Rays 2, Twins 1: López Is Brilliant, but the Offense Remains Cold

[Thiéres Rabelo]

The Twins got a great start from Pablo López for the first time in weeks. But the offense had no answers to Tampa Bay’s bullpen game, which limited Minnesota to only three hits in the night. The Twins lose four consecutive games for the first time in the year and are now, also for the first time, at .500.

Image courtesy of Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Box Score
Starting Pitcher: Pablo López, 7.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K (92 pitches, 63 strikes, 68.5%)
Home Runs: none
Bottom 3 WPA: Jhoan Durán (-.376), Ryan Jeffers (-.316), Carlos Correa (-.139)
Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)

Pablo is back! But…

Coming into tonight’s game, Pablo López had given up 17 runs in his four previous starts, almost just as many as he’s given up (19) in his eight starts before that. Sporting a Johan Santana-esque goatee, the Twins’ opening-day starter desperately needed a good start to get out of this nearly month-long slump. The first of two big problems for him and the Twins: he needed to do it facing the best offense in the majors.

Entering this game, the Rays led the league in OPS, wRC+, and ranked second in runs scored. The Twins got a (bitter) taste of the power of that offense last night. How can you stop such a powerful offense? After a quick eight-pitch first for López, the Rays struck first, with Isaac Paredes crushing a leadoff home run to deep center. Fortunately, López didn’t let it get to him and retired the following three batters to end the inning.

The second big problem for López and the Twins this evening was the poor offense as of late. Minnesota’s bats couldn’t muster more than four hits in their shutout loss on Tuesday night. Tonight, however, Tampa Bay went with a bullpen day. Could the struggling Twins offense take advantage of that?

At first, it didn’t look like it. Opener Shawn Armstrong took care of the first two innings in a hurry, facing only seven batters and allowing only a single. When reliever Cooper Criswell took over in the third, the Twins put together their first threat of the night. Ryan Jeffers (single) and Donovan Solano (walk) both reached to put two men on with only one out. Alex Kirilloff, though, flied out. Next, Carlos Correa struck out on four pitches. Are we witnessing the worst offensive version of Correa’s career right now?

 

 

Luckily, the offensive struggles didn’t affect López, and he was able to navigate through Tampa Bay’s juggernaut lineup brilliantly. After giving up that home run in the second, López went on to toss four scoreless as sharply as humanly possible against such an offense. He completed six with only 85 pitches, giving up only one walk and striking out six. He came back to pitch the seventh and delivered another 1-2-3 inning, making it six consecutive batters retired to close his start. The Twins’ first big problem of the night was solved in a fantastic fashion.

But the second big problem of the evening, the struggling offense, was far from being solved. After the second-inning threat, Minnesota’s offense was unable to produce a hit to spark a rally. Tampa Bay pitchers retired eight consecutive Twins hitters between the sixth and the eighth inning.

Taylor, Lewis tie the game for the Twins… but it’s worthless
Things could change with a swing of the bat in the ninth, and when Solano got hit by a pitch, Michael A. Taylor came into the game to run for Solano. He stole second with Max Kepler up to bat, and then Kepler walked. With Royce Lewis batting, Taylor stole third, and then Lewis lined an RBI single to left and tied the game. Reliever Jason Adam hit Willi Castro, loading the bases with only one out, but he managed to induce an inning-ending double play against Ryan Jeffers.

 

But the hopes of an extra-inning win didn’t last long. With Jhoan Durán pitching in the bottom of the ninth, Randy Arozarena jumped on the second pitch of the at-bat for a walk-off home run to center.

Postgame interview

What’s Next?
The Twins will try to avoid the sweep this Thursday (6/8) in game three, with the first pitch scheduled for 12:10 pm CDT. Bailey Ober (3-2, 2.33 ERA) toes the rubber for Minnesota, while Tampa Bay’s starter has yet to be determined.

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

	SAT	SUN	MON	TUE	WED	TOT
J. López	31	0	0	0	0	31
Pagán	4	0	0	20	0	24
Morán	19	0	0	0	0	19
Stewart	0	0	0	0	13	13
De León	0	12	0	0	0	12
Jax	0	11	0	0	0	11
Thielbar	0	10	0	0	0	10
Durán	0	0	0	0	2	2

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[Blyleven2011]

What we went through last night and again tonight I think we all voiced our say on twins daily today ...

Nothing more to repeat except Pablo  pitched very well  ...

Would someone tell the players and coaches that it's not nap time ...

[darwin22]

Trying to maintain positive mental health, I must admit I didn't watch the entirety of the game. 

A few remarks after tonight's edition of Ground Hog Day.

1.  Another solid/excellent SP start (Lopez owed the team this) wasted.

2.  5 runs scored in last 5 games.  

3.  5th games this season that fell into the "L" column when our pitchers allowed 2 runs or less.

4.  Last 20 games:  W-L record of 8-12. Since May 15th

Number of games scoring 3 runs or less:  12/ W-L record:  1-11

Games scoring 4+ runs= 8/ W-L record:  7-1

5.  Question asked:  Is this the worst offensive version of Correa's career right now?

Answer:  YES!  His last 10 games----continue to mirror his inept bat all season.

8-37 (.216) 3 doubles, 0 HRs, 6 BB's and 1....yes..... 1 RBI over that span with a .297 slug %.

If he's injured----there's a BIG DIFFERENCE between pain and injury---then put him on IL and move Lewis to SS in the interim with Farmer going to 3B.  That would allow for Wallner's recall to move Kepler to the bench....where he belongs.

[Eephus]

🤮 mostly. Also:

1. Lewis rocks.

2. Even a diehard Twins fan like me paying Fubo bucks is going to drop "watch the twins" as a top of mind priority with an offense like this.  They really suck offensively. If the batting coach lasts the year I personally will buy every* Twins fan a Tom Brunansky Topps folder at Ax Man (*while supplies last).

3. Duran's a stud and I don't care about the homer from a performance perspective. 

4. Uff da.

[tony&rodney]

Round ball proves difficult for bats. Rough stretch.

[#3Killer]

Our offensive issue demands action- fire our hitting coaches. Time to place blame. This is ridiculous. Rocco needs to be next- things are not ok and they won’t get better if we don’t get an attitude change and learn to compete.

[Markdumont25]

Ugh starting to feel more and more like last year....trotting out the C lineup nightly with the few starters left underperforming. Has become very frustrating to watch.

I can't help the feeling that treating your players like they're made of glass becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Seems like the injury issues last two or three years go beyond bad luck.

[Peter]

Heartbreaking/gut wrenching/horrible loss. WTF is wrong with our team? .500 first time this season/corria is horrible and buxton can’t stay healthy. The offence is beyond bad-Rocco needs to get mad/light fire under team-hitting coach needs to be fired. Who would’ve thought a split with Cleveland ended our season. It’s panic time!!! 

Edited June 8, 2023 by Peter
Incomplete

[FlyingFinn]

Hey, the Saints continue to score, 48 runs in the past 6 games. There's this guy named Wallner that is on fire!

[LastOnePicked]

16 minutes ago, FlyingFinn said:

There's this guy named Wallner that is on fire!

We don't need him. 😃

Correa's postgame comments are alarming. This is becoming a mental issue for this team, and they are losing faith, fire and drive. Rocco is again completely incapable of providing a distraction, a spark or a redirection. Should have been fired in 2021, but certainly after 2022. Changes need to be made now. Like right now.

Yes, this team has bigger issues. They need a new FO and new organizational philosophy. But this season can perhaps be salvaged with a new voice in the dugout.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

If anyone here from the “Lessons Learned from the 2022 trade deadline” thread is looking for insightful commentary, this game tonight provides plenty of chances for that. Go ahead and make an observation or ask a question. 

I will start by asking if Twins baserunners on second base have a sign they give to the trailing runner that they are going to steal? Taylor steals second base, then third, but Kepler the trailing runner after the walk stays at first, and Kepler probably scores on Lewis’s single if he’s on second. anyone shed any light on it?

[Mike Sixel]

Front office didn't while the season burns. I'm ready to fire them, and I've been their biggest defender here. Inaction is inexcusable. Playing with no bench is inexcusable. I'm done. 

[Beast]

This team is a joke.  And people still simp for Falvine like they’re beyond reproach. I’m not seeing any signs that they know how to compile a serviceable roster.  It’s the same thing every year now.  A constant quest to beat the system and find “value” in these obscure analytics darlings that can’t actually play baseball.  Then, it falls apart after about a month of decent ball, and everyone is shocked.

Can you imagine the reaction in a real baseball market if they ran a guy like Max Kepler out there after hitting .150 with no power for what’s now about a full season.  And he stunk for 2 years before that?  Not only that, but sending down a top prospect down who’s in the middle of a 1.500 OPS fire storm to make room for him?  Or, taking one of the best defensive center fielders in the history of the game and making him a DH to try and milk 50 extra hobbled ABs out of him?  Or, burning Bailey Ober’s innings in AAA for the zombie corpse of Kenta Maeda?  All while watching guys like Spencer Steer, Luis Arraez, Tyler Wells, Yanier Cano, and a number of others absolutely flourish. It’s a parody of how a baseball team should be run at this point.  Every decision they make is the wrong one.  They are bad at this.

[Mike Sixel]

1 minute ago, Hosken Bombo Disco said:

If anyone here from the “Lessons Learned from the 2022 trade deadline” thread is looking for insightful commentary, this game tonight provides plenty of chances for that. Go ahead and make an observation or ask a question. 

I will start by asking if Twins baserunners on second base have a sign they give to the trailing runner that they are going to steal? Taylor steals second base, then third, but Kepler the trailing runner after the walk stays at first, and Kepler probably scores on Lewis’s single if he’s on second. anyone shed any light on it?

Kepler is bad at his job?

[darwin22]

27 minutes ago, FlyingFinn said:

Hey, the Saints continue to score, 48 runs in the past 6 games. There's this guy named Wallner that is on fire!

Wallner update since his demotion on May 29th (As most know this was after Wallner went 6-6 over his last 2 games prior to being sent to AAA)

Games played:  8

AVG:  .424 (14-33)

EBH:  9......5 doubles, 1 triple and 3 HRs

RBI:   12

Total Bases:  30

Slug Pct:  .909

 

I could possibly/maybe understand Wallner toiling away at AAA if Max Kepler resembled ANYTHING close to an average MLB hitter.  That is NOT the case as evidenced by Kepler's performance over that same eight game span:

GP:  8

AVG:  .115 (3-26), which includes 7 K's and 1 BB

EBH:   Take a wild guess?  ZERO!

RBI:     1 (same number as Correa--in his last 10 games)

Total Bases:   3

Slug Pct:  same as his average--an unsightly .115

 

 

[shabbos1]

Lewis starting the game 7th in the lineup (inexplicably behind Kepler) and platooning Kirilloff in the middle of the game for the ever so scary LHP is all anyone needs to know about the ineptitude of the decision makers on this team.  Kepler twiddling his thumbs when he should've been advancing to second base on the double steal should earn him a spot on the bench tomorrow at the very least also.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

7 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Kepler is bad at his job?

Well that’s the thing. I agree and I wouldn’t have Kepler in right, but I also don’t think any other RF (Larnach, Garlick, Wallner) catches that Franco fly ball in the 8th. 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I do think Kepler is checked out, mentally. Has been for a while. 

[Kummel]

 Why this team sends down or benches hot bats (Wallner this time) is a mystery.  I thought this year's team had promise but here we are in familiar offensive doldrums.   The Twins plodded through last season and this feels like a repeat.  Last year I would think -- well, just imagine if we didn't have Arraez...  I don't know if plantar fasciitis has been contributing to Correa's woes all season, but clearly something is amiss.   Bench Kepler, his heart isn't in it. 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

12 minutes ago, shabbos1 said:

Lewis starting the game 7th in the lineup (inexplicably behind Kepler) and platooning Kirilloff in the middle of the game for the ever so scary LHP is all anyone needs to know about the ineptitude of the decision makers on this team.  Kepler twiddling his thumbs when he should've been advancing to second base on the double steal should earn him a spot on the bench tomorrow at the very least also.

Agree. You always hear that the trail runner needs to be watching the lead runner and go if he goes, but that seems like a lot to process in a short amount of time. Then again, these are guys getting 100mph pitches thrown at them from 60 feet.

[Rosterman]

32 minutes ago, darwin22 said:

Wallner update since his demotion on May 29th (As most know this was after Wallner went 6-6 over his last 2 games prior to being sent to AAA)

Games played:  8

AVG:  .424 (14-33)

EBH:  9......5 doubles, 1 triple and 3 HRs

RBI:   12

Total Bases:  30

Slug Pct:  .909

 

I could possibly/maybe understand Wallner toiling away at AAA if Max Kepler resembled ANYTHING close to an average MLB hitter.  That is NOT the case as evidenced by Kepler's performance over that same eight game span:

GP:  8

AVG:  .115 (3-26), which includes 7 K's and 1 BB

EBH:   Take a wild guess?  ZERO!

RBI:     1 (same number as Correa--in his last 10 games)

Total Bases:   3

Slug Pct:  same as his average--an unsightly .115

 

 

Or, ahem...Garlick.

 

[D.C Twins]

 

I hold the following truths to be self-evident: 

1. Correa and Buck not playing up to their capabilities is the BIGGEST problem this season. If our stars played like stars, we would be in a much better position.

2. As I've said repeatedly for 2 years, Rocco won't last through the offseason. He will get 'promoted' to a front office job. He will never manage another MLB team. 

Leadership matters and he is not a natural born leader. 

3. Keppler needs to be DFA'ed . I would much rather see a prospect struggle and grow, if not excel. 

4. Wallner playing in AAA while the Twins 'Offence' continues, is the biggest FO malpractice since the Sano in the outfield fiasco  (last FO of course)

[RickOShea]

Nothing is going to change until the fans force a change.  If ticket sales plummet, and franchised merchandise sales drop, maybe the FO will listen.  Unfortunately, corporate ticket sales and the tv revenue contract will keep some teams afloat.

This team is a slap in the face of loyal fans.  They are being shown an inferior product, with no chance of change in sight.  Fans are being taken for granted.  It needs to stop.

[Cap'n Piranha]

According to Gleeman, Kepler informed the Twins he is not willing to play CF anymore.

 

If Falvine had any self-respect, they would have told him that Kepler would play any position the Twins deemed most helpful to the team, otherwise he could attempt to find employment with one of the other 29 teams.

 

Also, Popkins (at a minimum) needs to go.  Now.

[Boswell]

Looks like the AL Central winner could have the 10th best record in the league… behind everyone else but Oakland and the AL Central also-rans.  

The Minnesota Lollygaggers.  

[VivaBomboRivera!]

Clearly we need chicken bone amulets and more offerings to Jobu.

(link SFW)

[bighat]

Is that 4 straight games scoring 1 run or less? Incredibly anemic, I don't know how anyone could have a remote sense of optimism. Even with Lewis and a healthy Buxton, there's just not enough talent on offense - even when firing on all cylinders. The only good stretches have come when guys like Solano, Farmer, and Castro are playing out of their minds, which is pretty telling. 

Unfortunate that the FO couldn't ever unstick themselves from the belief that Kirilloff and Larnach were the next comings of Mauer and Morneau. I think most of us saw the writing on the wall 2 years ago but it looks like the front office must have still been expecting that to happen. Don't really know any other way to explain the construction of this team from an offensive standpoint. 

I'll watch them lose 7-6, but this 2-1 and 1-0 stuff isn't worth staying inside on a beautiful summer night. 

If anything I hope they sell at the break. A complete teardown is in order. Unfortunately, being in this god-awful division might set them back a few more years. 

[wabene]

7 hours ago, Cap'n Piranha said:

According to Gleeman, Kepler informed the Twins he is not willing to play CF anymore.

 

If Falvine had any self-respect, they would have told him that Kepler would play any position the Twins deemed most helpful to the team, otherwise he could attempt to find employment with one of the other 29 teams

This is what breaks the deal for me with Kepler. Bench, trade  or DFA and call up Wallner, nothing else is acceptable. 

Edit: If these rumors we've been hearing for the last couple of years are true. 

[Blyleven2011]

6 hours ago, shabbos1 said:

Lewis starting the game 7th in the lineup (inexplicably behind Kepler) and platooning Kirilloff in the middle of the game for the ever so scary LHP is all anyone needs to know about the ineptitude of the decision makers on this team.  Kepler twiddling his thumbs when he should've been advancing to second base on the double steal should earn him a spot on the bench tomorrow at the very least also.

This was my thought too ...

Kepler needs to sit  , he isn't unlucky he is just plain bad , head isn't made for major league ball ...

[Jeff D.]

A good short, painful and factual account of last night's display of hitting ineptness from our diamond team. Game after game of uninspired baseball. This club is being led into the depths of the weak division again.....Love this team, but they might not win playing the Saints, or Wichita. Something big needs to happen with this team to ignite. I doubt our upper management will attempt that. Good luck the rest of the way. I'll watch and from time-to-time cheer when we manage to strike out less than ten, score more than 2 and get at least 8 hits. I won't hold my breath. 

GO TWINS!

Twins Geezer...........out