Article: CLE 5, MIN 2: Ervin Caps Banner Year With 5 Shutout Innings

[Tom Froemming]

The Twins partied late into the night Wednesday, celebrating their postseason berth, which meant this afternoon their “B” squad was going to get some reps. They got dominated by Carlos Carrasco, but even with somewhat of an unfamiliar cast of characters the team displayed the same fight to the finish spirit we’ve seen all year. The Twins managed to score a pair of runs in the ninth but eventually fell to Cleveland, who won their 100th game of the year.Snapshot (chart via Fangraphs)

Download attachment: Snapshot928.png

How huge is it that the Twins were able to clinch early? The majority of the regulars got to take a day off. The focus for this weekend can switch from sprinting to the finish to tuning up for what’s next. Heck, Miguel Sano may even have the opportunity to test his shin in a low-stress game situation, though that still sounds like a longshot.

 

A bunch of the young guys got in today against a team that still had something to play for and faced one of the better pitchers in baseball. Cleveland is trying to fend off the Houston Astros in the race for the best record in the American League, and their starter today, Carrasco, ranks fourth in the AL in pitcher WAR.

 

While resting the regulars and letting the young guys gain experience was a win-win, unfortunately, the Twins couldn’t also win the ballgame. Not that it matters at this point, the Twins are locked in as the second Wild Card team no matter what happens from here on.

 

Now it’s not like it was a complete skeleton crew for the Twins. Ervin Santana was pitching to Jason Castro. Robbie Grossman, Jorge Polanco and Max Kepler were also in the lineup, but it was pretty awesome to see a thinned out Twins roster at least hold its own against a 100-win Cleveland club.

 

Carrasco struck out 14 Twins hitters over 8.1 shutout innings. Mitch Garver drove in both of the Twins runs when he hit a two-out triple in the ninth. Santana threw 5.0 shutout innings, limiting Cleveland to four hits. He had one strikeout and did not issue a walk. He was very efficient, throwing just 57 pitches, but there was really no reason to push him any further than five frames.

 

Offense was up across the league this season, but apparently Ervin didn’t get that memo. He’ll finish the regular season with a 3.28 ERA over 211.1 innings. That’s the lowest ERA he’s registered since his 2013 season in Kansas City and the most innings he’s logged since way back in 2011 when he was still with the Angels.

 

Trevor Hildenberger and Alan Busenitz both gave up two-run homers and Nik Turley gave up a solo shot.

 

Bullpen Usage

Here’s a quick look at the number of pitches thrown by the bullpen over the past five days:

Download attachment: Bullpen928.png

Looking Ahead

Fri: Twins (Kyle Gibson) vs. Detroit (Matthew Boyd), 7:10 pm CT

Sat: Twins (TBD) vs. Detroit (Buck Farmer), 6:10 pm CT

Sun: Twins (TBD) vs. Detroit (Anibal Sanchez), 2:10 pm CT

 

Looking Back

CLE 4, MIN 2: Twins Lose, Clinch Postseason Berth Anyway

MIN 8, CLE 6: Twins Use Team Record 10 Pitchers In Victory

MIN 10, DET 4: Deja Vu All Over Again

 

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[yarnivek1972]

Garver has three triples. One double, no. homeruns. He is 4th on the team in triples. Over 500 PA, he would "project" to about 33 triples, which would be the most in MLB since the Titanic sank. Keep in mind, that Garver had 4 career triples as a pro prior to his MLB debut - none since 2015.

 

Maybe this should be under fun with numbers.

Edited September 28, 2017 by yarnivek1972

[Shaitan]

Why is Hildenberger pitching when he's already at a career high in IP?

[h2oface]

 

Why is Hildenberger pitching when he's already at a career high in IP?

 

Exactly. Maybe to build his confidence? Well, that didn't happen. It always amazes me how pitchers that perform well under stress, often don't do as well without it, and seem to not be quite as intense. 

 

I hope they play the last three to win. I hate not keeping an intensity that will be required to win and go past the Wild Card game. Gardenhire let the team "rest" and tune up for the playoffs for the last 11 games in 2010. They were never the same, as they limped home @ 2-8, and lost the best record first seed. I am a firm believer in momentum and a winning culture (regardless of what happened in '87, and they lost the last 5 games of the season).

Edited September 28, 2017 by h2oface

[Riverbrian]

I've never been so disappointed with a loss in my life!

 

 

 

 

Just kidding... I'm happy. 

[Han Joelo]

Busenitz and Hildenberger, Esqs. Lose the Case of the Hungover Hung-One-Over.

[AlwaysinModeration]

Who cares? Not me. Actually, kind of disappointed they didn't get shut out on hangover day. Damn you Mitch "Triple" Garver!

[Otto von Ballpark]

How about just "Mitch the Trip"?

[Eephus]

Garver's 3 triples!

[Old Twins Cap]

I would play starting players full game on Saturday and half game on Sunday.

 

Tonight, I hope they get to rest as well.

 

Then again, with young players, that's a lot of time on the bench thinking, constructing mental stories about how they need to perform in New York.

 

I like preparation... but over-analyzing and projecting can lead to standing around and watching.

 

Jaime Garcia capitalized on their over-eagerness first night in the Bronx last week. 

 

Twins need controlled aggression, smart baseball to win.

[Tomj14]

Wow, if you have a 14 man bullpen, you don't get crazy over use of just a few.

 

[Monkeypaws]

 

Wow, if you have a 14 man bullpen, you don't get crazy over use of just a few.

 

You do if out of the 14 they are the handful you can actually count on.