Article: MIN 6, DET 0: Odorizzi Deals (Again), Twins Win Fourth in a Row

[Thiéres Rabelo]

After earning the AL Player of the Week honors, Jake Odorizzi didn’t slow down and pitched a gem to lead the Twins to their 24th win of the season, as they beat the Tigers 6-0 in Target Field on Friday night. The Twins improve to a 7-1 record in the AL Central and maintain an MLB-best record.Box Score

Odorizzi: 7.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 69.4% strikes (66 of 95 pitches)

Home Runs: Garver (8), Kepler (8)

Multi-Hit Games: None

WPA of +0.1: Odorizzi .290, Polanco .150, Garver .130

WPA of -0.1: Rosario -.130

Download attachment: Win510.png

(chart via FanGraphs)

 

Things didn’t start as well as one might think for Odorizzi. He gave up a double while facing his second batter of the night and saw a lot of hard contact from Tiger hitters, but he went on to retire 20 consecutive batters, before leaving the game in the end of seventh inning. His ERA now drops to 2.32 overall and 0.86 in his last five outings. That was also his third consecutive scoreless start, all in which he pitched at least six innings.

 

The offense also came up big in support of Odorizzi. Jorge Polanco drove in three runs and Mitch Garver and Max Kepler each hit home runs. Minnesota has the third-best run differential in the AL at +50 and has hit 66 home runs, which is tied for third in the league.

 

Story of the Game

Odorizzi gave up a double in the top of the first, but that was pretty much all that happened in the inning. The top of the Twins' lineup couldn’t get anything done against Tyson Ross, who pitched a 1-2-3 inning. Both starters cruised through the second as well, retiring all the batters they’ve faced.

 

In the top of the third, Odo kept dealing, with another 1-2-3 inning, with two strikeouts, but this time the offense showed up in the bottom half. After loading the bases with a couple of walks (Garver and Kepler) and a single in between (Jonathan Schoop), Polanco came through with a two-run double.

 

Still no problems for Odorizzi in the fourth, as he retired all batters with only wight pitches, making it 11 consecutive. Then Garver did some more damage, blasting a two-run home run to the second deck in the left field making it 4-0 Twins.

Tiger hitters had no answer to Odorizzi, whatsoever. He had another three up, three down inning in the fifth, with over 73% strikes at this point (50 strikes in 68 pitches), making it fourteen consecutive batters retired. And he got some more run support later on, as Kepler hit a solo shot to right field, driving in the fifth run of the night.

Once again the Tiger hitters were dominated in the top of sixth by the Twins starter, who reached seventeen consecutive batters retired. He made it look easy. The offense continued to be effective, as Polanco drew a walk with the bases loaded, making it 6-0 Minnesota, earning his third RBI of the night.

 

Odorizzi completed his majestic outing by getting yet another 1-2-3 inning in the seventh. And even though the offense didn’t produce any more runs, things didn’t get any easier for Detroit’s bats. Matt Magill pitched a three up, three down eighth. Fernando Romero gave up two hits to leadoff the ninth, but he got some fielding help from Ehire Adrianza and Buxton to secure the win and the shutout.

 

After the game it was announced that Martin Perez would be going on the paternity list. Kohl Stewart will take his place on the 25-man roster and is slated to pitch the second game of tomorrow's doubleheader. The bonus 26th man for the doubleheader will be announced Saturday.

 

Postgame With Baldelli

Bullpen Usage

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

Download attachment: Bullpen510.png

Next Three Games

Sat vs. DET, 1:10 pm CT (Pineda-Turnbull)

Sat vs. DET, 7:10 pm CT (Stewart-TBD)

Sun vs. DET, 1:!0 pm CT (TBD-Norris)

 

Last Game

MIN 9, TOR 1: Twins Steamroll Toronto

 

Click here to view the article

[Dantes929]

Nice win.  Just watched the highlights.   Can we please put lots of the thick soft padding out on the walls.   Seems like Buxton crashes into the fence once a game.

[bighat]

Congrats to Perez on his new addition to the family, he's doing the right thing taking some time away. Maybe a little rest will do him good.

 

Team's on fire right now. Those bad games in NYY seem like a long time ago. Getting used to winning every night is fun.

 

Rosario trying to hit HRs every time up or what? Someone should tell him that he doesn't need to do that...plenty of HRs to go around. Kepler with 8 now? Wow.

[D.C Twins]

Um....Wow.....just WOW!

 

The biggest problem for the Twins you ask?!

 

At this rate, Wes Johnson is going to get hired away as an MLB manager elsewhere after only a year just to steal his pitching instruction.

 

And I'm more serious than kidding. Good Lord.

 

Learn fast boys....(oh, and what a wonderful 'problem' to have)

[D.C Twins]

....and Buck becoming a real MLB hitter this is actually (probably) the most important development of the year (luckily we have many more years of 'control' for him than Wes Johnson

[jkcarew]

Rosario trying to hit HRs every time up or what? Someone should tell him that he doesn't need to do that...plenty of HRs to go around. Kepler with 8 now? Wow.

 

Rosario did look broke tonight...and has for many games over the last couple of weeks. The good news...last year that would have almost automatically meant games lost.

[drock2190]

Rosario has the 3rd lowest line drive rate in the Majors this year at around 10%. He won't hit for much of an average if he keeps that up.

[Danchat]

Wow, now that's a freshly rested bullpen! We're in great shape headed into tomorrow's doubleheader. We can survive a clunker by Stewart or another starter... and I can't remember the last time I've said that.

[USAFChief]

Odorizzi.

 

What. The actual. ****?

[RaoulDuke]

This team is awesome. 

 

I haven't felt this excited about a team in years. I think its for real, I am all in (don't break my heart again MN sports lol).

 

Modern approach, league leading players, talented depth.

 

Spend what it takes and get a big RH bullpen arm to pair with Rodgers!

[carlito_b]

Is Mitch Garver gonna make the all star game?that would've been a hot take coming into the year. He and polanco have been incredible but to me polanco is far less surprising. When la Tortuga comes back on days garver isnt catching her needs to be at first. His bat needs to be in the lineup every night

[rghrbek]

Glad Perez has a way important family activity.  However, wish it was not Stewart who was coming up, but I get there are more things than just who's pitching well, as options and where each guy is at come into play.

 

Just want to keep our foot on the necks of our opponents.

 

[h2oface]

What roll our team is on. I hope the bats come ready tomorrow, because with Stewart and Pineda pitching, we are gonna need lots of runs.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

What roll our team is on. I hope the bats come ready tomorrow, because with Stewart and Pineda pitching, we are gonna need lots of runs.

oof…

 

Stewart and Pineda... only good thing going for us is that Detroit is basically a good AAA team. Hope both of those guys start absorbing some of that magic.

[MMMordabito]

Thanks, Matt Chapman. Walks Oakland off and hands the Twins a 4.5 game division lead!

[mikelink45]

Like others on this comment section I wonder why the love affair for Stewart.  Is he the best in the minors right now?  I know it is a push but I would rather see Graterol begin to experience the bigs - his stuff should play well anywhere. 

 

Reading the minor league report on TD I know that Addison Reed is not ready to come up and perform, and DeJong is earning his DFA status.  Littell has a better ERA than Stewart, have we given up on him?  And Poppen is better than both.  

 

Just curious.

[TFRazor]

The absolute lack of effort that appeared to go into Garver's swing on that HR... and yet it went 2nd deck. Oofta

[woolywoolhouse]

No mention/update on Goodrum delivering a UFC-style knockout knee to the head of Marwin Gonzalez in the 6th? It was a fine attempt on Niko's part to try and reel in a terrible throw by pitcher Ross, but it was a scary moment. Hearing Morneau in the booth have flashbacks to Toronto 2010 was spooky.

[segagenesisgenius]

Not that it really matters, but after this 6-0 game they actually have a +50 run differential (not +44).  And after the full night's action that is actually 3rd in the AL, and tied for 3rd across MLB (Cubs and Dodgers both also have +50).  

 

12 above .500 and +50 RD (for comparison's sake, 2017 twins ended with just a +27 RD).  Heckuva season!

[MN_ExPat]

 

Like others on this comment section I wonder why the love affair for Stewart.  Is he the best in the minors right now?  I know it is a push but I would rather see Graterol begin to experience the bigs - his stuff should play well anywhere. 

 

Reading the minor league report on TD I know that Addison Reed is not ready to come up and perform, and DeJong is earning his DFA status.  Littell has a better ERA than Stewart, have we given up on him?  And Poppen is better than both.  

 

Just curious.

Pretty good point, but I have a feeling though that it lines up more with where they (Stewart and Little) are in the rotation and their rest cycle than anything else.

[MN_ExPat]

Congratulations to Perez and his family by the way.   If it's a boy, hopefully they name him Harmon or Joe

[the_brute_squad]

 

Is Mitch Garver gonna make the all star game?that would've been a hot take coming into the year. He and polanco have been incredible but to me polanco is far less surprising. When la Tortuga comes back on days garver isnt catching her needs to be at first. His bat needs to be in the lineup every night

[the_brute_squad]

It's been a long time since the Twins have been able to use their bench as a strength. Garver, Tortuga, Marwin,etc... The Yanks and Sox have been able to go to their bench and not lose a step. A lot of those players would have started for the Twins. The fact that the aforementioned players are available on the bench after the 7th innings make me a believer in this squad.

[bighat]

Does Astudillo come off the IL and play 3rd today in Marwin's absense? Or are the Twins going to play Adrianza in both games? You'd think this would be an ideal time to activate La Tortuga. From all reports he's ready....or maybe that's just wishful thinking on my part.

 

Hope Gonzalez is OK and not affected in any way long-term. We've seen those blows to the head derail careers.

[ashbury]

We’re 12-3 when we hit more than one home run in a game.

In other news, we have had 15 multi-HR games so far this season.

[USAFChief]

In other news, we have had 15 multi-HR games so far this season.

and we somehow managed to lose THREE of them.

 

Fire Baldelli!!1!

[LVTwinsfan]

Does Astudillo come off the IL and play 3rd today in Marwin's absense? Or are the Twins going to play Adrianza in both games? You'd think this would be an ideal time to activate La Tortuga. From all reports he's ready....or maybe that's just wishful thinking on my part.

 

Hope Gonzalez is OK and not affected in any way long-term. We've seen those blows to the head derail careers.

[LVTwinsfan]

Umm, Sano?

[Tom Froemming]

 

Not that it really matters, but after this 6-0 game they actually have a +50 run differential (not +44).  And after the full night's action that is actually 3rd in the AL, and tied for 3rd across MLB (Cubs and Dodgers both also have +50).  

 

12 above .500 and +50 RD (for comparison's sake, 2017 twins ended with just a +27 RD).  Heckuva season!

Fixed, thank you.

[Shaitan]

I asked in the game thread, but it was end of night. Has Romero been used in back-to back games in the minors yet?

 

Great win. I'm excited.

 

To nitpick, I'm a little surprised at the choice of Magill + Romero before the DH, just because those are the two candidate to give you 2+ innings if needed today.

 

Who a I kidding? Nothing can go wrong right now.