Twins 3, Nationals 1: Twins Ice Nats With Pops of Power

[David Youngs]

Sprinkles of snow and splashes of bombas showered Target Field on Sunday as the Twins claimed the series finale against the Nationals with a 3-1 win.

Image courtesy of Nick Wosika-USA TODAY Sports

 

Box Score
SP: Bailey Ober: 5.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K (89 pitches, 57 strikes (64.04%)
Home Runs: Jorge Polanco (1), Michael A. Taylor (4)
Top 3 WPA: Jorge Polanco (0.264), Bailey Ober (0.195), Caleb Thielbar (0.079)

Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)

After two lackluster losses to the Nationals, the Twins came up strong on Sunday afternoon thanks to stellar defense and a few sprinkles of power.

And while a pair of homers and a gutsy play from Ryan Jeffers will fill the highlight reels, perhaps the most promising story of the day was an excellent start from Bailey Ober. 

Making his first start for the parent club on the 2023 season, Ober lasted 5 2/3 innings and held Washington to one run while giving up just three hits and three walks while striking out four. While his command struggled early on, Ober proved that he can be a valuable resource in a rotation that is seeing its greatest depth since the early 2000’s.

After a quiet first three innings, Jorge Polanco lit things up in the fourth inning with a leadoff home run into the left field bleachers to tie the game at one. Polanco is off to a hot start in his first series back from injury, knocking a hit in each three games against the Nats. 

Michael A. Taylor continued the fun in the fourth with a first-pitch rocket over the center field wall to give the Twins a lead that they wouldn’t look back on. 

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Polanco added an RBI single that scored Jose Miranda in the fifth to give the Twins an insurance run.

Continuing a trend of excellence, the Twins bullpen was rock-solid, with Caleb Thielbar, Jorge Lopez, and Jhoan Duran combining for 3.1 innings of scoreless, no-hit baseball.

What’s Next? 
After a series split at Yankee Stadium, the Twins will host the Bronx Bombers in a series that starts tomorrow night at 6:40pm. RHP Sonny Gray (2-0, 0.82) will face off against Jhony Brito (2-1, 5.40 ERA).

Postgame Interviews

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

 

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[stringer bell]

Nice win. The back end of the BP looks outstanding. Nice to have Polanco in the lineup and he did his damage right handed today.

Across the river, Alex Kirilloff is 2-3 with two homers and a walk through seven innings. There is another left handed bat pretty close to ready to help.

[GNess]

Thank goodness for Polanco's return to the line up. Kirilloff next? Twins continued their early season struggles to produce runs, but adding pieces should help some. 

[jkcarew]

For some reason, Polanco always looks hitterish to me when batting from the right side.

His career splits do not bare that out. He's been decent as a right-handed batter...but not as good as he's been as a lefty. Still, I swear that right-handed swing is a pretty good looking swing for a natural lefty.

[tony&rodney]

Good job by Ober. He looked like he could have pitched all day.

Ober and Varland have shown they are ready for MLB starts. Still, both Maeda and Mahle deserve their spots. Good problems.

What a difference Polanco can make.

Like the first response indicated, Kirilloff is hitting the ball hard. He looks good on milb.com. The only issue he has shown thus far, both with Ft. Myers and St. Paul, is an occasional lapse going after the high hard stuff. He looks very smooth in the field.

i believe the fielder tagged Castro, which would be interference, part of why he may have been so faked out. 

[9moons27]

24 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

Good job by Ober. He looked like he could have pitched all day.

Ober and Varland have shown they are ready for MLB starts. Still, both Maeda and Mahle deserve their spots. Good problems.

What a difference Polanco can make.

Like the first response indicated, Kirilloff is hitting the ball hard. He looks good on milb.com. The only issue he has shown thus far, both with Ft. Myers and St. Paul, is an occasional lapse going after the high hard stuff. He looks very smooth in the field.

i believe the fielder tagged Castro, which would be interference, part of why he may have been so faked out. 

Varland got knocked around in SP yesterday. I think his ERA is in the 5s.

[Doctor Gast]

Polanco is back! Like what was said he looked really good from the right side which surprised me. Nice to see Ober back up here where he belongs, congrats on a good game. Taylor is also a nice surprise, keep it up. Step up your game the rest of you, for the Yanks. Go Twins!

[stringer bell]

Good win! Still not getting much production from the lineup top to bottom. The rotation still looks solid and the four high-leverage bullpen guys look outstanding. A good defensive game is necessary as long as the offense is so hit-and-miss. 

[Nashvilletwin]

Nice outing by Ober. He’s proven over last year, spring training and now his first big league start this year that he is no worse than #6 in the pecking order. Not clear which of Varland or SWR is #7 and which is #8.

 

[stringer bell]

6 minutes ago, Nashvilletwin said:

Nice outing by Ober. He’s proven over last year, spring training and now his first big league start this year that he is no worse than #6 in the pecking order. Not clear which of Varland or SWR is #7 and which is #8.

 

I don't think there's much question Varland is ahead of Woods Richardson at this time. SWR is quite a bit younger and still might be the better prospect, but for a rotation spot or a spot start, it is Varland, then Richardson.

[USAFChief]

1 hour ago, jkcarew said:

 Polanco...right-handed swing is a pretty good looking swing for a natural lefty.

Natural lefty? 

[weitz41]

Nice to see Polanco getting off to a decent start in his return series. MAYBE..just maybe the offense will pick up as the projected starters return from injury. Pitching was outstanding, as far as I can tell from the box score. 1 game at a time. 1 game up of Cleveland. They get the Rockies next followed by road games against the Red Sox and Yankees. We get the Yankees @ home then @ KC and White Sox. who are struggling. Good time go on a run. Go Twins!

[USAFChief]

1 hour ago, tony&rodney said:

i believe the fielder tagged Castro, which would be *interference, part of why he may have been so faked out. 

*obstruction 

And only so if the fielder impedes the runner's progress.

 

I don't think there's a case to be made Castro's progress was impeded. 

Just a poor decision by MAT to swing, and even worse baserunning by Castro.

 

[tony&rodney]

33 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

*obstruction 

And only so if the fielder impedes the runner's progress.

 

I don't think there's a case to be made Castro's progress was impeded. 

Just a poor decision by MAT to swing, and even worse baserunning by Castro.

 

Yes, I know "obstruction" ... I believe Baldelli was asking if the infielder was in the way as Castro first seemed like he was going to third (one step) and then had to step around the infielder. Impediment is always a judgment call. The  It wasn't worth the argument. Not exactly good baseball this weekend by the Twins and Nationals.

[mikelink45]

Quote

Twins came up strong on Sunday afternoon

It was 3 - 1.  Ober was great, but let's not overhype the win.  It was a good win against a bad team and we did not come on strong. 

[jkcarew]

1 hour ago, USAFChief said:

Natural lefty? 

Maybe I’m using the wrong term with ‘natural lefty’ since he throws with his right arm. I’m assuming that his ‘natural swing’ is left-handed…as it is for most switch hitters.

[bighat]

52 minutes ago, mikelink45 said:

It was 3 - 1.  Ober was great, but let's not overhype the win.  It was a good win against a bad team and we did not come on strong. 

I'd love to see some more honest headlines! This one could have been: "Offensive struggles continue as Twins salvage a win against the worst team in the National League."

It's hard to find positives even in victories these days. 

[David HK]

Nice job, Twins.  You managed to squeak one out against the KC Royals of the NL.

Bailey Ober showing he belongs, and maybe Jorge can shame the Polar Vortex of Buxton, Correa, and Miranda into bringing an actual bat to the plate instead of a loaf of French bread.

[Aerodeliria]

I'm sure glad we've faced a lot of those Cy Young candidates already...

[Mike Sixel]

When they traded for Mahle, I wanted him to pitch two innings in relief every few days. I think Ober should be a starter, and Mahle or Maeda RP ..... But don't expect that. 

If someone wants to give up a great prospect for either, I'm in.

 

[Jocko87]

Noted power hitter Micheal A Taylor. 

Also noted the back brace/heat pad/massager thing on Correa lower back during one of the home run celebrations.  Gotta keep it loose...😑

[Eephus]

I thought it was cool how Taylor took off running hard out of the box on a hit that went 444 feet. Opposite of a bat flip.

[hitterscount]

Backend BP dominance. If we go Lopez - Duran in game 1 of this series, we take two of three.  If fresh, when holding the lead going into the 8th, this is how the BP should be used... you will win 90% of the time. 

[wabene]

19 minutes ago, hitterscount said:

Backend BP dominance. If we go Lopez - Duran in game 1 of this series, we take two of three.  If fresh, when holding the lead going into the 8th, this is how the BP should be used... you will win 90% of the time. 

Jax and Thielbar are in that mix too. You can't just rely on two guys like you mention simply because they can't be available every day. Another factor is the reason Duran got the 9th is not because of a closer role it is because the meat of the Nationals order was due up. The Twins are not going with set roles in the pen based on the inning. Those days are over no matter how many times some clamor for it. 

[Whitey333]

Wow.  Nice win. Seems everyone here thinks this team is on a roll.. After one game against a poor team.  No one mentioned the stupid base running .mistake getting doubled off first on a ball hit to the warning track in center field.  Not earlier I the game with Correa on first and two outs.  He did t hustle and should have made it to third.  The outfielder do e for the ball and missed it. With two outs Correa should have been running.  He should have been at third.  That is much more typical of Twins play..  Bailey Over did great.  Great game by Polanco.  U fortunately we lost two of three to the Nationals.  Since starting the season 4-0 the Twins are 8-10 since then.

 

 

 

[hitterscount]

6 hours ago, wabene said:

Jax and Thielbar are in that mix too. You can't just rely on two guys like you mention simply because they can't be available every day. Another factor is the reason Duran got the 9th is not because of a closer role it is because the meat of the Nationals order was due up. The Twins are not going with set roles in the pen based on the inning. Those days are over no matter how many times some clamor for it. 

I have seen what Jax and Thielbar are capable of... so far this season they are not close to Lopez and Duran.  I am fine with mixing Lopez in the 7th if the matchup dictates, but Duran should be the everyday closer.  

[wabene]

36 minutes ago, hitterscount said:

I have seen what Jax and Thielbar are capable of... so far this season they are not close to Lopez and Duran.  I am fine with mixing Lopez in the 7th if the matchup dictates, but Duran should be the everyday closer.  

Sorry, I don't agree. I prefer it done the way they have been doing it with matchups before roles based on the inning. No closer can be used every day anyway so you the need the flexibility to shift roles. They will all give up runs, as Duran has, but you are going to need those four and then some others in important spots.