Tigers 6, Twins 4: Twins Rally Strikes Out, Tigers Take Series

[Steven Trefz]

The Twins entered Sunday's  matchup with the Tigers looking to salvage a series split. No ties this Father's Day, however, as the Tigers continued to frustrate Twins batters and mash Twins pitchers. Here's how it all went down.

Image courtesy of Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

Box Score
SP: Louie Varland:  IP,  H,  ER,  BB,  K (99 Pitches, 67 Strikes, 67.7%)
Home Runs:  None
Bottom 3 WPA: Varland (-0.272), Joey Gallo (-0.168), Byron Buxton (-0.097)

Win Probability Chart (Via Fangraphs):

Baez Continues to Rake
Louie Varland started his outing by getting two quick outs. A Kerry Carpenter single broke up the no-hitter, and Javier Baez broke up the chance the Twins had at winning the game. On a 1-2 count, Christian Vasquez asked for a pitch two feet north of the strike zone, and Varland laid it right at the top of the zone, and Baez crushed it to right. Max Kepler misplayed the carom off of the wall, and Carpenter scored with Baez cruising into third base for a triple to make it 1-0 Tigers,

The Twins fought back breifly in the bottom of the second inning, when Kyle Farmer and Vasquez unleashed a pair of doubles to knot the score at 1-1. Michael A. Taylor and Edouard Julien flailed away the scoring opportunity from there, and Vasquez was left at second to end the threat.

Pleading in the Fifth
The offenses took turns making the pitchers look like Cy Young Award winners until the top of the fifth inning, when the Tigers unloaded on Varland. Jake Marisnick laced a triple to center, as Taylor failed to read a second ball tailing away from him. Varland then got ahead of Spencer Torkelson 0-2, before Torkelson caught up in the count and then really caught up to this 89 mph cutter for a two-run home run that broke a chunk off of Joe Mauer's retired number sign. Ouch.

Does Varland have a home run problem? Carpenter stepped up to the plate next and shouted "YES!" as he rounded the bases, making the score 4-1 Tigers.

Welcome to the Show Jordan Balazovic!?
After a controversial start to spring training, Balazovic worked his way back up the pitching pecking order until making his debut today. He got his chance today because Jorge Lopez was placed on the restricted list, and then the injured list for mental health reasons. This roster shake-up no doubt had the Twins shooken up, and more details will be forthcoming over the coming weeks on Lopez's future with the team. No one wants to see Lopez hurt, and hopefully this story has a redemptive ending.

Back to the game itself, Balazovic inherited runners at first and second, with only one out. The first batter up was Andy Ibanez, and he rudely welcomed the rookie by lacing an RBI single to left. The timeless Miguel Cabrera followed that up with a sacrifice fly to deep center, and suddenly the Tigers were in control of the game and the series with a 6-1 lead in the sixth.

Undeserved Hope in the Eighth...
The Tiger's bullpen game approach continued to baffle the Twins lineup, with five relievers scattering five hits over the first seven innings. closer Alex Lange started the eighth for the Tigers, and he started it off by almost hitting Taylor in the gut. Unfortuneately for Taylor, Lange then succeeded by climbing the ladder, and striking Taylor in the back of the helmet. Taylor was able to walk off the field under his own power, but Ryan Jeffers took his place on the bases.

The danger of the bullpen game is that a team runs the risk of having one of the multiple arms go off the rails, and that appeared to be Lange today. Julien walked. Then Willi Castro took two strikes, called timeout, and then laced a double to right to plate Jeffers to make the score 6-2. Donovan Solano followed by taking one for the team in a softer spot on his body, and suddenly Carlos Correa strode to the plate with the bases loaded and nobody out, representing the tying run! Lange promptly sent a pitch to the backstop to take the grand slam out of play, plating Julien from third to make it 6-3. Correa couldn't even get a strike to swing at, walking on four pitches to load the bases yet again for Royce Lewis.

Needless to say, Lange's night was done, and the Tigers turned to Jason Foley with the bases loaded and nobody out.

Unredeemed Opportunities in the Eighth
Royce didn't hit a grand slam, but he didn't get out either. Lewis lost his bat in the process, but he gained a single up the middle and an RBI to make the score 6-4. Farmer battled, but ultimately flied out weakly to left field, unable to advance any of the runners. This set the stage for Joey Gallo and his 11 home runs and 66 strike outs.

Make that 67 strike outs for Gallo, and now the Twins miracle inning was down to its last out. Byron Buxton strode to the plate to pinch hit for Vasquez and the last hope for the game and series perhaps. Buxton still looked lost at the plate, watching a called strike three to end the threat. Bases loaded, nobody out, and the Twins can't cash in once again.

Let's Put This Game Out of It's Misery
Jovani Moran got the top of the ninth for the Twins, and he mowed them down in order to set up a potentially dramatic bottom of the ninth. Foley remained in the game to face Jeffers, Julien, and Solano with the Twins hopes hanging by a thread, but present nonetheless.

Jeffers struck out looking. Julien struck out looking. Castro flew out weakly to left field. Fade to black.

What's Next
The Twins will send RHP Pablo Lopez (3-3, 4.27 ERA) out on Monday night after some extra rest to face the Boston Red Sox to kick off their second four-game series in a row. The Red Sox will counter with LHP James Paxton (2-1, 3.09 ERA) who has pitched six games since returning from the injured list. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40pm CDT.

Postgame Interviews

 

Bullpen Usage Chart

	WED	THU	FRI	SAT	SUN	TOT
Pagán	0	24	0	21	0	45
Balazovic	0	0	0	0	40	40
Headrick	0	0	0	35	0	35
Morán	0	22	0	0	11	33
Durán	12	0	0	15	0	27
De León	0	0	0	24	0	24
Jax	11	0	0	8	0	19
Stewart	14	0	0	5	0	19

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[Aggies7]

Let’s get what we can for Gray before the deadline. Maybe someone would want Farmer or possibly Polanco. Not much else to offer.

[Brandon27]

I think the Twins Front office needs to start making some BIG  roster moves to wake this team up its clearly now they need hitting help and pitching 

[MABB1959]

How about a simple explanation.  Rocco was seriously out managed in this series. 

[GNess]

This Twins failure to produce with the bases loaded is getting well beyond a statistical anomaly - it appears to be something akin to a group mental block of some sort. I hope I am wrong. 

Two culprits today:

When Buxton slumps he really slumps. Gallo - how many swings and misses can he have in one game?

[darwin22]

Losing 3 of 4 to a +10 games under .500 divisional opponent without ANY quality starting pitching leaves me:

1.  Frustrated to say the least

2.  Angry to be understated

but most of all........

3.  Indifferent:  I'm done with investing any amount of time and energy into this team.

Where's the leadership? 

Does this team have any fire/guts? 

I sure don't see it from anyone top down from the front office to the coaching staff and to the players.

 

 

[rv78]

LOL! And there's some here that still think this team is good. Gallo is exactly what they got, a poor hitter that's going to strikeout a ton. Worst $11M ever spent. Kepler still taking at bats away from Wallner or Larnach who at least have some upside possibility but no opportunity to stay with the club long enough to prove it. Kepler is just too good to be replaced by anyone else, even if they are better. How's Buxton doing since his recall from injury? He looks more lost than Sano ever did. Good job there Rocco going to him as a pinch hitter to end the threat. I'm sure Detroit was glad to see Buck and his lost approach come to the plate. Why was Kirilloff pinch hit for in the 6th? Using Solano and his .284BA would have been better used in the 8th instead of a lost Buxton. Poor Managing, Poor Hitting. 14 K's.... well at least these guys are good at something. LOL!

[MABB1959]

18 minutes ago, darwin22 said:

Losing 3 of 4 to a +10 games under .500 divisional opponent without ANY quality starting pitching leaves me:

1.  Frustrated to say the least

2.  Angry to be understated

but most of all........

3.  Indifferent:  I'm done with investing any amount of time and energy into this team.

Where's the leadership? 

Does this team have any fire/guts? 

I sure don't see it from anyone top down from the front office to the coaching staff and to the players.

 

 

Especially after last week when it looked like they were starting to click and Correa was amazing 

[MABB1959]

Why was Lewis not starting?  Why was Buxton sitting after only 2 days after coming back from the IL?  Is there something more seriously they are worried about?  

[MABB1959]

Why doesn’t the media ask questions or Rocco address the strikeout situation in the press conferences?

[Peter]

Unacceptable series loss to Detroit!!! At a loss of words-and yes I’m beyond pissed off as well upset!!! At this rate twins will finish in 4th. I’m to much a die hard fan but this is most frustrating season ever!!! As mush as I love my twins I’d rather see them finish in 4th/let Detroit/chip/Cleveland pass them(which is going to happen) then see these type of games -just do us all a favor and go on long losing streak so it will happen.

[roger]

Couple of thoughts, or questions.  
 

100% agree with RV above about taking AK out earlier in the game.  Also expected Buxton to go into center field.  Should they have tied it, their pitcher would have been batting.  If Buxton’s knee is so bad he can’t play an inning in center, he belongs on the IL.

Does the front office have the balls to make the moves many of you are calling for?  I doubt it.

[TwinkieFan4life]

I don't dislike Buck, but I just can't watch this anymore.  I feel a constant sense of dread watching him play, even when things are going well.  It is comparable to the feeling I get watching my 1 year old run happily towards my entertainment center.  On one hand the pure joy of seeing him run, on the other the looming threat that he will injure himself.  Although, my 1 year old is pretty durable.  I want off this ride, and I would be happy to see Buck put it together and dominate for someone else.  I just don't want to watch this anymore.

 

[tony&rodney]

Sadly. Joey Gallo is a 2022 Dodger/Yankee player. He seems to really be working but it ain't happening for him. Buxton?

A few oddities by any stretch were pinch hitting for Kirilloff, although he is also struggling, and the inexplicable pinch hit appearance by Buxton for the weak hitting Vasquez, a player who would likely at least flip the ball to right field. So many odd occurrences though, such as Solan not going to second base (made no difference) and then not scoring on a ground ball to centerfield (again, just makes it 5-6 so no difference?) when he had to run when the ball hit the ground right off the bat. 

Baseball is a long season but the players often seem disconnected and unfocused. How many outs are there? Where do I go on every play? Poor routes, transfers, and sailing the ball home from short left field. Lately there have been too many misplays to count and it may be fair to say that 85 wins is too ambitious for the Twins in 2023. Luckily (maybe), there is another game tomorrow.

[howeda7]

Sometime change for the sake of change is a good thing. I know people are tired of hearing it, but someone on the staff should lose their job over this lifeless, sad team. 

[howeda7]

37 minutes ago, TwinkieFan4life said:

I don't dislike Buck, but I just can't watch this anymore.  I feel a constant sense of dread watching him play, even when things are going well.  It is comparable to the feeling I get watching my 1 year old run happily towards my entertainment center.  On one hand the pure joy of seeing him run, on the other the looming threat that he will injure himself.  Although, my 1 year old is pretty durable.  I want off this ride, and I would be happy to see Buck put it together and dominate for someone else.  I just don't want to watch this anymore.

 

If he can't play CF, put him back on the IL until he can. He's not doing anyone any good as a DH right now. 

[ashbury]

The outlook wasn't brilliant for the Twintown nine that day

...

(yadda yadda - eighth inning instead of ninth, two other guys made outs after the bases were loaded)

...

But there is no joy in Twintown —mighty Buxton has struck out.

 

/ edit - not to pick on Buxton, the whole offense was feeble yet again.

[Old Crow]

They are getting awfully hard to watch.  When the two "boppers" on the team can't even make contact with the bases loaded that says it all.

[D.C Twins]

Krill and Lewis should be playing everyday and above Buck and Correa in the lineup. We should allow them to develop as our future stars until they prove otherwise. They are young, hungry and more productive than the alternatives. 

[D.C Twins]

23 minutes ago, howeda7 said:

If he can't play CF, put him back on the IL until he can. He's not doing anyone any good as a DH right now. 

Amen! Testify!!!!!!

[D.C Twins]

Having Buck pinch hit showed once again how tone deaf Rocco's 'management' remains. 

I don't bet on sports but I wonder what the odds were for a strikeout during that AB

[Nashvilletwin]

Zzzzzzzzzzzz……..   This team is just so boring.  It’s just meh pretty much day in and day out at the plate.

No quality starts at home vs. the lowly Tigers is not a good sign.  This team will be in serious trouble without the superior starting pitching we experienced in the first two months of the season: our offense and relief pitching cannot carry this team.

I just fear that the tough decisions that the FO needs to make will be postponed by being seduced by the siren call of our weak division.

[Danchat]

It's disappointing seeing Varland begin to crater like this. I wonder if it's a "hitters figuring him out" problem or just the fact that his stuff isn't quite good enough? I mentioned he had the look of a legit MLB starter in a post a couple weeks back, and while that was still as a #4 or 5 starter - this isn't a good look. And then we finally get to see Balazovic pitch for the first time with the Twins... it's hard to believe it took him so long to make it up here. The dude's already in his final option year!

I can't say anything that hasn't already been said about the hitters. I'd rather see the young players struggle in the majors than the veterans, and it's incredible how much rope Kepler has gotten. I'm just about done with Gallo, but his OPS is still high enough that he'll probably be given the entire rest of the season to try and prove that the FO was right to sign him. He's just flat-out not a good hitter like Sano - he'll contribute with walks and a hit XBH rate, but the frequently of awful at bats is so high that it prevents him from moving runners or doing anything against pitchers with nastier stuff. The dude has 3 career sac flies!! In almost 3000 plate appearances!!!

Having the easiest schedule in baseball is nice, but that doesn't mean you will automatically win a majority of those games. Good teams will lose a series every once in a while to a bad team, but I think we've seen enough from the Twins to know that they aren't good. Not bad, but clearly not going anywhere.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

1 hour ago, howeda7 said:

If he can't play CF, put him back on the IL until he can. He's not doing anyone any good as a DH right now. 

I am a radio geek, and heard most of the ‘CCO coverage today. (ooh good for me) 

Anyway, there has been nothing spoken from anyone lately about this phantom injury that is preventing Buxton from taking the field. In fact, gladden made a comment at some point today that basically said the Twins are waiting for Buxton to come to them to say he’s ready to play center again.

With the bad break Taylor suffered today and he figuring to be out for a couple days now at least, I’m hoping we see Buxton in center field tomorrow night. 

Surprise us, Twins. Surprise us, Buck. The team needs you! Pleasantly surprise us, please. 

[RpR]

51 minutes ago, D.C Twins said:

Krill and Lewis should be playing everyday and above Buck and Correa in the lineup. We should allow them to develop as our future stars until they prove otherwise. They are young, hungry and more productive than the alternatives. 

Just like Hicks, Cave and Badoo -- been there done that, does not work.

Paying fans in the stands would rather see failing vets, than failing rookies.

[wabene]

2 hours ago, Peter said:

Unacceptable series loss to Detroit!!! At a loss of words-and yes I’m beyond pissed off as well upset!!! At this rate twins will finish in 4th. I’m to much a die hard fan but this is most frustrating season ever!!! As mush as I love my twins I’d rather see them finish in 4th/let Detroit/chip/Cleveland pass them(which is going to happen) then see these type of games -just do us all a favor and go on long losing streak so it will happen.

Say it isn't so Peter, you have posted with the most unbridled optimism, don't give in! Go Twins! 

[wabene]

I didn't get to watch much except I did see the almost rally in the eighth. How did Jordy Blaze look? 

[Dr Katz]

Rocco must learn how to handle the pitching part of the game, and who is not teaching the batters how to control a strike zone. They swing at everything and look very lame doing so. Cant believe these 'professionals' are looking like amateurs at the plate. Cant watch them anymore. Good for Bally sports. 

[mikelink45]

I have had two great days of biking and paddling in the upper great lakes - then I come and read about my favorite team and the bubble is burst.  I have ranted against Gallo since the signing - I won't change, but Kepler and Buxton are really big disappointments.  Remember when they plus Polanco, and Berrios were the future?  I hate to admit failure, but time to move on. 

[karcherd]

53 minutes ago, RpR said:

Just like Hicks, Cave and Badoo -- been there done that, does not work.

Paying fans in the stands would rather see failing vets, than failing rookies.

Badoo never played with the Twins, Cave was never considered a starter, Hicks we needed to have more patience.