April 23 || Angels || colspan=7| Postponed (rain); Makeup: June 22 |-bgcolor=#bbb | — || April 24 || @ Athletics || colspan=7| Postponed (rain); Makeup: April 25 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 18 || April 25 || @ Athletics || 3–5 || Sosa (2–0) || Thayer (0–1) || || – || 6–12 || L7 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 19 || April 25 || @ Athletics || 3–4 (14) || Coleman (1–0) || T. Johnson (1–3) || || 4,808 || 6–13 || L8 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 20 || April 26 || @ Athletics || 8–9 (12) || Coleman (2–0) || T. Johnson (1–4) || || 4,127 || 6–14 || L9 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 21 || April 27 || @ Athletics || 6–1 || Serum (2–0) || Wirth (1–2) || || 4,645 || 7–14 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 22 || April 28 || Yankees || 1–3 || Figueroa (3–1) || Thormodsgard (1–2) || || 11,674 || 7–15 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 23 || April 29 || Yankees || 3–1 || Zahn (2–0) || Tidrow (1–2) || || 10,543 || 8–15 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 24 || April 30 || Yankees || 2–3 || Gossage (1–3) || Scarce (0–1) || || 13,929 || 8–16 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 25 || May 3 || @ Red Sox || 9–11 || Burgmeier (1–0) || D. Johnson (0–2) || Stanley (2) || 16,403 || 8–17 || L2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 26 || May 4 || @ Red Sox || 1–8 || Eckersley (1–1) || Thormodsgard (1–3) || || 15,784 || 8–18 || L3 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 27 || May 5 || @ Orioles || 1–2 || Flanagan (2–3) || Zahn (2–1) || || 3,897 || 8–19 || L4 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 28 || May 6 || @ Orioles || 8–7 || Thayer (1–1) || Stanhouse (0–2) || T. Johnson (2) || 26,870 || 9–19 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 29 || May 7 || @ Orioles || 15–9 || Scarce (1–1) || Palmer (3–2) || || 8,923 || 10–19 || W2 |-bgcolor=#bbb | — || May 8 || @ Yankees || colspan=7| Postponed (rain); Makeup: July 30 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 30 || May 9 || @ Yankees || 1–3 || Hunter (2–3) || Thormodsgard (1–4) || Lyle (5) || 11,271 || 10–20 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 31 || May 10 || @ White Sox || 2–7 || Wortham (1–1) || Erickson (2–3) || || 8,338 || 10–21 || L2 |-bgcolor=#bbb | — || May 11 || @ White Sox || colspan=7| Postponed (rain); Makeup: June 25 |-bgcolor=#bbb | — || May 12 || Red Sox || colspan=7| Postponed (rain); Makeup: July 24 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 32 || May 13 || Red Sox || 2–4 || Torrez (5–1) || Zahn (2–2) || Burgmeier (2) || 7,914 || 10–22 || L3 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 33 || May 14 || Red Sox || 2–6 || Eckersley (3–1) || Thormodsgard (1–5) || Burgmeier (3) || 7,008 || 10–23 || L4 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 34 || May 15 || Orioles || 9–6 (10) || Marshall (1–0) || Flinn (1–1) || || 3,847 || 11–23 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 35 || May 16 || Orioles || 8–1 || Goltz (1–3) || Palmer (3–4) || T. Johnson (3) || 4,893 || 12–23 || W2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 36 || May 18 || @ Royals || 8–6 || Zahn (3–2) || Leonard (3–7) || Marshall (1) || 17,459 || 13–23 || W3 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 37 || May 19 || @ Royals || 5–3 || Erickson (3–3) || Pattin (1–1) || Marshall (2) || 31,574 || 14–23 || W4 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 38 || May 20 || @ Royals || 3–6 || Gale (4–0) || Thormodsgard (1–6) || Hrabosky (5) || 30,312 || 14–24 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 39 || May 21 || @ Royals || 3–2 || Serum (3–0) || Splittorff (4–4) || Marshall (3) || 29,079 || 15–24 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 40 || May 22 || Rangers || 2–0 || Zahn (4–2) || Matlack (4–5) || Marshall (4) || 6,108 || 16–24 || W2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 41 || May 23 || Rangers || 5–2 || Erickson (4–3) || Umbarger (2–3) || || 6,791 || 17–24 || W3 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 42 || May 24 || Rangers || 2–3 (11) || Lindblad (1–0) || Marshall (1–1) || Medich (1) || 7,598 || 17–25 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 43 || May 25 || Rangers || 1–7 || Jenkins (5–2) || Serum (3–1) || || 7,644 || 17–26 || L2 |-bgcolor=#bbb | — || May 26 || Royals || colspan=7| Postponed (rain); Makeup: August 16 |-bgcolor=#bbb | — || May 27 || Royals || colspan=7| Postponed (rain); Makeup: September 22 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 44 || May 28 || Royals || 7–8 (12) || Gura (3–1) || Marshall (1–2) || || 22,266 || 17–27 || L3 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 45 || May 29 || @ Rangers || 1–7 || D. Ellis (3–2) || Serum (3–2) || || – || 17–28 || L4 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 46 || May 29 || @ Rangers || 7–2 || Erickson (5–3) || Umbarger (2–4) || Marshall (5) || 28,317 || 18–28 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 47 || May 30 || @ Rangers || 2–0 || Zahn (5–2) || Jenkins (5–3) || Marshall (6) || 12,718 || 19–28 || W2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 48 || June 1 || @ Rangers || 7–10 || Comer (1–1) || Marshall (1–3) || || 16,084 || 19–29 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 49 || June 2 || @ Tigers || 4–2 || Erickson (6–3) || Billingham (4–3) || Marshall (7) || 21,127 || 20–29 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 50 || June 3 || @ Tigers || 9–2 || Goltz (2–3) || Sykes (3–3) || || 21,227 || 21–29 || W2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 51 || June 4 || @ Tigers || 4–6 || Morris (1–1) || Zahn (5–3) || || 36,575 || 21–30 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 52 || June 7 || White Sox || 3–8 || Kravec (4–4) || Erickson (6–4) || || 6,627 || 21–31 || L2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 53 || June 8 || White Sox || 1–2 || Wood (6–5) || Goltz (2–4) || Willoughby (5) || 11,071 || 21–32 || L3 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 54 || June 9 || @ Indians || 3–7 || Clyde (4–0) || Zahn (5–4) || Kern (4) || 8,390 || 21–33 || L4 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 55 || June 10 || @ Indians || 3–4 || Wise (4–9) || Marshall (1–4) || Kern (5) || 16,048 || 21–34 || L5 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 56 || June 11 || @ Indians || 1–2 (10) || Paxton (3–3) || Marshall (1–5) || || 25,547 || 21–35 || L6 |-bgcolor=#bbb | — || June 12 || @ Blue Jays || colspan=7| Postponed (rain); Makeup: June 13 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 57 || June 13 || @ Blue Jays || 2–0 || Goltz (3–4) || Moore (2–1) || Marshall (8) || – || 22–35 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 58 || June 13 || @ Blue Jays || 7–2 || Zahn (6–4) || Clancy (4–5) || || 14,489 || 23–35 || W2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 59 || June 14 || Indians || 8–2 || Erickson (7–4) || Clyde (4–1) || || 6,612 || 24–35 || W3 |-bgcolor=#bbb | — || June 15 || Indians || colspan=7| Postponed (rain); Makeup: September 3 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 60 || June 16 || Tigers || 5–2 || Jackson (1–0) || Rozema (2–3) || || 9,479 || 25–35 || W4 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 61 || June 17 || Tigers || 3–1 || Zahn (7–4) || Wilcox (3–5) || || 9,807 || 26–35 || W5 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 62 || June 18 || Tigers || 8–4 || Goltz (4–4) || Slaton (6–4) || Marshall (9) || 21,480 || 27–35 || W6 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 63 || June 20 || Angels || 5–10 || Tanana (11–3) || Erickson (7–5) || || 12,330 || 27–36 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 64 || June 21 || Angels || 2–5 || Aase (4–3) || Zahn (7–5) || || 10,801 || 27–37 || L2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 65 || June 22 || Angels || 2–4 (12) || LaRoche (6–3) || Marshall (1–6) || || 7,488 || 27–38 || L3 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 66 || June 23 || @ White Sox || 2–1 || Goltz (5–4) || Kravec (6–5) || || 28,082 || 28–38 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 67 || June 24 || @ White Sox || 4–7 || Wood (7–5) || Jackson (1–1) || LaGrow (8) || 27,433 || 28–39 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 68 || June 25 || @ White Sox || 8–5 || Marshall (2–6) || Schueler (3–2) || || – || 29–39 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 69 || June 25 || @ White Sox || 9–6 || Erickson (8–5) || Hinton (1–1) || Marshall (10) || 20,137 || 30–39 || W2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 70 || June 26 || @ Brewers || 2–8 || Sorensen (10–4) || Serum (3–3) || || 7,988 || 30–40 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 71 || June 27 || @ Brewers || 6–13 || Replogle (4–1) || Goltz (5–5) || || 16,137 || 30–41 || L2 |-bgcolor=#bbb | — || June 30 || White Sox || colspan=7| Postponed (rain); Makeup: July 2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 72 || July 1 || White Sox || 10–0 || Goltz (6–5) || Barrios (5–8) || || 7,533 || 31–41 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 73 || July 2 || White Sox || 5–8 || Wood (9–5) || Zahn (7–6) || Willoughby (10) || – || 31–42 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 74 || July 2 || White Sox || 9–5 || Marshall (3–6) || Schueler (3–3) || || 26,897 || 32–42 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 75 || July 3 || Brewers || 7–2 || Erickson (9–5) || Augustine (9–9) || || 19,062 || 33–42 || W2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 76 || July 4 || Brewers || 7–2 || Serum (4–3) || Travers (4–4) || || 26,263 || 34–42 || W3 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 77 || July 5 || Brewers || 3–1 || Goltz (7–5) || Sorensen (11–5) || || 11,409 || 35–42 || W4 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 78 || July 7 || @ Athletics || 3–2 || Zahn (8–6) || Renko (3–4) || Marshall (11) || – || 36–42 || W5 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 79 || July 7 || @ Athletics || 1–0 || Jackson (2–1) || Langford (1–7) || || 7,239 || 37–42 || W6 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 80 || July 8 || @ Athletics || 9–8 (11) || Marshall (4–6) || Heaverlo (3–4) || || 12,201 || 38–42 || W7 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 81 || July 9 || @ Athletics || 7–0 || Goltz (8–5) || Broberg (9–7) || || 4,720 || 39–42 || W8 |-bgcolor=#bcf | ASG || July 11 || AL @ NL || 3–7 || Sutter (1–0) || Gossage (0–1) || || 51,549 || — || N/A |-bgcolor=#fbb | 82 || July 13 || @ Orioles || 6–8 || Flanagan (13–6) || Goltz (8–6) || T. Martinez (3) || 8,119 || 39–43 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 83 || July 14 || @ Orioles || 1–5 || McGregor (9–8) || Zahn (8–7) || || 24,195 || 39–44 || L2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 84 || July 15 || @ Red Sox || 4–5 || Lee (10–3) || Jackson (2–2) || Stanley (6) || 32,861 || 39–45 || L3 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 85 || July 16 || @ Red Sox || 3–5 || Eckersley (11–2) || Harrison (0–1) || Campbell (4) || – || 39–46 || L4 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 86 || July 16 || @ Red Sox || 2–3 || Wright (5–1) || Erickson (9–6) || Stanley (7) || 35,589 || 39–47 || L5 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 87 || July 17 || @ Red Sox || 2–3 (10) || Campbell (6–5) || Marshall (4–7) || || 33,233 || 39–48 || L6 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 88 || July 19 || Yankees || 0–2 || Figueroa (8–7) || Zahn (8–8) || || 29,591 || 39–49 || L7 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 89 || July 20 || Yankees || 0–4 || Guidry (14–1) || Jackson (2–3) || || 30,660 || 39–50 || L8 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 90 || July 21 || Orioles || 4–5 (10) || Stanhouse (4–5) || Marshall (4–8) || || 14,702 || 39–51 || L9 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 91 || July 22 || Orioles || 5–4 || Goltz (9–6) || McGregor (10–9) || || 10,063 || 40–51 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 92 || July 23 || Orioles || 5–8 || Palmer (12–8) || Serum (4–4) || Stanhouse (13) || 30,896 || 40–52 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 93 || July 24 || Red Sox || 5–4 || Jackson (3–3) || Drago (2–4) || Marshall (12) || – || 41–52 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 94 || July 24 || Red Sox || 2–4 || Hassler (2–4) || Zahn (8–9) || Stanley (8) || 21,580 || 41–53 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 95 || July 25 || Red Sox || 5–2 || Erickson (10–6) || Lee (10–5) || Marshall (13) || 18,608 || 42–53 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 96 || July 26 || Blue Jays || 1–5 || Moore (5–2) || Goltz (9–7) || || 6,014 || 42–54 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 97 || July 27 || Blue Jays || 6–3 || Perzanowski (1–0) || Clancy (7–8) || || 18,285 || 43–54 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 98 || July 28 || @ Yankees || 7–5 (10) || Marshall (5–8) || Lyle (7–2) || || 25,037 || 44–54 || W2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 99 || July 29 || @ Yankees || 3–7 || Clay (2–3) || Jackson (3–4) || Gossage (15) || 46,711 || 44–55 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 100 || July 30 || @ Yankees || 3–4 || Gossage (7–9) || Marshall (5–9) || || – || 44–56 || L2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 101 || July 30 || @ Yankees || 2–0 || Goltz (10–7) || Beattie (2–5) || Marshall (14) || 41,491 || 45–56 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 102 || August 1 || @ Mariners || 6–13 || House (5–4) || Perzanowski (1–1) || || 9,272 || 45–57 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 103 || August 2 || @ Mariners || 1–3 || Colborn (3–8) || Zahn (8–10) || || 8,394 || 45–58 || L2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 104 || August 3 || @ Mariners || 5–6 || Romo (9–3) || Marshall (5–10) || || 9,471 || 45–59 || L3 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 105 || August 4 || @ Angels || 3–12 || Fitzmorris (1–1) || Serum (4–5) || Brett (1) || 17,411 || 45–60 || L4 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 106 || August 5 || @ Angels || 4–3 || Erickson (11–6) || Tanana (14–7) || || – || 46–60 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 107 || August 5 || @ Angels || 3–4 || Knapp (11–6) || Perzanowski (1–2) || LaRoche (16) || 41,723 || 46–61 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 108 || August 6 || @ Angels || 3–4 || LaRoche (8–5) || Marshall (5–11) || || 17,628 || 46–62 || L2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 109 || August 7 || Mariners || 5–6 (14) || Todd (2–3) || Perzanowski (1–3) || || 6,657 || 46–63 || L3 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 110 || August 8 || Mariners || 10–2 || Serum (5–5) || Honeycutt (4–7) || || 6,499 || 47–63 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 111 || August 9 || Mariners || 1–4 || Abbott (5–9) || Erickson (11–7) || Todd (2) || 6,814 || 47–64 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 112 || August 11 || Athletics || 0–2 || Langford (6–7) || Zahn (8–11) || || – || 47–65 || L2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 113 || August 11 || Athletics || 3–2 || Jackson (4–4) || Broberg (9–10) || Marshall (15) || 13,795 || 48–65 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 114 || August 12 || Athletics || 6–3 || Perzanowski (2–3) || Renko (6–7) || Marshall (16) || 11,740 || 49–65 || W2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 115 || August 13 || Athletics || 3–1 || Serum (6–5) || Keough (7–10) || || – || 50–65 || W3 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 116 || August 13 || Athletics || 2–1 || Erickson (12–7) || Norris (0–1) || || 18,577 || 51–65 || W4 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 117 || August 14 || @ Indians || 3–4 || Paxton (9–6) || Holly (0–1) || Kern (10) || 6,513 || 51–66 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 118 || August 15 || @ Indians || 9–8 || Marshall (6–11) || Monge (3–2) || Serum (1) || 6,971 || 52–66 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 119 || August 16 || Royals || 5–1 || Zahn (9–11) || Bird (4–6) || || – || 53–66 || W2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 120 || August 16 || Royals || 7–11 || Splittorff (14–10) || Perzanowski (2–4) || Mingori (7) || 14,640 || 53–67 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 121 || August 17 || Royals || 6–5 (10) || Erickson (13–7) || Gura (10–3) || || 15,936 || 54–67 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 122 || August 18 || Blue Jays || 4–3 (10) || Holly (1–1) || Murphy (4–9) || || 4,599 || 55–67 || W2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 123 || August 19 || Blue Jays || 5–0 || Serum (7–5) || Garvin (3–12) || || 10,745 || 56–67 || W3 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 124 || August 20 || Blue Jays || 2–6 || Kirkwood (2–1) || Perzanowski (2–5) || Murphy (7) || 11,685 || 56–68 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 125 || August 21 || Tigers || 6–9 || Billingham (14–5) || Zahn (9–12) || || 7,419 || 56–69 || L2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 126 || August 22 || Tigers || 3–7 || Slaton (13–9) || Perzanowski (2–6) || || 7,726 || 56–70 || L3 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 127 || August 23 || Rangers || 0–2 || Comer (6–3) || Erickson (13–8) || || 7,157 || 56–71 || L4 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 128 || August 24 || Rangers || 1–4 (10) || Jenkins (12–8) || Goltz (10–8) || || 8,666 || 56–72 || L5 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 129 || August 25 || @ Blue Jays || 3–7 || Kirkwood (3–1) || Serum (7–6) || Willis (7) || 15,206 || 56–73 || L6 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 130 || August 26 || @ Blue Jays || 3–4 (10) || Cruz (5–1) || Zahn (9–13) || || 25,601 || 56–74 || L7 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 131 || August 27 || @ Blue Jays || 3–2 (11) || Marshall (7–11) || Willis (2–6) || || 22,023 || 57–74 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 132 || August 29 || @ Tigers || 2–4 || Wilcox (12–8) || Goltz (10–9) || || 13,839 || 57–75 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 133 || August 31 || @ Tigers || 4–1 || Zahn (10–13) || Young (5–4) || Marshall (17) || 16,995 || 58–75 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 134 || September 1 || Indians || 1–4 || Clyde (6–9) || Erickson (13–9) || Spillner (3) || 4,917 || 58–76 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 135 || September 2 || Indians || 2–1 || Goltz (11–9) || Reuschel (2–2) || Marshall (18) || 6,775 || 59–76 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 136 || September 3 || Indians || 12–3 || Serum (8–6) || Wise (9–18) || || – || 60–76 || W2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 137 || September 3 || Indians || 4–3 || Marshall (8–11) || Kern (8–9) || || 10,240 || 61–76 || W3 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 138 || September 4 || White Sox || 2–1 || Zahn (11–13) || Barrios (8–13) || || 6,978 || 62–76 || W4 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 139 || September 5 || White Sox || 3–4 || Trout (1–0) || Erickson (13–10) || LaGrow (15) || 3,630 || 62–77 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 140 || September 6 || White Sox || 0–1 || Kravec (11–13) || Goltz (11–10) || || 3,648 || 62–78 || L2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 141 || September 8 || Brewers || 0–3 || Replogle (8–2) || Serum (8–7) || || 9,262 || 62–79 || L3 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 142 || September 9 || Brewers || 0–3 || Caldwell (18–9) || Erickson (13–11) || || 10,639 || 62–80 || L4 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 143 || September 10 || Brewers || 3–1 || Goltz (12–10) || Travers (10–9) || || 10,512 || 63–80 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 144 || September 11 || @ White Sox || 3–1 || Zahn (12–13) || Kravec (11–14) || Marshall (19) || 7,342 || 64–80 || W2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 145 || September 12 || @ White Sox || 1–6 || Hinton (2–4) || Serum (8–8) || || 6,279 || 64–81 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 146 || September 15 || @ Brewers || 10–3 || Erickson (14–11) || Travers (10–10) || || 12,456 || 65–81 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 147 || September 16 || @ Brewers || 5–2 || Goltz (13–10) || Sorensen (17–11) || Marshall (20) || 37,809 || 66–81 || W2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 148 || September 17 || @ Brewers || 4–3 || Serum (9–8) || Replogle (9–3) || Marshall (21) || 11,007 || 67–81 || W3 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 149 || September 18 || Angels || 10–4 || Zahn (13–13) || Knapp (14–8) || Perzanowski (1) || 2,278 || 68–81 || W4 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 150 || September 19 || Angels || 1–4 || Ryan (8–13) || Erickson (14–12) || || 3,747 || 68–82 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 151 || September 20 || Rangers || 5–3 || Goltz (14–10) || Comer (9–5) || || 2,736 || 69–82 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 152 || September 21 || Rangers || 3–6 || Matlack (14–13) || Serum (9–9) || || 3,312 || 69–83 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 153 || September 22 || Royals || 2–4 || Gura (15–4) || Jackson (4–5) || || – || 69–84 || L2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 154 || September 22 || Royals || 4–0 || Zahn (14–13) || Pattin (3–3) || || 5,175 || 70–84 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 155 || September 23 || Royals || 1–3 || Splittorff (19–12) || Erickson (14–13) || Hrabosky (20) || 13,288 || 70–85 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 156 || September 24 || Royals || 6–4 || Goltz (15–10) || Mingori (1–4) || || 6,627 || 71 –85 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 157 || September 25 || @ Rangers || 2–3 (11) || Cleveland (5–8) || Marshall (8–12) || || 6,404 || 71–86 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 158 || September 26 || @ Rangers || 6–2 || Marshall (9–12) || Mirabella (2–2) || || 6,797 || 72–86 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 159 || September 27 || @ Rangers || 5–10 || Mirabella (3–2) || Perzanowski (2–7) || || 9,601 || 72–87 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 160 || September 29 || @ Royals || 0–4 || Leonard (21–17) || Jackson (4–6) || || 31,794 || 72–88 || L2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 161 || September 30 || @ Royals || 7–3 (11) || Marshall (10–12) || McGilberry (0–1) || || 29,089 || 73–88 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 162 || October 1 || @ Royals || 0–1 || Throop (1–0) || Zahn (14–14) || Paschall (1) || 23,794 || 73–89 || L1

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Awards and honors

All-Star Game

• Rod Carew, Starter

Farm system

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Visalia, Elizabethton

Notes

References

• Player stats from www.baseball-reference.com
• Team info from www.baseball-almanac.com

References

1. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/h/hugheji02.shtml Jim Hughes] at ''Baseball Reference''
2. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/l/luebbst01.shtml Steve Luebber] at ''Baseball Reference''
3. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/r/riverbo01.shtml Bombo Rivera] at ''Baseball Reference''
4. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/v/vegaje01.shtml Jesús Vega] at ''Baseball Reference''
5. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/o/oroscje01.shtml Jesse Orosco] at ''Baseball Reference''
6. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/c/carrido01.shtml Don Carrithers] at ''Baseball Reference''
7. "Smalley Draws 5 Walks". Baseball-Reference.com.
8. ''Great Baseball Feats, Facts and Figures'', 2008 Edition, p. 107, David Nemec and Scott Flatow, A Signet Book, Penguin Group, New York, {{ISBN. 978-0-451-22363-0
9. "1978 Minnesota Twins Roster by Baseball Almanac".
10. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/m/marshmi01.shtml Mike Marshall] at ''Baseball Reference''
11. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/f/faedole01.shtml Lenny Faedo] at ''Baseball Reference''
12. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/h/hrbekke01.shtml Kent Hrbek] at ''Baseball Reference''