Guardians 2, Twins 1: Seventh Inning Costs Twins Again

[Steven Trefz]

The Twins offense started the game with Byron Buxton, Carlos Correa, and Alex Kirilloff on the bench due to injury and illness. The result was exactly what anyone who has watched the club this season might suspect. The Guardians salvaged the series split, and the Twins avoided real disaster, but left many roster question marks heading into a difficult road trip. Here's how it all went down.

Image courtesy of Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Box Score:
SP: Joe Ryan: 6.2 IP 2 H 2 ER 1 BB 4 SO (88 Pitches, 65 Strikes, 74%)
Home Runs: Willi Castro (5)
Bottom 3 WPA: Jorge Polanco (-0.207), Royce Lewis (-0.204), Caleb Thielbar (-0.107)

Win Probability Chart (Via Fangraphs):

The Definition of a Pitching Dual
Triston McKenzie made his debut for the Guardians Sunday, and he did not disappoint. Twins fans were hoping for rust, but instead they got straight nastiness. McKenzie scattered ten strikeouts over five innings, and all that the Twins could muster was a Michael A. Taylor single in the third inning.

On the other side, Joe Ryan was in fine form. Through six innings, he gave up just one hit, and that runner was thrown out trying to steal second base by Ryan Jeffers. 

The Story Turns in the Seventh (You've Heard this One Before)
Ryan started the seventh in innocent fasion, retiring the first two batters easily. Jose Ramirez worked a two out walk, Ryan's only of the game, and then the wheels fell off. After a mound visit, it was decided that Ryan would stay in to finish what he'd started. Turned out that Josh Naylor enjoyed that decision, taking Ryan deep for a run-scoring double to put the Guardians up 1-0.

Thielbar returned to the bullpen after a lengthy injury absense, and Twins fans breathed a collective sigh of relief. Then Andres Gimenez came to the plate, and greeted Thielbar with a run-scoring triple off of the out-of-town scoreboard to stretch the score to 2-0.

Can the Twins Come Back?
That second run felt like the game-clincher, especially with the depleted lineup and the recent history of low-scoring losses. But someone forgot to tell Willi Castro. In the top of the eigth inning, Castro cleared the out-of-town scoreboard to cut the lead in half at 2-1. A Taylor double to left, and the Twins were back in business. Jorge Polanco made a quick out to second, moving Taylor over. Then the hero of the week (and the next decade) Royce Lewis stepped up to the plate with two outs. Then disaster struck, both for the game's chances and most importantly, for Lewis' chances to continue his hero run with the Twins. Royce flipped over the first baseman after being thrown out, and you can find the video on your own. For now, let's give thanks that he wasn't seriously injured.

So Clase, and yet So Far
The Twins were able to start a two-out rally in the ninth against Guardian closer Emmanuel Clase. Ryan Jeffers walked, and Kyle Farmer laced a single to right, setting the stage for Castro to make another memory in a Twins uniform. Unfortunately, Castro struck out, without ever actually seeing a strike thrown to him, and it was game, set, split.

What’s Next:
The Twins finally have an off-day on Monday, before heading out on an epic 3000+ mile road trip to Tampa and Toronto. The Twins were late in naming there Tuesday starter, but have settled on Louie Varland (3-1, 3.51 ERA) to face Tampa's surprise ace RHP Zach Eflin (7-1, 3.30 ERA) to kick-off the three game series. First pitch is scheduled for 5:40pm CDT.

Postgame Interviews

Bullpen Usage Chart

	SUN	WED	THU	FRI	SAT	SUN	TOT
J. López	0	16	0	0	31	0	47
Pagán	0	0	33	0	4	0	37
Morán	1	0	0	13	19	0	33
Jax	8	0	12	0	0	11	31
Stewart	0	13	0	15	0	0	28
De León	0	16	0	0	0	12	28
Durán	0	0	0	26	0	0	26
Thielbar	0	0	0	0	0	10	10

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[Hpyeet]

Castro has hit well at times including the HR today, but good grief Rocco needs to teach some situational hitting.  Clase was coming apart at the end, walking Jeffers and giving up a hit to Farmer.  For goodness sake be patient, take until he throws a strike, baseball 101.  Castro was flailing at balls in the dirt, struck out on pitches not even close.

[KirbyDome89]

This Cleveland series has been a microcosm of the season to date; tough to watch for large parts with ample opportunity squandered. We can look at the standings and try to find solace in the fact that there isn't a single team in the ALC that looks like a real threat to race by the Twins, but man this club makes it so difficult to feel good about them. 

[darwin22]

Groundhog Day emerges AGAIN on June 4th.

Just so frustrating to WASTE a great start by Ryan.  

As mentioned the game was basically over when CLE increased their lead to 2-0 on Gimenez's double off Thielbar.  Count me in the minority here, but I'd have preferred Moran facing Gimenez instead of Thielbar for two reasons.  First. Gimenez was 1-7 against Moran.  Second, coming off IL in 1st appearance, I'd have rather seen Thielbar in a less high leverage situation.   I'm guessing Moran having pitched in last 2 games led to that decision.

Not going to criticize Castro's last AB, although better discipline may have had a better result.  Pretty hard if not IMPOSSIBLE to beat any team (let alone) CLE when your top 5 "guys with a bat" (I cant call them hitters) go a collective goose egg for 18 with 10 whiffs!  Just brutal.

What is the updated report, if any on the status of Correa and Buxton being ready to play at TB Tuesday night?  For all the faults of Rocco (and there are many), you cant blame him getting stuck with a short bench.  I also refuse to agree with the decision to bring up Garlick over Wallner.  I don't care about CLE starting a LHP as THE reason why Garlick got the call.  Prior to today our "lefty masher" was anything but that as evidenced by his 3-16 performance (with 8 Ks) against LH pitchers this year.  Time to DFA Garlick and move on.

Finally on the bright side (sarcasm intended), I will leave with this nugget:

Our 16 whiffs this afternoon further increases our MLB lead in K's to 613!  Now averaging 10.22 whiffs per game.

The whiff record of the 2021 Cubs of 1596 is absolutely within reach.  Now to get there----we need Gallo, Correa and Buxton back in the lineup ASAP!  On pace...with 101 games left to get to 1645.   Twins fever...Catch it!

 

[Nashvilletwin]

Where was Wallner this weekend?

[SwainZag]

Did the 7th inning really cost them? Or did scoring 1 run cost them?  

[shabbos1]

It may seem a bit unorthodox to have a hitter who can't hit (Kepler) in the cleanup spot, but it's important to just see how it plays out over the course of a few months.  Trust the process.  The one man bench was a pretty neat idea today also.  Sports!

[Blyleven2011]

I usually watch golf  to take an afternoon nap  ...

Now I watch the twins on Sunday afternoon and fall asleep  , i did wake for the final two innings which were probably the best they performed with the bat's ...

Why no pinch hitter for Castro in ninth  , oh that's right Rocco would tell us he went with the hot bat ...

Kirilloff was going to hit for Garlick  but as usual Rocco  was one batter to late  , Kirilloff right now is our best hitter and a perfect situation to pinch hit for Castro to tie it or win it ...

Off track a little  , I liked denny green more than Rocco  , denny had worse talent  and made that talent  better players .... 

Rocco just sits there and tells his good talent to go do the best you can  ..

[Steven Trefz]

14 minutes ago, SwainZag said:

Did the 7th inning really cost them? Or did scoring 1 run cost them?  

Yes to both unfortunately.

also just an update, Varland getting named as starter Tuesday.  Not sure what took so long for that to come out.

 

[Schmoeman5]

22 minutes ago, Nashvilletwin said:

Where was Wallner this weekend?

Buffalo New York.

[ashbury]

Hope he's okay after that collision.

[LastOnePicked]

Twins practicing catch and release again with their top competitors. Okay for fishing, but terrible for winning a division.

 

[Brandon27]

Time to start making some serious roster moves get thus offense going and bullpen help 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

1 hour ago, KirbyDome89 said:

This Cleveland series has been a microcosm of the season to date; tough to watch for large parts with ample opportunity squandered.

A very nice start, a so-so middle, and ending with a loss and your most important players watching from the bench. Kind of like the whole 2022 season too, come to think of it. 

[darwin22]

1 hour ago, Nashvilletwin said:

Where was Wallner this weekend?

Answer:  In Buffalo--mashing for the Saints!

Since his demotion to activate Kepler (insert sigh) all Wallner has done is:

Hit .423 over his last 6 games (11-26) with 26 total bases in 26 AB's.  A slug % of 1000 is pretty decent.  Wallner has 10 RBI over those 6 games.  

[Nashvilletwin]

35 minutes ago, darwin22 said:

Answer:  In Buffalo--mashing for the Saints!

Since his demotion to activate Kepler (insert sigh) all Wallner has done is:

Hit .423 over his last 6 games (11-26) with 26 total bases in 26 AB's.  A slug % of 1000 is pretty decent.  Wallner has 10 RBI over those 6 games.  

I think he might’ve helped. Too bad. Just don’t understand. We give up Wallner for the entire weekend because Cleveland is starting a lefty on Saturday and so they call up Garlick.  There were multiple instances in both games where we would’ve loved to have Wallner at the plate.

[Maybebaby]

Ya know what they just, sorry but kind of suck again

[DocBauer]

Gallo-hurt and on the IL

Buxton-hurt and resting 

Correa-hurt and resting

I get it. And I can understand Lewis with a half day off and Kirilloff out if the lineup to begin the day for a day off. And Kepler is...well...Kepler.

But 3 runs TOTAL in the past 2 games is why the Twins didn't sweep the series. And how about 4 runs TOTAL in 3 of those?

You won't will all games, or all series. And winning 4 out of the last 7 games is fine. But it could have easily been 6 of the last 7, and that's what's disappointing. 

[jorgenswest]

3 hours ago, Hpyeet said:

Castro has hit well at times including the HR today, but good grief Rocco needs to teach some situational hitting.  Clase was coming apart at the end, walking Jeffers and giving up a hit to Farmer.  For goodness sake be patient, take until he throws a strike, baseball 101.  Castro was flailing at balls in the dirt, struck out on pitches not even close.

I sure hope they send players to the majors with awareness of situational hitting. Once you get to the majors it needs to be about the speed of the game at this level. This isn’t on Rocco. 

[Riverbrian]

17 minutes ago, Nashvilletwin said:

I think he might’ve helped. Too bad. Just don’t understand. We give up Wallner for the entire weekend because Cleveland is starting a lefty on Saturday and so they call up Garlick.  There were multiple instances in both games where we would’ve loved to have Wallner at the plate.

Of Course there are no guarantees that Wallner would have done anything. However, that same lack of a guarantee applies to everybody on the 26 man roster but... in absence of a guarantee... it's best to go with the guy who doesn't seem to need that guarantee. 

[ashbury]

17 hours ago, jorgenswest said:

I sure hope they send players to the majors with awareness of situational hitting. Once you get to the majors it needs to be about the speed of the game at this level. This isn’t on Rocco. 

In the past 3 games their on base percentage was .281, .294, and (if I did my math correctly from the box score) .206.  Not batting average, but OBP.

The situational hitting they need is, "ain't nobody on base, see if you can change that situation."

[lake_guy]

wow!  has the guy ever played first base before?

 

[stringer bell]

It’s too bad that the Twins only got a split when they were able to keep Ramírez in check. Of course the Twins marquee players did …….zero. 
 

Add a decent middle of the order to the pitching staff and role players and this is a good team. Correa, Buxton, Kirilloff and Lewis could and should be a good middle of the order. 
 

How much longer should Max Kepler be considered the starting right fielder?

[rv78]

The whiff boys were at it again. 16 K's and Gallo wasn't even in the lineup. Sure glad Kepler and Garlick are better suited to play in the majors over Wallner. (Yeah, that's sarcasm). As for Gallo, Correa and Buxton being out due to injuries or illness..... well I guess that is why they scored 1 run today instead of ZERO. Castro got to play at 3B due to Farmer having to play in Correa's abscence at SS and got the only run. As bad as the other 3 have been playing they probably wouldn't have scored at all had they been in the lineup. Tell me how Popkes (the hitting coach) is retaining his job? If they can't hit because of him he should be fired. If they can't hit and he has nothing to do with it, then he isn't needed. Either way they are worse than bad and something needs to be done. 

[Riverbrian]

12 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

 

How much longer should Max Kepler be considered the starting right fielder?

It feels a little better when you reduce his consideration to mere player on the 26 man roster. 

A little better. 

[Richie the Rally Goat]

12 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

It’s too bad that the Twins only got a split when they were able to keep Ramírez in check. Of course the Twins marquee players did …….zero. 
 

Add a decent middle of the order to the pitching staff and role players and this is a good team. Correa, Buxton, Kirilloff and Lewis could and should be a good middle of the order. 
 

How much longer should Max Kepler be considered the starting right fielder?

Sub Wallner for Kepler (IL, DFA, whatever) and IL Buck for Julien and these could have been much different games

[mikelink45]

3 hours ago, SwainZag said:

Did the 7th inning really cost them? Or did scoring 1 run cost them?  

This is so accurate. Thanks for posting it. 

[Peter]

Disappointing end to series. Twins should’ve sweep Cleveland. 4-3 gained 2 gamesOn Detroit so it’s  not bad but still. I think we will win Division by all star break. 

[LastOnePicked]

32 minutes ago, Peter said:

I think we will win Division by all star break. 

I think the division will stop doing us all of these favors soon. And when that happens, look out. .500 baseball won't cut it.

[VivaBomboRivera!]

4 hours ago, heresthething said:

wow!  has the guy ever played first base before?

 

Strongest case I've see lately for the softball-style first base on both sides of the foul line.  I almost puke watching the replays of Lewis's neck bending in that horrifying somersault.