Front Page: Twins Game Recap (8/18): Polanco Leads Twins Over Lynn in Texas

[Cooper Carlson]

The Twins stayed as hot as the scorching weather today as they completed the sweep over the Texas Rangers. Martin Perez made his second straight good start and a huge triple from Jorge Polanco led the Twins to the 6-3 win. The division lead remains at 2.5 games and the Twins will host Chicago next.Box Score

Perez: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 2 K, 65% strikes (65 of 100 pitches)

Bullpen: 4 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K

 

Home Runs: None

Multi-Hit Games: Polanco (2-for-4), Adrianza (2-for-5)

 

Top 3 WPA: Polanco .426, Castro .162, Gonzalez .130

Bottom 3 WPA: Cron -172, Rosario -.134, Cave -.131

 

Lance Lynn does Lance Lynn things as Twins take early lead

 

This game started with the narrative of Lance Lynn pitching against the Twins and Twins fans everywhere wanted to score 30 runs on this guy but he just reminded us of his tenure in Minnesota. The first two innings took him fifty seven pitches to get through and the laboring was caused by rough fielding all around from Texas.

 

The Twins scored on him immediately on a Kepler walk, Sano single and then an RBI double from Marwin Gonzalez on a ball that had an expected batting average of .120 off the bat. A poorly played ball in left led to an early two-run lead for the Twins.

 

Marwin continued his insane tear against Texas with this RBI double

 

Martin Perez has his second straight solid start

 

For the second straight start, Martin Perez was able to prove he can stay in that fifth spot in the rotation for now. He didn’t have his best control throughout the game, walking four guys and striking out just two while leaving seven on base, but he ultimately got the job done.

 

He left his long-time home ballpark in line for the win and was noticeably ecstatic while leaving the mound for his last two innings. This will almost certainly be the last game he pitches in this stadium so it was good to see him pitching well.

 

Texas comes back but Polanco gets the bit hit

 

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Shin Soo Choo led off the inning with a solo home run to tie the game at three and it wasn’t looking great for the Twins. In case you missed it, or you weren’t sure if it was a home run, this Indians announcer has you covered.

 

The Twins bounced back in a huge way the next innings. After a single, double and walk to load the bases, Jorge Polanco came up huge with a bases-clearing triple to give the Twins a three-run lead heading into the bottom of the eighth. I decided to continue the new score keeping method on Twitter.

 

Oh, here is the clutch triple.

 

Romo and Rogers close out the sweep

 

The Twins high-leverage relievers once again got the job done. Sergio Romo came in for the eighth, allowed a base runner, but ultimately walked off the mound with the lead and pumped up as always. Taylor Rogers came in for the ninth inning, gave up a couple of hits but ultimately got the save.

 

The Twins completed the sweep over Texas and held on to their 2.5 game lead in the division. They will welcome the White Sox to Target Field for the next series.

 

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

[terrydactyls]

Yesterday was Sunday, August 18.  It was the 124th game of the year putting the Twins 77% of the way through the season.  The Twins hit 0 home runs keeping their record-breaking season total at 240 home runs.  They are now only 27 home runs behind the single-season MLB record.

[Monticore]

Nice job by Romo after the 2-base Polanco error. He's got grit. Littell getting it done.

[Brock Beauchamp]

A four game sweep against a mediocre team on the road in a sweltering hellhole of a city.

 

I’ll take it.

[Brock Beauchamp]

It stings to look back at that second Brewers game and realize the Twins were *this close* to a 6-0 road trip.

[bighat]

What can you say? Every game gave us something to complain about, but in the end the positives outweighed the negatives and the outcome was in the Twins favor.

 

A 5-1 week was just what the doctor ordered.

 

The next 13 games are against the White Sox and Tigers. Time to make some hay.

[Highabove]

Don't over look the Tigers. They will beat you 30% of the time.

[Aerodeliria]

Sweep! I really thought we had a good chance to dominate the Rangers who were "pie in the sky" dreamers at the deadline. They could have landed a couple of very good prospects from the Twins had they been willing to let Minor come to the Twins. Their plan to get back in the playoff race by taking out the Twins backfired.

 

Saying Romo allowed a base-runner is a bit cheeky. Polanco had his mandatory errant throw to put that base-runner on. His huge hit makes the error easy to overlook, but this is a trend that won't play well against better teams. The error thing is becoming problematic.

 

Without Gallo in the line-up, the Rangers lack firepower. I'd rather face Danny Santana and Choo-choo than Joey Gallo any day of the week.

[wabene]

Keep rotating that pen! Ease up on the back to backs I think we've got the depth now to glide through this portion of the schedule with our boot on the tribe's neck. no I'm serious.

[ashbury]

It's been a rough season for bases-loaded performance, but the past few games have included a couple of clutch hits in that situation.

[Brock Beauchamp]

It's been a rough season for bases-loaded performance, but the past few games have included a couple of clutch hits in that situation.

It was bound to equal out in time but it’d still be nice to see a team that launches moonshots at a historic pace manage to occasionally do it with the bases juiced.

[Monkeypaws]

In my memory Texas was a team that often had the Twins' number - to sweep them 4 games in Texas - speechless. I think the Twins pretty much destroyed any wild-card dreams they had, and the crowd in the videos I watched seemed to say the same.

 

Onward!

[ScooterDance]

Hopefully the twins can tear through the next 13 games and come out the other side with a comfortable lead again.

 

I’ll save nail biter games for October, thankyouverymuch!

[Riverbrian]

 

It stings to look back at that second Brewers game and realize the Twins were *this close* to a 6-0 road trip.

 

Eyes straight ahead sir. 

[Darius]

Finally taking care of business.

[Han Joelo]

Can I call him Zach "Legit-ell?"  The FO's plan to make these guys look over their shoulders at Brusdar and Jorge seems to be working.  Bullpen doesn't seem half bad when Duffey and May are dealing.

 

Still, the odds of this team winning a 1-0 playoff game seem kind of slim.  Bludgeon away, boys.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

I hate watching Lance Lynn pitch...unless it is against the Twins.  

[Danchat]

Seems like this Twins team is better on the road. And it appears they’ve won 8 more games on the road... not sure why.

[Tom Froemming]

Sergio Romo is must-see TV.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Sergio Romo is must-see TV.

HE'S SO MUCH FUN

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Keep rotating that pen! Ease up on the back to backs I think we've got the depth now to glide through this portion of the schedule with our boot on the tribe's neck. no I'm serious.

Actually, I'm rather unconcerned with the pen at this point. With Dyson back in the mix, Rogers should get plenty of breathers (and his load has been pretty light for the past week+). My biggest questions going forward are:

 

1. Buxton? Will he be here in September and will he be the 2019 Buxton?

 

2. Berrios, Gibson, Odorizzi. What version will we get and is there anything Baldelli can do to relieve them a bit to make sure they're good going into October?

 

Sure, it's possible the Twins don't make October and that'd be a travesty. But the AL is pretty fierce this season. I'm only wondering if there's a way to start easing up on some of the starters who either haven't missed a start or have barely missed time and still remain competitive.

[jimbo92107]

There are signs of destiny (density?) in this 2019 Twins squad. They have a special mix of skilled veterans, talented youth, core strength, and very flexible position players. It has allowed Baldelli to make out a roster every game that looks competitive, if not dominant. I can't wait to see Astudillo get back and spell our two regular catchers, then stand in for Cron, then give Sano a break at 3B, etc. The Twins were tearing up the league when Astudillo was rotating around the infield. 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

The next 13 games are against the White Sox and Tigers.

And there’s not a darn thing Cleveland can do about it.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

There are signs of destiny (density?) in this 2019 Twins squad. They have a special mix of skilled veterans, talented youth, core strength, and very flexible position players. It has allowed Baldelli to make out a roster every game that looks competitive, if not dominant. I can't wait to see Astudillo get back and spell our two regular catchers, then stand in for Cron, then give Sano a break at 3B, etc. The Twins were tearing up the league when Astudillo was rotating around the infield. 

Astudillo won't be back before September because there's no space for him on the roster.

[Old Twins Cap]

Full roster crunch has been circling this team since Arraez proved to be a player.

 

Buxton, Cruz, Astudillo are all on the verge of returning.

 

Cave can go down, maybe another reliever can go down, but after that, it's going to be a tough decision -- one that has playoff implications.

[Mr. Brooks]

Full roster crunch has been circling this team since Arraez proved to be a player.

 

Buxton, Cruz, Astudillo are all on the verge of returning.

 

Cave can go down, maybe another reliever can go down, but after that, it's going to be a tough decision -- one that has playoff implications.

Buxton and Astudillo won't be back until September. Rosters are expanded then, so there won't be a crunch issue with them.

[yarnivek1972]

Picking up Dyson and Romo is starting to look like it will make a huge difference. Allies May and Duffy to be in fewer high leverage situations and gives us enough length to actually rotate relievers so people don't have to go back to back. Huge improvement in the BP. Now if we could only improve the rotation.....

 

I’m still not really seeing much to like about Dyson. 4 appearances since coming off the DL. Allowed at least 2 baserunners in 2 of them. That’s called walking the tight rope over the precipice of disaster.

[Jacks02]

 

Full roster crunch has been circling this team since Arraez proved to be a player.

 

Buxton, Cruz, Astudillo are all on the verge of returning.

 

Cave can go down, maybe another reliever can go down, but after that, it's going to be a tough decision -- one that has playoff implications.

 

What a great position to be in, and light years difference from last year's team.

 

No Logan Forsythe, Johnny Field, or Gregorio Petit getting playing time in September this year!

[rdehring]

 

Full roster crunch has been circling this team since Arraez proved to be a player.

 

Buxton, Cruz, Astudillo are all on the verge of returning.

 

Cave can go down, maybe another reliever can go down, but after that, it's going to be a tough decision -- one that has playoff implications.

Cruz will be first one back and only move they can make is to send down pitcher #13.  Then when Buxton is ready, assuming it is before 9/1, Cave goes down.  Astudillo will be back on September 1, along with an assortment of pitchers.

[SpicyGarvSauce]

Is it unrealistic to say the Twins need to go 10-3 over these next 13 games?