Front Page: Twins Game Recap (8/28): Twins Sail Past White Sox for Series Win

[AJ Condon]

The Cleveland Indians won, again, against the Detroit Tigers, but the Twins held their own and kept the division lead at 3 1/2 games. Jonathan Schoop continues his power streak as he hit two more home runs today, as the Twins inch closer to breaking two MLB home run records. Jake Odorizzi tossed six solid innings today for a quality start while striking out eight Sox batters as the Twins secured a series win.Box Score

Odorizzi: 6 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 8 K, 60.2% strikes (59 of 98 pitches)

Bullpen: 3 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K

 

Home Runs: Schoop (20, 21), Garver (24)

Multi-Hit Games: Garver (3-4 HR), Polanco (2-4 2B), Schoop (2-4 2 HR)

 

Top 3 WPA: Schoop .302, Odorizzi .120, Polanco .059

 

Bombas to Start, Bombas to End

 

After the Twins offense scored just three runs last night against the White Sox ace, they came out early and mashed against Ross Detwiler. It started with a three-run homer from Jonathan Schoop for his 20th of the season. The Twins are now just one home run away from Jorge Polanco from breaking the record for most players with 20 home runs in a season.

 

 

The Twins added some more runs the next inning after a leadoff hit-by-pitch, a double and an intentional walk gave them bases loaded with no outs. Eddie Rosario grounded into a fielder’s choice but beat the throw to drive in one run, and then Miguel Sano smacked a ball that went right through Tim Anderson’s legs for another run.

 

The Twins offense somewhat stalled after these early runs as they struggled to get men on base, and when they did, couldn’t close. In the fourth inning they put together a two-out rally with two hits, and Cruz’s second intentional walk of the game, but Rosario grounded out to end the threat.

 

In the next three innings, the Twins sent just 11 batters to the plate and never had a runner past second. That included Sano being hit by a pitch, which would later put him out of the game, and two hits, one of them by Luis Arraez, who took over for Sano.

 

Schoop had enough of the scoreless innings for the Twins as he mashed his second home run of the game down the third base line. After Cave showed some smart base running and extended a single into a double, Mitch Garver sent a ball high and deep to left-center field to put the Twins up 8-2.

 

Odorizzi Minimizes Damage in Route to Quality Start

 

Just like last week when Odorizzi faced off against this White Sox team, he gave up a run in the first inning. However, he was able to mimnimize the damage as he came back to strike out Moncada after falling behind 3-0, and went upstairs to strike out Anderson to finish the inning.

 

After a big turn around in the first inning, Odorizzi sailed through his next two innings with two 1-2-3 innings where he picked up a strikeout in each inning. After he retired the first batter in the fourth and had set down nine straight, he ran into some trouble after allowing two hits and a walk to load the bases. Odoirzzi was again able to keep the damage minimal as he got a fielder’s choice and picked up his fifth strikeout of the game after giving up just one run.

 

In the fifth inning, Odorizzi picked up two quick outs, but ran into a bit of trouble after allowing a walk and a sharp single to center field. Odorizzi made quick work of Moncada and struck him out on three straight pitches to end the inning. Odorizzi picked up his third 1-2-3 of the game in the sixth which included his eighth strikeout of the game as his night ended and he picked up a quality start.

 

Schoop’s Power

 

Jonathan Schoop continues to mash the ball as of late, and unlike his usual blowout-game home runs, he has been hitting bombas in bigger spots for this Twins offense. In his last five games that he has played, he has six hits, but five of them are home runs. Take a look at the Twins' win percentage at the time of his first 16 home runs and the win probability it added:

 

 

For reference on his last five home runs:

-Aug. 16 Schoop hits two-run go-ahead home run in the seventh.

-Aug. 21 Schoop extends lead to five runs with a two-run homer which turned out to be helpful insurance runs.

-Last night Schoop homers in the second to extend the lead to 2-0.

-Tonight’s second inning three-run home run to get the Twins on the board, and his eighth inning insurance home run (didn’t add that much win probability).

 

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

[MNT1996]

May has been absolutely lights out the past couple weeks. The Twins bullpen has really been a strength lately.

[Aerodeliria]

Important to win these games against the Sox as we are getting no help from the Tigers as completely expected. Besides Schoop, the Twins seemed to be grinding a bit. It was easy to see the Sox strategy: "Don't let Cruz beat you," even if it means loading the bases (twice). By-and-large, it worked quite well. I think that having Rosario follow Cruz is a bad idea if teams are going to start walking Cruz because Rosario will expand the zone. The second time up, with the bases loaded, they didn't even bother throwing him a strike.

 

Great pitching today!

[Monticore]

So long as they keep winning. Any word on Sano's injury?

[D.C Twins]

I TOLD everyone that Schoop should be left off the....umm.....er...post season.....uh.....never mind....carry on....

[rghrbek]

Schoop's recent hits have been huge.  Great to see him turn his low leverage hitting around, as he offers something the rook doesn't, raw power.

[VivaBomboRivera!]

Buxton's on DL, Kepler's held out with a sore knee, Sano has a HBP bruised elbow,  Margo's tummy aches and the TWINS STILL SCORE 8 RUNS.

 

As has been said elsewhere, assuming Polanco (19) and Margo (15) both reach 20 jacks, that is a full lineup of batters with 20+ HRs.  NEVAH, EVAH BEEN DONE.

 

Our offensive depth frightens other teams.  Now that the bullpen is stabilizing confidence can build.  Hope they ran some baserunning drills on the off day this week.  If the starting rotation regains its edge it's going to be a great September.

 

Thirty games left for a 100 Win season.  Take 19 and we're in great shape for playoffs.

[jimbo92107]

I totally gave up on Trevor May after one of his bad appearances early in the season. Me of little faith... I also was about ready to give up on Sano around the All Star Game. Let's see, who else... Oh yeah, and Cave was just a flash in the pan, a AAAA player at best. And of course Schoop fades after looking good for a while. 

 

Now it looks like Buxton is made of tissue paper. I better give up on him...

 

Lucky that these guys don't give up on themselves as much as I give up on them. It's a season of multiple redemptions! 

[AJ Condon]

Saw during the game he was listed day-to-day, then after the game Rocco said he is expected to play tomorrow

So long as they keep winning. Any word on Sano's injury?

 

[tarheeltwinsfan]

 

I totally gave up on Trevor May after one of his bad appearances early in the season. Me of little faith... I also was about ready to give up on Sano around the All Star Game. Let's see, who else... Oh yeah, and Cave was just a flash in the pan, a AAAA player at best. And of course Schoop fades after looking good for a while. 

 

Now it looks like Buxton is made of tissue paper. I better give up on him...

 

Lucky that these guys don't give up on themselves as much as I give up on them. It's a season of multiple redemptions! 

Very nice comments Jimbo. I think most of us can relate.

[Tom Froemming]

Some more info on the pitching performance, which includes an encouraging graph on Trevor May.

[puckstopper1]

The 3 Bombas in this game now gives the Twins 258 on the season. That moves them into 4th place on the all-time list for most home runs by a team in a season. Next ahead of them is the 2005 Rangers who hit 260.

 

The Yankees have now hit 250 home runs this season, but also played 3 more games than the Twins.

 

Bombas away!

[AlwaysinModeration]

Twins season by tens:

6-4

7-3

6-4

6-4

9-1

6-4

7-3

5-5

5-5

4-6

7-3

4-6

7-3

2-0

 

Or, if counting by NFL units, they are 9-2-2. Great record, the only problem is there is another really good team in the same division.

[AlwaysinModeration]

Looking at the division race, Cleveland is 78-55, 29 games left. Minnesota 81-51, 30 games left.

 

Cleveland could finish 29-0 with 107 wins, so the Twins would need 27 wins to finish with 108, so the magic number is 27.

 

If Cleveland finishes 20-9, (a 690 pace) they finish 98-64. Twins would need to go 18-12 (a 600 pace) to beat them.

[rdehring]

Sure was nice seeing some of those Bombas come with runners on base.

 

Looks like the bullpen is shaping up to be a strength for the remainder of this year and next.  Now if the starters can get close to what they were at the start of the year, the next couple months could be fun.

[big dog]

The White Sox got their first run last night when Odo pitched to Abreu with runners on and first base open.

 

I thought we HAD that talk!!!

 

 

Edited August 29, 2019 by big dog

[terrydactyls]

Yesterday was Wednesday, August 28.  It was the 132nd game of the year putting the Twins 81% of the way through the season.  The Twins hit 3 home runs upping their record-breaking season total to 258 home runs.  They are now only 10 home runs short of setting a new single-season MLB record.

[rdehring]

 

Yesterday was Wednesday, August 28.  It was the 132nd game of the year putting the Twins 81% of the way through the season.  The Twins hit 3 home runs upping their record-breaking season total to 258 home runs.  They are now only 10 home runs short of setting a new single-season MLB record.

Don't know how many they are going to hit.  Even if it is around 300, will it be a new record? 

[terrydactyls]

Don't know how many they are going to hit.  Even if it is around 300, will it be a new record?

 

Every home run after #267 will be a new record.

[wabene]

I think he means the %#@%*anks might pass em.

[Alex Schieferdecker]

It's refreshing to see Trevor May pitching with confidence and control.

[yarnivek1972]

The IBB to Cruz could be a preview of things to come if Rosario doesn’t take better at bats. I think his natural ability has masked the fact that he isn’t a guy opponent’s fear because he will get himself out by swinging at bad pitches. Sano swings and misses a lot too, of course. But he’s far more likely to be swinging at strikes than Rosario. It would be another good reason to slot Kepler in the 4 spot and have Arraez lead off vs RHP. Kepler also is a very disciplined hitter.

[Blake]

 

I totally gave up on Trevor May after one of his bad appearances early in the season. Me of little faith... I also was about ready to give up on Sano around the All Star Game. Let's see, who else... Oh yeah, and Cave was just a flash in the pan, a AAAA player at best. And of course Schoop fades after looking good for a while. 

 

Now it looks like Buxton is made of tissue paper. I better give up on him...

 

Lucky that these guys don't give up on themselves as much as I give up on them. It's a season of multiple redemptions! 

Interestingly enough, your list of players to give up on resembles mine.

[rdehring]

 

I think he means the %#@%*anks might pass em.

Yup, you got it.  Although technically we will probably set the record next week, was thinking in terms of what the record will be at year end.  Hope we have the most, but those %#@%*anks may catch and pass us.

[puckstopper1]

 

Yup, you got it.  Although technically we will probably set the record next week, was thinking in terms of what the record will be at year end.  Hope we have the most, but those %#@%*anks may catch and pass us.

 

The Twins are still 8 ahead of the Yankees and have 3 games in hand AND the Yankees are done playing the Orioles!!

[FlauerPauer]

 

I think he means the %#@%*anks might pass em.

 

Yankees refuse to let the Twins best them in anything. Damn Yankees.

[TwinsBills]

While the Twins now have 7 players with 20 home runs or more, and the possibility of Polanco and Gonzalez making it nine, let's note that the Twins have 39 HRs from the catcher position combined, tied with the Yankees for the MLB lead at that position. Anyone think we would have 39 homers from the catcher's position (Garver 24, Castro 12, Astudillo 3)?

[VivaBomboRivera!]

 

Some more info on the pitching performance...

 

Twins are 4th in ML overall pitching WAR.  Doesn't take a genius or any searCH-fu to identify at least two of the teams above us. 

 

;-)

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

That was a great play in the third. Sano batting, steps out of the box and tries to call time out, time out not granted, pitch comes, Sano steps back in and laces it to the shortstop who boots it, Sano winds up on second base with an RBI.

[jkcarew]

Rare is the experienced major leaguer who consistently performs much better or much worse in leverage situations than they do in all other situations. Schoop is no exception...most of his leverage numbers are right at his career overall OPS of 745...some are moderately below that. Of coarse, I'd much rather have Cruz up in a leverage spot than Schoop...but that's because Cruz is a better hitter than Schoop and always has been. We get carrier away with in-season leverage numbers, and the samples are just too small. Of course, it seems like whoever is in a slump is the guy who keeps coming up in leverage situations.