Article: CHW 6, MIN 4: Sanó Homers Twice, Twins Fall Short in Chicago

[Tom Froemming]

It was a hard-fought game by the Twins, but for the second straight game the offense didn’t manage to produce the necessary runs and Minnesota came up short, dropping the series opener against the White Sox in Chicago. Miguel Sano busted out of his funk, hitting a pair of homers to go with a walk.Box Score

Berríos: 7.1 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 74.3% strikes (78 of 105 pitches)

Bullpen: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

 

Home Runs: Sanó, 2 (11)

Multi-Hit Games: Sanó, (2-for-3, 2 HR), Kepler (2-for-5), Adrianza (2-for-3, R)

 

Top 3 WPA: Sano .245, Adrianza .088, Cruz .068

Bottom 3 WPA: Polanco -.289, Berrios -.201, Schoop -.157

 

The Twins are in the middle of their roughest patch of the season, at least injury wise. Already playing without center fielder Byron Buxton and super utility man Marwin Gonzalez, Minnesota was also forced to place backup catcher Willians Astudillo in the IL yesterday and left fielder Eddie Rosario today. Once again, Rocco Baldelli had to deploy infielder Luis Arraez on the outfield. To make things worse, a number of relief pitchers were not available to pitch tonight, due to all of them being used in Thursday 18-inning marathon against the Rays.

 

A couple of home runs put both teams on the board early. James McCann hit a two-out, two-run shot early off Twins starter José Berríos, to put the White Sox ahead in the first. The Twins responded immediately. After Ehire Adrianza hit a triple in his first trip to the plate, Miguel Sanó tied it up with a bomb to the left field.

 

 

Berríos Pitches Deep Into the Game

Coming off a shortened start against the Royals, due to a blister on his right ring finger, Berríos pitched into the eighth inning, which was critical for the team, considering the bullpen shortage. But he gave up nine hits (first time since May 24) and allowed a season worst six runs (four earned). Small ball killed him tonight, as seven of the nine hits he gave up were singles. Four of them came in the fifth inning.

 

The White Sox secured the win in the bottom of the eighth, when Berríos saw Eloy Jiménez hit his first pitch up in the zone, making this Berríos’ first multi-homer game since May 13.

 

Sanó Homers Twice, Adrianza Comes Back Hot

In spite of the loss, Sanó’s game was the highlight of the night. For the second time this season, first since May 23, the third baseman went yard twice. He helped initiate a late rally in the top of the ninth, bringing the game within reach, but that wasn’t enough. Sanó now holds a .829 OPS and became the eighth Twin to reach double-digits in home runs, making Minnesota the first team to do so this year.

 

 

Coming back from the IL, Adrianza finished the night the way he left the team before the injury: red-hot. He had two hits on the night, including a triple, to go with one walk. He did have two crucial errors during the game though, but his return was much needed and hopefully will make things a bit easier for Baldelli now.

 

Minnesota falls to 52-29, but still holds an eight-game lead over the Indians, who were crushed in Baltimore, 13-0. The Twins will try to even the series tomorrow, with Michael Pineda facing Iván Nova. They’ll try to avoid their first three-game losing streak of the season.

 

Postgame With Baldelli

 

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

Click here for a review of the number of pitches thrown by each member of the bullpen over the past five days.

 

Click here to view the article

[Shaitan]

The last couple weeks have been rougher, but this:

Minnesota falls to 52-29

[jokin]

 

Box Score

Berríos: 7.1 IP, 9 H, 4 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 77.2% strikes (78 of 101 pitches)

 

Berrios was only charged with 3 ER, not 4. And the line shows 105 pitches, not 101- still a great strike% thrown. Gutty performance.

[Tom Froemming]

 

Berrios was only charged with 3 ER, not 4. And the line shows 105 pitches, not 101- still a great strike% thrown. Gutty performance.

Fixed, thank you.

[PseudoSABR]

 Really important effort from Sano. 

[twinsfanstreif]

I missed the game. What happened with Wade? I saw he was pulled after one at bat

[Aerodeliria]

I think this kind of game was expected, but the errors seem to be on the rise. Twins need to batten down the hatches.

[AlwaysinModeration]

Wade got two ABs; HBP on the first pitch of his career (then got picked off/caught stealing), in his second AB, hit a sinking line diver to center that Tilson made a diving snow-cone catch on (still not sure it didn’t touch the ground). In the seventh, with two men on, he was pinch-hit for Nelson Cruz, who walked.

 

If I’m the kid, I’m kind of disappointed with the game...but still probably on could nine.

[Riverbrian]

 

Wade got two ABs; HBP on the first pitch of his career (then got picked off/caught stealing), in his second AB, hit a sinking line diver to center that Tilson made a diving snow-cone catch on (still not sure it didn’t touch the ground). In the seventh, with two men on, he was pinch-hit for Nelson Cruz, who walked.

If I’m the kid, I’m kind of disappointed with the game...but still probably on could nine.

 

Play him again. 

[Old Twins Cap]

Time to activate Buxton and Gonzalez.

 

Twins looked listless again last night.

 

And so did Tampa Bay. Big time.

[Linus]

Let’s not gloss over two errors by Adrianza. That’s the ballgame

[terrydactyls]

Yesterday was Friday, June 28 and it was the 81st game of the year.  The Twins are now 50%  of the way through the season.  Out of 59 years, the current team ranks 18th on the all-time list of Twins' home runs in one season and are on a pace to hit 302 home runs this season.

[Huskertwin]

Rockhead didn't have to deploy infielder Luis Arraez in the outfield, he choose to. Cave isn't hitting well, but we need three real outfielders when they're available. I don't blame Arraez since he's playing out of position, but this was the third straight game the move cost us run(s). And he could have DH'd Arraez if he wanted to. And like Old Twins Cap said above let's activate Buxton and Gonsalez. Time to quit babying the players. You can lose a division in June and July just as easily as in August or September. Actually in September you have reinforcements, so get the boys on track here now.

[mikelink45]

One part of the old Twins Way that I want back is fielding.  We have become sloppy in the field this past month and that is not acceptable.  Adrianza has to be a fielder - we did not put him on the team for his bat.  

 

 

[Riverbrian]

Rockhead didn't have to deploy infielder Luis Arraez in the outfield, he choose to. Cave isn't hitting well, but we need three real outfielders when they're available. I don't blame Arraez since he's playing out of position, but this was the third straight game the move cost us run(s). And he could have DH'd Arraez if he wanted to. And like Old Twins Cap said above let's activate Buxton and Gonsalez. Time to quit babying the players. You can lose a division in June and July just as easily as in August or September. Actually in September you have reinforcements, so get the boys on track here now.

How did Arraez in LF cost us runs?

[Linus]

One part of the old Twins Way that I want back is fielding. We have become sloppy in the field this past month and that is not acceptable. Adrianza has to be a fielder - we did not put him on the team for his bat.

This. There has been some sloppy baseball played in the last month. It hasn’t cost them too much but it will. This is where I would love to know how Rocco handles this stuff behind the scenes. Is it always kumbaya or is he getting after guys for dumb/sloppy plays?

[Eris]

On WPA. How are errors factored into WPA. How can Adrianza have 2 errors, which essentially cost the Twins the game, and still have a positive WPA.

[Tom Froemming]

 

On WPA. How are errors factored into WPA. How can Adrianza have 2 errors, which essentially cost the Twins the game, and still have a positive WPA.

Defense does not factor into WPA. Anything that happens when the team is in the field is credited to the pitcher.

[james2334]

I'm starting to wonder if we will see Buxton again before the All-Star break.

[Squirrel]

I'm starting to wonder if we will see Buxton again before the All-Star break.

Someone said in another thread that he had heard they were going to give him a rehab assignment and that we may not see him before the ASB. But that is from an old woman’s recollection ... anyone else recall this?

 

I hate losing to the White Sox. Just hate it. But the Sox aren’t the Orioles, so season sweeping them was never going to be a reality. Still, I hope we take the next two.

 

And the errors ... ugh, please stop, Twins. I might be inclined to give Adrianza a tiny, little bit of leeway his first game back for one error, but not two. Get it together, Twins.

[rdehring]

Could this be the game that Sano get's his swagger back?  Please!!!!!

[Huskertwin]

 

How did Arraez in LF cost us runs?

In Wednesday's game he stopped abruptly when he got close to the wall and didn't make an attempt at a very catchable ball that cost us runs. In Thursday's game against TB he misjudged a ball and didn't catch it in the second inning when they scored their first two runs. And yesterday he didn't charge a ground ball hit and held the ball an extra second allowing Joy to take 3rd base on him. However, I was wrong in that Jay did not later score. So that didn't cost us a run. 

[Craig Arko]

Someone said in another thread that he had heard they were going to give him a rehab assignment and that we may not see him before the ASB. But that is from an old woman’s recollection ... anyone else recall this?

I hate losing to the White Sox. Just hate it. But the Sox aren’t the Orioles, so season sweeping them was never going to be a reality. Still, I hope we take the next two.

And the errors ... ugh, please stop, Twins. I might be inclined to give Adrianza a tiny, little bit of leeway his first game back for one error, but not two. Get it together, Twins.

https://twitter.com/brandon_warne/status/1144992580192624640?s=21

[james2334]

 

Someone said in another thread that he had heard they were going to give him a rehab assignment and that we may not see him before the ASB. But that is from an old woman’s recollection ... anyone else recall this?

I hate losing to the White Sox. Just hate it. But the Sox aren’t the Orioles, so season sweeping them was never going to be a reality. Still, I hope we take the next two.

And the errors ... ugh, please stop, Twins. I might be inclined to give Adrianza a tiny, little bit of leeway his first game back for one error, but not two. Get it together, Twins.

I knew as soon as I complained, they would activate Buxton within the hour. It was strategic. 

[jkcarew]

With the lineup the Twins trotted out there, the tired bodies, etc....kind of felt like we’d need a dominant performance from Berrios. Didn’t get one. The errors hurt, but 8 swinging strikes in 105 pitches, tons of hittable pitches, two HR, speak for themselves...and to a White Sox lineup that, while not terrible, still falls well below average. Don’t know if I’d give my ‘ace’ bonus points for surviving into the 8th against the White Sox, nevertheless he didn’t fail in that regard. Maybe the Twins capitalize on that this weekend.

[MMMordabito]

Berrios going 7.1 innings the day after an 18 inning game even when he wasn't pitching his A game may end up being an incredibly important losing performance.  

 

At least Cleveland got rammed by a team that couldn't even win 1 out of 6 against the Twins.

 

Are we really worried about a team that is only 1 game above .500 against Baltimore?

Edited June 29, 2019 by MMMordabito

[Squirrel]

https://twitter.com/brandon_warne/status/1144992580192624640?s=21

Oh yay! Glad I heard wrong! We need these two back in the lineup.

[jokin]

 

I knew as soon as I complained, they would activate Buxton within the hour. It was strategic. 

 

Ha! I was going to post that Ben Revere is currently a free agent. Between Arraez and Astudillo both having no business playing anywhere in the OF.... the Twins pitching staff must have been in a state of near-revolt. That's how desperate things have been in the OF over the past fortnight.

[Doomtints]

There's going to be a dropoff in the OF from Buxton regardless of who they trot out there. The other guys gotta pick it up.

 

If the Twins can't win without Buxton's defense, he is the MVP regardless of what his bat does.