Twins 8, Royals 4: Massive Third Inning Leads Twins to Winning Homestand

[Theodore Tollefson]

Sonny Gray threw another masterful game on Sunday and his offensive gave him lots of run support with an explosive third inning when they tacked on seven runs and batted around. Things started to get a little anxious at the end, but the Twins won the game and the series. 

Image courtesy of Jeffrey Becker, USA Today Sports

Box Score
SP: Sonny Gray  6 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K (95 pitches, 65 strikes (68.4% strikes))
Home Runs: Byron Buxton (7)
Top 3 WPA:  Byron Buxton .287, Sonny Gray .163, Nick Gordon .065

Win Probability Chart

 

Gray Holds Up League-Leading ERA
Gray continued his out-of-this-world performance this season Sunday afternoon shutting down the Royals lineup. He ran into trouble in both the second and third innings with the leadoff hitter in the second and the number two man in the third reaching third base with two outs. Fortunately, with a strong defense behind him and his curveball whiffing hitters, the Royals failed to get Gray to give up his third run of the season when they had the chance early in the game.

The Royals did get one more chance to score a run against Gray in the sixth. Vinnie Pasquantino and Salvador Perez led the inning off with a double and a single. Gray retired Edward Olivares with a ground out, but a good start from third by Pasquantino led to Gray’s third run given up on the season. 

Teeing off in the Third
Flashes of the past came in the third inning when the Twins lineup brought back signs of the Bomba Squad. Starting with Byron Buxton’s seventh home run of the season that put the Twins up 4-0. 

The Twins then followed up with four hits and a hit by a pitch that extended their lead to 8-0 over the Royals and knocked Brady Singer out before he could complete three innings. 

A Curse Lifted via the Bunt
Nick Gordon’s last game reaching base more than once was on April 11 and for one reason or another, he has had a terrible time at the plate since April 12. But whatever curse was put upon him that day ended Sunday afternoon.

The Twins' first run of the game came from a safety squeeze off Gordon’s bat in the second, which was the third sacrifice bunt on the season for the team. 

Gordon then drove in the next two runs that followed Buxton’s three-run home run that put the team up 6-0. Those RBIs ended up being his first two on the season continuing to break the end of a two-week plus cold streak.

What Up Byron?
As you've read and probably seen, Byron Buxton smashed a three-run home run to put the Twins ahead 4-0. The home run was also the introduction of the Twins dugout celebration that will now follow every home run of the season, a fisherman’s pole and vest, reeling in the cameraman. 

The icing on the fisherman’s vest is the back which reads, Land of 10,000 Rakes, setting a precedent for the franchise with the most home runs in a single season as a team. The home run was also Buxton’s fifth in the Twins’ ten game homestand that ended Sunday. 

Winder's Season Debut
When Sonny Gray was done, Emilio Pagan gave up on run in the seventh inning. Brock Stewart tossed a scoreless eighth frame. 

In the ninth inning, Josh Winder returned from an long stint on the IL this weekend to make his season debut. His outing was not so sharp as he allowed a walk and two hits that led to the Royals tacking on a few runs before he could get the final out of the game. Winder was removed from the game following a double by MJ Melendez, setting his ERA at 27.00. 

Jhoan Duran came into the game to get the final out and record the save to seal the Twins victory. 

Other notes
The Twins recorded a winning record for their second homestand of the season. While things looked bleak after dropping two out of three to the Nationals to start the homestand, the season series victory over the Yankees helped them gain momentum to take three out of four over the Royals. 

What’s Next? 
The Twins have an off day before they start a seven-game road trip against two American League Central opponents. They will open up a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night at 6:10 p.m. Joe Ryan will go against Michael Kopech. The White Sox scored seven runs in the bottom of the ninth on Sunday to beat the Rays 10-9 and end their 10-game losing streak. They are expected to get Tim Anderson back. Also, these games are always close, regardless of records. 

Postgame Interview 

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[wsnydes]

This team is so much more interesting when it's scoring runs. 

Not entirely bothered by the late Royals runs.  Don't like them of course, but the name of the game at that point is to get back into the clubhouse and on to the next series.

[Blyleven2011]

The twins prevailed and took the series  ...

Made it a winning home stand  ...

The royals did impress ( more than the current yankee roster )  with the fight to the end that they gave us , they have a few keepers on that team to keep building with  ...

[Doctor Gast]

Gray & Buxton were great! I've always said that Gordon plays best in the OF, Keep him there.

[GNess]

Gray has been tremendous this season so. far. Just baffling opposing batters.

[h2oface]

The KC series sure had umpires that need more training behind the plate. Today's was so far off all day. When you can grade every pitch, it is sure visible when they are so wrong on so many.

[stringer bell]

I'd call it a successful game for Gordon, but he didn't reach base more than once. The article seems to suggest that he did. 

[mikelink45]

My disappointment was in Winder's debut for the season.  I really want him to succeed. 

[JD-TWINS]

1 hour ago, Doctor Gast said:

Gray & Buxton were great! I've always said that Gordon plays best in the OF, Keep him there.

Once Farmer is back, he won’t see infield again. Hope he keeps chipping away with the bat!

[KirbyDome89]

3 hours ago, wsnydes said:

This team is so much more interesting when it's scoring runs. 

Not entirely bothered by the late Royals runs.  Don't like them of course, but the name of the game at that point is to get back into the clubhouse and on to the next series.

Eh, Pagan is the same guy he was last year; he just will not stop allowing baserunners. Moran can't really be trusted either. It's an incredibly SSS for Winder but he hasn't looked good anywhere to start the year. Maybe he's "shaking off some rust," but he doesn't have a track record that inspires a ton of confidence. I have no idea who or what Brock Stewart is. That's half the bullpen. None of the guys in the top half are throwing multiple innings per outing, at least right now. I'm bothered by wobbly appearances, even if they occur during a semi blowout against a AAA team. 

[wsnydes]

12 minutes ago, KirbyDome89 said:

Eh, Pagan is the same guy he was last year; he just will not stop allowing baserunners. Moran can't really be trusted either. It's an incredibly SSS for Winder but he hasn't looked good anywhere to start the year. Maybe he's "shaking off some rust," but he doesn't have a track record that inspires a ton of confidence. I have no idea who or what Brock Stewart is. That's half the bullpen. None of the guys in the top half are throwing multiple innings per outing, at least right now. I'm bothered by wobbly appearances, even if they occur during a semi blowout against a AAA team. 

I'm not bothered by the runs because if Pagan is going to be on the roster, that's when I want him pitching.  

Season is still young.  Teams are still figuring out what they have.  We'll see what they start doing to adjust.

[FlyingFinn]

19 minutes ago, KirbyDome89 said:

Eh, Pagan is the same guy he was last year; he just will not stop allowing baserunners. Moran can't really be trusted either. It's an incredibly SSS for Winder but he hasn't looked good anywhere to start the year. Maybe he's "shaking off some rust," but he doesn't have a track record that inspires a ton of confidence. I have no idea who or what Brock Stewart is. That's half the bullpen. None of the guys in the top half are throwing multiple innings per outing, at least right now. I'm bothered by wobbly appearances, even if they occur during a semi blowout against a AAA team. 

How many MLB teams have great bullpens if you don't count their top 4 pitchers?

[KirbyDome89]

6 minutes ago, FlyingFinn said:

How many MLB teams have great bullpens if you don't count their top 4 pitchers?

The top end guys could, simultaneously, have career years, work a high number of innings, and carry the pen a la 2019. Is that what you want to bank on?

I never said this pen had to be great, but if you're going to carry two guys who are borderline unusable outside of games already out of reach + a third who hasn't pitched particularly well in limited innings, you can't also expect your top half to continue averaging less than 1 inning per appearance. Something has to give. It's difficult enough to hide one arm over 162 games, let alone 3, hence my concern about poor outings even if they happen to occur during a relatively easy W. 

[Blyleven2011]

4 hours ago, h2oface said:

The KC series sure had umpires that need more training behind the plate. Today's was so far off all day. When you can grade every pitch, it is sure visible when they are so wrong on so many.

He seemed to be consistent for both sides though  , he had a wide strike zone that is for sure ...

[h2oface]

7 hours ago, Blyleven2011 said:

He seemed to be consistent for both sides though  , he had a wide strike zone that is for sure ...

Personally, I have never subscribed to the narrative that consistently wrong makes it right, or even OK. It just makes it wrong consistently, which doesn't make it OK in the least, especially when there is an option that will be consistently right, without excuses. It is even what is used to grade umpires. 

[Karbo]

I would have to say that was as bad or worse even than any umpire crew has been at calling balls and strikes. All 4 games were bad. Need ABS soon.

[Whitey333]

Has anyone seen Carlos Correa?  It's great the Twins are doing well especially while getting almost zero help from Correa.  It's amazing what little you get for 33 million per year!  

[Blyleven2011]

15 hours ago, h2oface said:

Personally, I have never subscribed to the narrative that consistently wrong makes it right, or even OK. It just makes it wrong consistently, which doesn't make it OK in the least, especially when there is an option that will be consistently right, without excuses. It is even what is used to grade umpires. 

Hernandez is the worst ...

I agree there are some pretty bad umpires and they should have an eye check everytime  they call balls and strikes ...

And I didn't mean for you to take it as it's OK,  I just stated that he was consistent for both teams ...