Front Page: Twins Game Recap (8/17): Twins Win Slugfest in Texas

[Andrew Thares]

After the Minnesota Twins took the first two games of the series, on Thursday and Friday night, they were looking to clinch the series win on Saturday, against the Texas Rangers. Despite yet another poor outing from Jose Berrios, the Twins were able to do just that, defeating Texas 12-7 thanks to yet another great offensive outburst from the lineup. With the New York Yankees taking care of business against the Cleveland Indians earlier today, the Twins lead, in the American League Central, is back up to 2.5 games.Box Score

Berrios: 4.1 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 62.0% strikes (57 of 92 pitches)

Home Runs: Cron (20), Sano (23)

Multi-Hit Games: Kepler (2 for 5, BB), Sano (3 for 6, HR), Polanco (3 for 5, BB), Gonzalez (3 for 5), Cron (2 for 4, HR), Cave (3 for 5)

WPA of +0.1: Duffey .208, May .156, Gonzalez .151, Cron .139

WPA of -0.1: Berrios -.366,

 

It was a fast start for the Twins, who busted open the floodgates before the Rangers even came to the plate, scoring six, count’em six, runs in the top of the first inning. Max Kepler leadoff the inning with a groundout to Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor, but that was quickly followed by singles from Miguel Sano and Jorge Polanco. The inning looked like it was going to come to a quick end, however, when Eddie Rosario hit a groundball to Rangers first baseman Logan Forsythe. Forsythe went to second with the throw, getting Polanco, but the return throw was a little high, and deflected off the glove of Rangers pitcher Ariel Jurado, who was coving first on the play. With the extra life, the Twins took full advantage. Mitch Garver, Luis Arraez, and Marwin Gonzalez combined to go walk, single, double to bring the score to 4-0, Twins. C.J. Cron followed that up with his 20th home run of the season, tying the 1964 Twins for the team record, for the most players with 20 home runs in a season, at six.

 

 

Old friend Danny Santana answered back in the bottom of the first with a two-run home run of his own, cutting the Twins lead back down to four. Believe it or not, Santana has morphed himself into a whole new hitter in 2019, as he has already hit 21 home runs this season. For comparison, Santana hit just 38 home runs in the nine combined season he played for the Twins, and their minor league affiliates, between 2008 and 2016.

 

The Twins answered right back in the top of the second, adding a couple more runs, to extend their lead back up to six. With the top of the order leading off for the second straight inning, the Twins had three straight runners reach bases with nobody out. Eddie Rosario was able to drive in Kepler from third, with a sac-fly to Rangers center fielder Danny Santana. In the next at-bat, Mitch Garver was able to beat out a potential double-play ball, bringing in the Twins second run of the inning.

 

Unfortunately for the Twins, the Rangers were up to the tasks tonight, as they themselves, punched right back in the bottom of the second. Rougned Odor drew a leadoff walk, which set the table for a rough inning for Jose Berrios, and the Twins defense. Logan Forsythe followed up the Odor walk by drilling a groundball to third baseman Miguel Sano. Sano was unable to field the grounder, and the Rangers quickly had runners on second and third with nobody out. After a Isiah Kiner-Falefa RBI-single, a Jose Trevino strikeout out, and a Shin-Soo Choo RBI-groundout, Danny Santana connected on his second, two-run home run of the evening, off of Jose Berrios. Due to the Sano error, none of the four Ranger runs in the second inning were earned.

 

After a couple of loud innings to begin the ballgame, it was quiet for a couple innings, until the Twins were able to build on their lead in the fifth. With one out in the inning, the Twins were able to quickly load the bases for Max Kepler, who came through with an RBI-single. Unfortunately, that is all the Twins were able to get in the inning.

 

In the bottom of the inning, the Rangers yet again showed they were up for the fight. After Jose Berrios finally retired Danny Santana to start the inning, he gave up a pair of singles and a pair of walks. That closed the book on Berrios for the night, and Tyler Duffey was brought in to protect a the Twins two-run lead, with the bases loaded and just one out, and that is exactly what he did, striking out Logan Forsythe and getting Isiah Kiner-Falefa to flyout to end the inning.

 

There was some controversy from the Twins dugout in the top of the seventh inning. With one out, and nobody on, C.J. Cron hit a flyball down the right field line that was ruled foul, but upon further review, it appeared as though the ball was clearly fair. However, Rocco Baldelli was instructed not to challenge the call. This was a highly questionably call, not because it would have been an easy overturn, but because the game was in the seventh inning, so there was virtually no risk in challenging and getting the call wrong.

 

This all became a moot point, when the Twins were able to tack on insurance runs in the eighth and ninth innings, thanks to a Mitch Garver RBI-single in the eighth, and this Miguel Sano two-run home run in the ninth.

 

 

The bullpen was up to the task again tonight for the Twins, who pitch 4 and 2/3 scoreless innings. In addition to Tyler Duffey getting out of the jam earlier, Ryne Harper pitched a scoreless inning, Trevor May was dominant, pitching two perfect innings, and Zack Littell closed the door in the 9th.

 

Bullpen Usage

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

 

Next Three Games

Sun at TEX, 2:05 pm CT (Perez-Lynn)

Mon vs CHW, 7:10 pm CT (Nova-TBD)

Tues vs CHW, 7:10 pm CT (Lopez-TBD)

Last Game

Twins Game Recap (8/16): Twins Prevail Behind Clutch Schoop HR, Great Bullpen Performance

 

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[terrydactyls]

Yesterday was Saturday, August 17.  It was the 123rd game of the year putting the Twins 76% of the way through the season.  The Twins hit 2 home runs upping their record-breaking season total to 240 home runs.  They are now only 27 home runs behind the single-season MLB record.

[terrydactyls]

"After a couple of load innings to begin the ballgame, it was quite for a couple innings,"

 

Did you mean "loud innings" and "quiet"???

[Andrew Thares]

 

"After a couple of load innings to begin the ballgame, it was quite for a couple innings,"

 

Did you mean "loud innings" and "quiet"???

Just trying to get this up as quick as possible after the game, so the comment section can open up. I go back and make edits after it is up.

[wabene]

Batting Sano second; brilliant!! Love how this regime adapts and adjusts! They've done some nice work with the players, for example Duffy and May. Reinventing players, nice!

[Dantes929]

If we had lost close I was gonna be really mad at Cave.    Nice lead and no outs in the 2nd and he misses the cutoff by a mile (the runner wasn't going but even if).  The batter goes to 2nd on the overthrow.   Next guy strikes out, then Chu grounds into what would have been an inning ending double play if Cave had hit the cutoff but instead the ground out scores a run and then Santana hits a 2 run homer.   I get kind of disgusted when high school kids miss cutoffs unnecessarily but  no where near as much when the pros do it.   Sano's error was questionable. Cave's was all upstairs.  .... By the by does it seem to anyone else that every former Twin hits like Josh Hamilton when facing the Twins?   Same with the pitchers.

[Aerodeliria]

Great hitting in this win!

 

Unimpressive defense and starting pitching from Berrios. It's not a minor problem when you give your 'ace' a six round cushion and he nearly squanders it away (and almost certainly would have squandered it all). Kudos to Rocco for pulling Berrios for whom his leash has been a bit longer in past poor performances.

 

Superbly balanced hitting in this game though. 12 runs, but only two home runs hit. It's nice to generate 12 runs without relying on six home runs to achieve it.

[Monticore]

Great job by Duffy, May...Nice game again from Cave, Marwin and Sano are primo.

[jokin]

 

Just trying to get this up as quick as possible after the game, so the comment section can open up. I go back and make edits after it is up.

 

FYI, one more edit needed, it's "dominant", not "dominate".

[howeda7]

 

If we had lost close I was gonna be really mad at Cave.    Nice lead and no outs in the 2nd and he misses the cutoff by a mile (the runner wasn't going but even if).  The batter goes to 2nd on the overthrow.   Next guy strikes out, then Chu grounds into what would have been an inning ending double play if Cave had hit the cutoff but instead the ground out scores a run and then Santana hits a 2 run homer.   I get kind of disgusted when high school kids miss cutoffs unnecessarily but  no where near as much when the pros do it.   Sano's error was questionable. Cave's was all upstairs.  .... By the by does it seem to anyone else that every former Twin hits like Josh Hamilton when facing the Twins?   Same with the pitchers.

Cave's bone-headed OF play has been inexplicable the past month.

[howeda7]

Has Rocco explained why they didn't review Cron's missed double in the 7th inning? It was clearly fair and cost us two runs. The Twins reluctance to challenge plays this year is so odd. 

[jokin]

 

Has Rocco explained why they didn't review Cron's missed double in the 7th inning? It was clearly fair and cost us two runs. The Twins reluctance to challenge plays this year is so odd. 

 

Seems like a lot of confusion between the dugout and their replay man.

 

And for that matter, I would think that Tommy Watkins would have had the perfect view to insist that Rocco challenge the play. Only Cron, the Rangers RF (and anyone who saw it live on TV)) appeared to

know the obvious.

 

It was a critical hit by Cron at that juncture of the game, could have cost the Twins the game, definitely a communication breakdown problem that needs to be addressed.

[jokin]

 

 

Cave's bone-headed OF play has been inexplicable the past month.

 

Especially since his injury, Rosario has a few gaffes yet to be explained, as well.

[Bandit34]

 

Has Rocco explained why they didn't review Cron's missed double in the 7th inning? It was clearly fair and cost us two runs. The Twins reluctance to challenge plays this year is so odd. 

We don't know that it would have cost us any runs. Pitcher pitches differently in certain situations. 

[Eephus]

I was watching the game at a party with the sound off. What happened when the dugouts emptied? Or maybe someone put something in my drink.

[USAFChief]

2-0 now with Chief and family in attendance.

 

Just sayin...

[AlwaysinModeration]

Yesterday was Saturday, August 17. It was the 123rd game of the year putting the Twins 76% of the way through the season. The Twins hit 2 home runs upping their record-breaking season total to 240 home runs. They are now only 27 home runs behind the single-season MLB record.

Love these updates. They are on pace to hit 315 or 316. They are averaging 1.95 HR/game. With 39 games to play, it seems obvious they will set the all-time record. It also seems plausible that they hit 300 this year.

 

The biggest question, though, is whether they finish the season with the most home runs. The Yankees hit four yesterday, and have 226 for the year. They are 14 behind the Twins. Will the Twins be able to hold them off?

[wabene]

2-0 now with Chief and family in attendance.

Just sayin...

This is just short of panhandling.

[jmlease1]

Trevor May is starting to dominate like the club hoped he would from the start of the season. He looked terrific again tonight, good control and dominant stuff. If hes truly rounding into form, that's excellent news for the bullpen going down the stretch. Opposing batters are really going to struggle to catch up to his fastball when he's rolling.

[ashbury]

2-0 now with Chief and family in attendance.

 

Just sayin...

I've launched a Kickstarter on your behalf, to fund your attendance to future Twins games. Everyone, please give generously.

 

httsp://www.kikcstrater.com/projects/helpthebaseballfamily/all-funds-property-of-ashbury

[wabene]

Per the Strib Graterol and Alcala are being moved to AAA. That could be quite handy this fall! Gotta like the aggression of this FO. With the way this bullpen looks right now you add some fireballers and push down Harper? Me likey.

[stringer bell]

 

Trevor May is starting to dominate like the club hoped he would from the start of the season. He looked terrific again tonight, good control and dominant stuff. If hes truly rounding into form, that's excellent news for the bullpen going down the stretch. Opposing batters are really going to struggle to catch up to his fastball when he's rolling.

May was my pick to have the most saves in the Twins' bullpen at the start of the year. That won't happen, but having him as a reliable setup guy would be huge down the stretch.

[jokin]

 

May was my pick to have the most saves in the Twins' bullpen at the start of the year. That won't happen, but having him as a reliable setup guy would be huge down the stretch.

 

Kudos to him, and perhaps the coaching staff, as well, for helping him to live up to his stuff. From the middle of June until the deadline, May looked clueless and hopeless out there, despite retaining good stuff.

 

What a shot in the arm for the pen if he can continue to roll like he has of late. Rogers recent spotty performances suggest he is beginning to break down from overuse. Cutting back on Rogers' innings might be just what he needs to return to lights out form.

 

May, and maybe Graterol, as well, possibly picking up some of the high leverage innings slack could turn this bullpen from a glaring weakness to a strength down the stretch run and into post-season.

[shabbos1]

I don't know who's telling Berrios to throw that two-seamer when it's clearly not working, but ... please stop it.

[SwainZag]

 

I've launched a Kickstarter on your behalf, to fund your attendance to future Twins games. Everyone, please give generously.

 

httsp://www.kikcstrater.com/projects/allfundsgotoashbury/all-funds-go-to-ashbury

 

Well played. Well played.

[Loops]

6 runs in the top of the first.  2 more in the second.  Our "ace" on the mound.  Cake walk, right?  Wrong!!!!!  I hope they figure out what is wrong with Berrios soon.  Maybe they need to rest him for a week or two.  But right now he is not our #1 pitcher.  I am not even sure if he is #2 or #3!

[USAFChief]

This is just short of panhandling.

oh come ON!

 

It's not short of panhandling AT ALL.

[howeda7]

 

Seems like a lot of confusion between the dugout and their replay man.

 

And for that matter, I would think that Tommy Watkins would have had the perfect view to insist that Rocco challenge the play. Only Cron, the Rangers RF (and anyone who saw it live on TV)) appeared to

know the obvious.

 

It was a critical hit by Cron at that juncture of the game, could have cost the Twins the game, definitely a communication breakdown problem that needs to be addressed.

Plus it was the 7th inning. If there is any doubt, you have to challenge it.