Twins 4, Red Sox 5: Bizarre Walk-Off Caps Strange Loss in Boston

[Matt Braun]

Sometimes the game refuses to act normally.

Image courtesy of © Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

Box Score
Sonny Gray: 5 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K
Home Run: Max Kepler (2)
Bottom 3 WPA: Jovani Moran (-.902 good lord), Griffin Jax (-.184), Kyle Garlick (-.070)

Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)

From being dominated by Chris Sale to watching umpires decipher through grain whether their night would end, the Twins experienced the full range of baseball emotions on Tuesday. Oscillating between uneasy optimism and certain expectations losing, the game had it all, and each reaction and re-action was more extreme than the one that came before. Be warned: this is the kind of game that can eat up lesser souls.

Boston wasted no time scoring. Lead-off man Alex Verdugo stroked a double into the right-center gap and Rafael Devers chopped a single too far to Willi Castro’s right to score him. Just like that, before Sonny Gray could ease into the start, the Red Sox had a run, and Minnesota would need a response.

Unfortunately for them, their opponent was a certain stork-like pitcher, known for regularly—although inconsistently, recently—making fools of even the best hitters. And he was on his game. The opening innings consisted of whiffs, and wrong guesses; the first out Chris Sale recorded that didn’t come via a punchout was in the 3rd—when Donovan Solano tapped out directly to Rafael Devers. Whenever Minnesota expected fastballs, he tossed sliders, always in the perfect spot to coax a swing.

Gray suffered no such fortune. The veteran righty did a lot of pitching—entirely too much pitching—battling himself over the first two frames as Red Sox batters stood stoically against his balls and smoked his strikes. He had over 50 pitches after just two innings. Somehow, though, he slithered away from damage, never allowing Boston to secure the knock-out blow they desperately craved. He ended his start with five innings, and a medium-sized village stranded on base; the opening run was his lone blemish.

Just as soon as it seemed that Sale would settle in, he finally wavered, relenting in his command to walk Michael A. Taylor, hit Max Kepler, and see Castro split the infield with a bunt single. Solano struck out, but a Carlos Correa liner brought Taylor home to somehow even the game at one. Even as Byron Buxton extended his dreadful streak of ineffective hitting—batting as if he were blinded—the Twins could finally claim a competitive match. 

In a sign that the baseball gods absolutely have a sense of humor, the second Sale exited the game, Max Kepler took fresh pitcher Josh Winckowski deep to right field, inconceivably handing the Twins a 2-1 advantage. It was his second shot of the season.

Thus started the running of the bullpen: Jorge López’s 6th frame was smooth, while Caleb Thielbar’s only 7th inning trouble came when Devers poked a shift-beater the other way. 

Griffin Jax found his 8th difficult, though, as a cheeky soft liner and a confusing catcher’s interference placed runners on the corners. Rather, actually, Solano took the play off after the catcher’s interference was called, allowing Reese McGuire to reach base while Kiké Hernández took off for third base. An obscure rule—one so unheard of that Dick Bremer had to provide clarity to the people watching— allows for a manager to elect for the play to count, allowing the runner to advance to third base. No matter; it isn’t like the extra base had game-altering implications.

Anyways, Boston tied the game when Jarren Duran’s grounder provided enough space for Hernández to bolt home safely.

Jhoan Duran carried the 9th, turning the match into a Manfred Man fest with Minnesota up first. Boston reliever John Schreiber couldn’t locate the strike zone, hitting Solano and walking Correa to load the bases. Buxton then sent a deep enough fly ball to right to score a run—and advance the runner from second to third—which allowed Miranda to plate a second score with a grounder. Lacking a hit, the Twins still scored two.

If you’re counting at home, Rocco Baldelli was now left without his best relievers, making Jovani Moran the pitcher called upon to save the game. Hernández struck out with suspicious intent; Moran’s changeup is good, but the offering was so low in the dirt, it seemed that he anticipated the chance to scamper to first base. A walk loaded the bases and finally, McGuire re-knotted the game with a dumping single to left field. A knock placed Moran into familiar confines. With Rob Refsnyder at the plate, Moran delivered another signature change, getting the roll-over he wanted; Miranda snagged the ball, tagged the runner going to home, then gunned out Refsnyder to turn an immaculate double play.

It was all for nothing, however, as Verdugo’s painted fly ball to right fell on the field side of the wall, giving Boston the bizarre walk-off a game like this deserved, but only after the lights person, the umpires, and every player stood around thoroughly baffled at what just occurred.

Notes:
Post-Game Interview:

 

The Twins will take on Boston again tomorrow; Joe Ryan will pitch opposite Corey Kluber. 

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

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[Vanimal46]

Baffling that Moran continued to pitch after Refsnyder grounded into the double play. He clearly didn’t have it tonight and Pagan was warming (warmed?) in the pen. 

4 hits in 10 innings isn’t going to cut it. Neither is 3 errors in the field. The walk off is classic Fenway shenanigans. 

[Aggies7]

16* K’s is an abomination. 

[VivaBomboRivera!]

Waste of a brilliant 5-3 DP by Miranda, trying to keep it even.

4 hits in 32 AB. ☹️

Heartburn-inducing ugly. Slight taste of vomit in the back of my throat.

Edited April 19, 2023 by VivaBomboRivera!
Wrong fielding position

[stringer bell]

The eighth inning run scored as a result of a mental error. Miranda tossed the ball to first and Solano didn’t try to stay on the bag, if he had, the runner wouldn’t have advanced to third. Then Duran would have been trying to save the game instead of keeping it tied. 

[USAFChief]

So much to dislike:

Awful offense. Just awful. 

Really poor defense, from many corners. Solano, Gordon, Vasquez. 

Some questionable managing, IYAM. I don't like Moran in ANY situation, and hated him in extra innings here. That's not a second guess, either. I would rather have seen anyone, and would have actually preferred Pagan. And once it's clear Moran is scared to death, you have to get him out of the game.

[Aggies7]

2 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

So much to dislike:

Awful offense. Just awful. 

Really poor defense, from many corners. Solano, Gordon, Vasquez. 

Some questionable managing, IYAM. I don't like Moran in ANY situation, and hated him in extra innings here. That's not a second guess, either. I would rather have seen anyone, and would have actually preferred Pagan. And once it's clear Moran is scared to death, you have to get him out of the game.

Other than that, how was the play, Mrs Lincoln? 😉 

 

looks like the AL central will be awful again, so even a mediocre team like the twins will probably hang around for the long haul 

[jkcarew]

If we’re going to score runs…well, like we’re scoring runs…then the pitching AND the defense both need to be very good. Again, the pitching was good enough…but, the defense wasn’t.

I didn’t have an issue with Moran in the 10th. Thought it bizarre when he was left in to face Refsnyder. He get’s the DP somehow…then, I’m sure Rocco wants to leave him in against Verdugo to preserve the lefty-lefty matchup. Weird sequence.

It’s Fenway…it’s not a great pitching staff…score more than 2 runs.

[Rosterman]

Shows the need for a long relief arm. If a starter only goes 5, you don't patch the game thru to the end with 1-inning jobs. You need someone to come in and pick up 2-3 innings.

 

[Rod Carews Birthday]

2 minutes ago, Rosterman said:

Shows the need for a long relief arm. If a starter only goes 5, you don't patch the game thru to the end with 1-inning jobs. You need someone to come in and pick up 2-3 innings.

 

Seemed like an OK time for Headrick (or even an early Pagan for 2 innings) to come in and get his feet wet, although none of it matters if you don't have some bad defense and lousy offense tonight. 

[stringer bell]

2 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

So much to dislike:

Awful offense. Just awful. 

Really poor defense, from many corners. Solano, Gordon, Vasquez. 

Some questionable managing, IYAM. I don't like Moran in ANY situation, and hated him in extra innings here. That's not a second guess, either. I would rather have seen anyone, and would have actually preferred Pagan. And once it's clear Moran is scared to death, you have to get him out of the game.

Defense cost them. Gordon/Vázquez should have made the play at the plate and I don’t think they understood the Catcher’s Interference rule. Miranda pooched the ball to first and Solano made no attempt to tag the runner or hold the bag. Vazquez keeps 90% of those low pitches in front of  him, but the one in the tenth got by him. 
 

The pitching options were Alcala, Pagán, Headrick and Moran. I would have been on pins and needles for any of them, but Moran absolutely needs to throw more strikes. 

[wabene]

Kepler doesn't love baseball. 

[h2oface]

Miranda turning one of the coolest double plays I have ever seen. Spectacular.

What a weird game. I sure hope this is not a sign of things to come.

[stringer bell]

10 minutes ago, Rosterman said:

Shows the need for a long relief arm. If a starter only goes 5, you don't patch the game thru to the end with 1-inning jobs. You need someone to come in and pick up 2-3 innings.

 

Disagree. With a day off preceding, going with four one-inning relievers would have left four available with no one working consecutive days. Due to the fielding misplays, it didn’t work out. I think López and Thielbar and maybe Duran can go tomorrow in addition to those that didn’t work today. Seven innings from Ryan would be helpful. 

[tony&rodney]

Jax was terrific. Mistakes by Vasquez on the catcher's interference, Solano suffering a brain blip, and Gordon's poor throw home were all tough, especially the latter two. Moran draws a ton of heat but as brutal as that inning was, it is over if Kepler catches that ball. A weird ending of a game where the Twins strike out 16 times. As good as the pitching has been, winning is really tough when the bats are flailing in such a severe upper cut style. The mathematics makes contact probability odds slim. Better days ahead. Kirilloff hit the ball hard three times tonight and made a couple of good plays at first base.  

[jkcarew]

27 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

Baffling that Moran continued to pitch after Refsnyder grounded into the double play. He clearly didn’t have it tonight and Pagan was warming (warmed?) in the pen. 

4 hits in 10 innings isn’t going to cut it. Neither is 3 errors in the field. The walk off is classic Fenway shenanigans. 

To be fair, Rocco backed himself into a corner by sticking with Moran all the way to the Refsnyer AB. By that time, he’s going to look bad if he leaves Moran in to get beat…but, he also looks pretty silly bringing in a right-hander (even ‘good’ Pagan) to face Verdugo and/or Devers with the game on the line. IMO, he needed to make the move to Pagan right away…and give Pagan a chance to clean up the mess against the bottom of the order.

[9moons27]

Moran is hard to watch. Nibble, nibble nibble. I don't think he could throw 3 straight strikes if he tried.

[Aerodeliria]

That was the worst the Twins have played thus far IMHO.  After the Twins scored two in the 10th, I was quite surprised it was Moran, who has not done much so far. I actually hoped it would be Pagan. In any case, the Twins were not sharp in the field. Even that fly ball by Verdugo was weird. Kepler jogged over that way nonchalantly, like the ball was going to be 30 rows up in foul territory when clearly he could have made a play even if he thought it was going foul. Maybe he didn't see it well? That was just one of the examples. Boston tried to give us the game, but we refused once too often.

[ashbury]

Miranda kept the Twins in the game with his play in the bottom of the 10th.  Kepler may or may not have had a chance to follow it up with a similar game-saver to send it to the 11th, but he sure didn't put himself in position to try.  Very disappointing, in a late-innings period full of them.

[h2oface]

4 hours ago, 9moons27 said:

Moran is hard to watch. Nibble, nibble nibble. I don't think he could throw 3 straight strikes if he tried.

3 pitches, 3 strikes to the first batter. Too bad or defensive specialist catcher didn't keep the K. 

And the walk off couldn't have been more middle middle....... and it was a weird ballpark and luck that won the game in the end.

Could a right fielder with focused effort have caught that fly?

4 hits, 16Ks and 2 errors, not to consider other bad decisions. Vazquez did not have a good game. He just can't be that close to the batter. Not smart.

This is the kind of game that if you don't have a favorite team playing, is really really fun to watch. Very entertaining without a horse in the race, and you love baseball.

 

 

 

 

[RickOShea]

3 hours ago, h2oface said:

Miranda turning one of the coolest double plays I have ever seen. Spectacular.

What a weird game. I sure hope this is not a sign of things to come.

Miranda's double play was in a large part due to the Bosox player failing to stop.  Had he stopped and had Miranda go after him, the player is safe at first.  Classic example of 'running yourself into a double play (by the Bosox).

[David HK]

Geez Louise...

This game was like a slow-motion Heimlich Maneuver. 

And Jovani "No Mystery" Moran, sheesh....

[Nine of twelve]

In some ways this game was an example of what I like about baseball--even though I have watched thousands of games I don't recall ever seeing a catcher's interference in which the manager chose which play will stand and I know I've never seen a DP like the Twins executed in the 10th. And those occurred in the same game. But that doesn't mean I enjoyed watching it. I don't fault Rocco for having Moran start the 10th inning but no pitcher is on his game every night. So like many others, I do fault Rocco for not making a pitching change in the 10th when it became clear that Moran was struggling.

[LewFordLives]

I'm getting a little tired of washed up pitchers finding their old magic against the Twins. 

[miracleb]

8 hours ago, wabene said:

Kepler doesn't love baseball. 

I didn't see the game and am looking for vidoe of the fly ball that the fan supposedly touched....can't find it.  Is this a reference to the fact that Kepler didn't try to catch it? (real question!)

[bighat]

The good part about fan-run sites is that we don't have to pretend there was anything positive about this. 

The Twins got absolutely dominated by a washed-up old pitcher who carried a 16.48 ERA entering the game. Sale had been lit up all year before this. 

Over the past 2 games, the Twins have started the game 0-12 with 11 K's in the first 2 innings. 

Buxton struck out 10 straight times before grounding out weakly to 3rd base in his second AB last night. 

We don't have to pretend this is a good team that's just experiencing some bad luck. Everything about these hitting statistics tells you that this offense is the worst in the league. There's no reason to expect better - at this point guys like Michael A Taylor and Solano are carrying the team on offense. Nobody's hitting, especially if they somehow manage to get men on base. 

The pitching has been off the charts awesome. The opponent's bats are catching up, though, and it's more likely the team ERA ends up towards the middle of the pack. What then? 

Folks, last night was bad baseball by what appears to be a bad baseball team. At this point it appears the Twins' only hope is that Jorge Polanco and Alex Kirilloff come back from major injuries/surgery and start carrying the offense. Does anyone realistically see that happening? 

The worst part: it's absolutely excruciating to watch. This type of swing-and-miss offense is exactly what MLB's been trying to fix with all the rule changes, and just about every team's offense is improved. The fact that the Twins have yet to see any improvement is a bad sign. It's early, but hard to believe this team is going to improve on last year. 

[wabene]

24 minutes ago, miracleb said:

I didn't see the game and am looking for vidoe of the fly ball that the fan supposedly touched....can't find it.  Is this a reference to the fact that Kepler didn't try to catch it? (real question!)

Maybe I'm reaching here because of his comments last year about how he might have chosen the wrong career, but Max just doesn't seem to enjoy his job much anymore. Yes I think he could've made a much better effort on that play. 

[Doctor Gast]

9 hours ago, Rosterman said:

Shows the need for a long relief arm. If a starter only goes 5, you don't patch the game thru to the end with 1-inning jobs. You need someone to come in and pick up 2-3 innings.

That's what I've been advocating for years. We not only lost the game by running thru our top BP arms, leaving only our low leverage arms. But we also short changed ourselves in the BP in our up coming games. Having a competent long RP could have saved the game & the BP.

A very disappointing game, offensively, defensively & (managetorially). I was waiting for the Twins to jump all over Sales (never happened). Although Gray threw a lot of extra pitches he was able to limit any damage, Kepler HR & Miranda's DP were bright spots. Too bad it was for nought.  

[Riverbrian]

9 hours ago, Rosterman said:

Shows the need for a long relief arm. If a starter only goes 5, you don't patch the game thru to the end with 1-inning jobs. You need someone to come in and pick up 2-3 innings.

 

Headrick is a long relief arm. I've heard rumor he is on the 26 man roster. 😉

[beterday]

9 hours ago, wabene said:

Kepler doesn't love baseball. 

9 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

Opps, don't know what I'm doing.  Seems like Kepler gave up on that fly ball as soon as it was hit.  He did not at any time run hard to try and catch it.  Buxton in right at that time would have been fun to watch.  This game reminded me of watching last year's team.