Twins 3, Red Sox 9: Lopez and Offense Sputters while Paxton Deals Twins Loss

[Nate Palmer]

Very little went right for the Twins Monday evening as both Lopez and the offense struggled. On the other side, James Paxton was dealing and the Twins couldn't find an answer as they took the loss. 

Image courtesy of Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Box Score
SP: Pablo Lopez: 5.2 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 9 K (104 pitches, 69 strikes (66.3%)
Home Runs: Christian Vazquez (1)
Bottom 3 WPA: Jovani Moran (-0.338), Pablo Lopez (-0.136), Edouard Julien (-0.087)

Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs) 

In case you hadn’t heard, the Minnesota Twins offense has struggled all season. As the team opened their series against the Boston Red Sox, the bounce-back path did not look to be getting any easier. The Red Sox sent lefty James Paxton to the mound to face the home team. The Twins also found themselves without their fWAR leader among their position players, Michael A. Taylor, after he was hit in the head during Sunday’s game. 

None of us expected to utter that statement coming into the season. While full of sarcasm, it does help to point out just how much the offense has struggled as we quickly approach mid-summer.

Lopez struggles
Pablo Lopez got the start for the Twins and escaped some tough spots but struggled with his command throughout the evening. The first inning ended with a Boston runner on third base. The third inning saw two additional runs across the plate courtesy of two walks, a hit batter, and a double. 

Lopez struggled to put batters away, which was true to the end of his start. After putting runners on second and third sixth, Lopez was lifted in favor of Jovani Moran with two outs in the inning. Both those runners would come around to score after Moran gave up a three-run triple to Alex Verdugo to put the Red Sox up 6-3. 

Vazquez hits first home run of season
In the fifth inning, with the Twins down 3-0, Christian Vazquez came up to bat with two runners on base. While the entire Twins offense has been in a drought, Vazquez is one of the players in the middle of his own slump. That had to make his fifth-inning, game-tying, three-run home run feel that much better. It is Vazquez’s first home run of the season and first since October of last season. 

MVP Duran, but not that one
Twins fans usually watch Jhoan Duran enter the game, pumping 105 mph as the most valuable arm out of the bullpen. Monday night, the Red Sox version of Duran, Jarren Duran, was the Boston catalyst. Their Duran hit three straight doubles to open the game. He also played a vital role in the first three runs for Boston before being pinch-hit for by former Twin Rob Refsnyder. 

Paxton is back
After a long road of injuries and diminished velocity, Paxton once again showed up and pitched well in 2023. The Twins could only muster up offense in the fifth inning against the left-hander when Vazquez hit his home run. He finished with a line of 6 ⅓ innings, allowing three hits while striking out seven. 

It starts at the top
The Twins offense came almost exclusively from the bottom part of the order. The Twins top-five bats in the order only recorded two hits all evening. It is always good to see the margins of the roster producing, but that is only encouraging when the roster's core is doing the same. As has been talked about repeatedly, the Twins leaders also need to start leading on the field.

What’s Next? 
The Minnesota Twins will look to rebound on Tuesday against Boston right-hander Kutter Crawford. Crawford has appeared in 13 games for Boston this season and holds a 4.20 ERA. The Twins will counter with Bailey Ober, who will look to put up another strong performance after going six innings and allowing only two runs against Milwaukee last time out. 

Postgame Interviews

 

 

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

	THU	FRI	SAT	SUN	MON	TOT
Pagán	24	0	21	0	17	62
De León	0	0	24	0	25	49
Morán	22	0	0	11	13	46
Balazovic	0	0	0	40	0	40
Headrick	0	0	35	0	0	35
Jax	0	0	8	0	10	18
Durán	0	0	15	0	0	15
Stewart	0	0	5	0	0	5

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[USAFChief]

The 0-2 pitch from Moran to Verdugo just. Cannot. Happen.

[Peter]

Does it matter anymore? This should’ve been winning homestand and it’s not going to happen. We’ll be lucky to win one game against Boston. There needs to be accountability!!! Twins have no shame/pride or care if they win. If this is what rest  of season is then we are screwed and will finish in forth. If so I’d rather seem them

lose and do us all a favor so we don’t shave to watch/listen or follow them anymore. As much as a hardcore die hard fan I am it’s unacceptable!!!

[Rosterman]

What's with all the triples of late against the Twins? Fielding issues? Throwing to wrong base (home?) or cutoff guy?

[USAFChief]

On another note, I'm not sure the Twins can continue to play Julien. Just absolutely brutal defensively. 

[Danchat]

2 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

On another note, I'm not sure the Twins can continue to play Julien. Just absolutely brutal defensively. 

He might be a DH-only, so it'd be nice if a certain someone could start playing in his natural position rather than DH...

[Aggies7]

It’s never good when you walk the weak guy who pinch hit for the guy who was 3-3 with a couple doubles. Ahead of one of the Red Sox best hitters 

[Beast]

They keep running these bullpen guys out there off the scrap heap.  They keep running useless position players out there.  They DH the best centerfield on the planet while playing the worst defender in the league at 2B.  And it’s a mystery to them why it doesn’t work.  “We have to figure this out.”

I believe Baledelli that they don’t know.  They asked Chat GPT and it told them this would work.

This is a Three Stooges level comedy.  Unrivaled incompetence.

Is there a more poorly run professional sports franchise on planet earth right now?  

[Beast]

I mean, look at the pitching chart above.  We have 3 serviceable relievers right now.  Duran, Stewart, and Jax.  They’ve collectively thrown fewer pitches and have have only 1 more appearance than a guy (Moran) who physically can’t throw an effective strike over the plate (4 appearances and 38 pitches for the former three vs. 3 appearances and 48 pitches for Moran).

You can’t make this up.  This is off the rails, out of control, lunacy.  If I’m the commissioner, I open an investigation into whether they are actively throwing games for betting purposes.  They can’t possibly be this incompetent.  

[Aggies7]

23 minutes ago, Beast said:

They keep running these bullpen guys out there off the scrap heap.  They keep running useless position players out there.  They DH the best centerfield on the planet while playing the worst defender in the league at 2B.  And it’s a mystery to them why it doesn’t work.  “We have to figure this out.”

I believe Baledelli that they don’t know.  They asked Chat GPT and it told them this would work.

This is a Three Stooges level comedy.  Unrivaled incompetence.

Is there a more poorly run professional sports franchise on planet earth right now?  

There are lots of franchises more poorly run. But they’re plenty that are run better. Not in favor of keeping this FO and on field management though. The product is not good.

[shabbos1]

If we zoom out a bit since the beginning of the 2021 season, the MN Twins' record is 187-210 ... 23 games under .500.  Is that good?

[rwilfong86]

Firing the manager may not solve the problem but it would at least be a change to try to spark the team

[Aggies7]

 

[darwin22]

It was once said, "Losing is a disease....as contagious as polio"

A healthy Roy Hobbs wouldn't help this team as he'd have been traded in the offseason or would be stuck in AAA.

 

[ashbury]

James Paxton has had 1 bad start out of 7 so far this season.  The Twins were not the team to accomplish this feat.

As expected.

[by jiminy]

5 hours ago, Beast said:

I mean, look at the pitching chart above.  We have 3 serviceable relievers right now.  Duran, Stewart, and Jax.  They’ve collectively thrown fewer pitches and have have only 1 more appearance than a guy (Moran) who physically can’t throw an effective strike over the plate (4 appearances and 38 pitches for the former three vs. 3 appearances and 48 pitches for Moran).

You can’t make this up.  This is off the rails, out of control, lunacy.  If I’m the commissioner, I open an investigation into whether they are actively throwing games for betting purposes.  They can’t possibly be this incompetent.  

So you would use up your three best relievers in a 9-3 loss? And think it's malpractice not to? Huh. Personally I am hoping we get a lead today and they close it out. Your way, the save would depend on Pagan and Moran.

[USAFChief]

1 hour ago, by jiminy said:

So you would use up your three best relievers in a 9-3 loss? And think it's malpractice not to? Huh. Personally I am hoping we get a lead today and they close it out. Your way, the save would depend on Pagan and Moran.

FTR, the game wasn't 9-3 when Moran entered. It was 3-3. With 2 out. He walked Refsnyder, then gave up a 3 run triple to a LH hitter. On an 0-2 count.

 

So yeah, I'd say pitching decisions were impactful. 

[Eris]

The Twins had 7 hits last night. That won’t get it done especially when the opposing team scores 9 runs. Luis Arraez had 5 hits last night. 

[bighat]

Anyone still think the Twins are so close and should trade some prospects for a bat and a bullpen arm? 

As the above Tweet so brutally pointed out, they're the 3rd worst team in baseball over the past 1.5 months. 

 

 

[LastOnePicked]

6 hours ago, rwilfong86 said:

Firing the manager may not solve the problem but it would at least be a change to try to spark the team

Absolutely. Rocco has had more opportunities and more leeway than perhaps he's deserved. We're at the end, now. Or we should be.

But, the same is true of this FO. Once again, their signings have fallen flat and their trades have backfired. They've had their shot at a rebuild, and they're no closer to being a winner than they were when this FO started.

[Fezig]

Baldelli, "You can still strikeout and still win games." Yes. But not consistently. That approach is exactly why the Twins have a middling record and will never be more than a middling team with him at the helm. Meanwhile,

Side note: Luis is batting over .400 Miami once again. I haven't looked but I don't think he's even hit the teens yet in total K's for the year. 

[Karbo]

The graphic they showed on the broadcast last night showed the major problem with the hitters, contact. In zone or out of zone they are ranked at or near the bottom of the league. They swing and miss or foul of pitches down the middle of the zone. Truly pitiful! The entire coaching staff needs to go!

[William K Johnson]

Some random thoughts:

- Can you imagine an infield with Miranda at third and Julien at second?   That is scary.

- It's time to shut Buxton down.   Apparently, he is not physically able to play baseball at this point and it is really dragging this team down.

- Trade Max Kepler to Detroit for James Rowson.

- Let me see if I have this right.   We trade Luis Arraez and sign Joey Gallo and retain Max Kepler and wonder why we can't score runs.

- This team is a reflection of their manager.    They are laid back, uninspired, and fundamentally flawed.

[CRF]

As is often said...change starts at the top. Obviously, the Pohlad's aren't going anywhere, but the people they hired to run this organization have failed. It's time for Falvey and Levine to take their act elsewhere, and the manager that they hand picked, has to go along with them. The roster is an underperforming mess, full of strike out prone non contact hitters. It's not going to get better. We don't have the slightest clue how to play good solid fundamental baseball, and we never will with this manager and coaching staff. Low minors rookie ball teams play better baseball. Each and every game is a showcase for how to make as many mistakes as possible. If by some miracle, we win this division...which is still doable...we'll get killed by whatever team we face in the playoffs. It's time to blow this thing up as much as we can, and take a different direction. Whomever in the Pohlad family is actually calling the shots, has to realize what's going on with this team, and act accordingly. 

[Peter]

8 hours ago, Beast said:

I mean, look at the pitching chart above.  We have 3 serviceable relievers right now.  Duran, Stewart, and Jax.  They’ve collectively thrown fewer pitches and have have only 1 more appearance than a guy (Moran) who physically can’t throw an effective strike over the plate (4 appearances and 38 pitches for the former three vs. 3 appearances and 48 pitches for Moran).

You can’t make this up.  This is off the rails, out of control, lunacy.  If I’m the commissioner, I open an investigation into whether they are actively throwing games for betting purposes.  They can’t possibly be this incompetent.  

I wouldn’t be shocked one bit if this is the case-I believe you’re on to something.  I hope mlb investigates this they need to. I think they are throwing games. If so heads need to roll!!!

Edited June 20, 2023 by Peter

[TwinsDr2021]

First thought, if Buxton really can't play defense they need to put him on the DL, he is actually making the teams worse right now by not being on the DL.

Second good to see they were able to get their third best relief pitcher in a 9 - 3 game, too bad it wasn't when the game was tied 3 - 3.

Third, when he pulled Lopez and brought in Moran did it not feel like Deja Vu from the other night? My phone blew up with text messages screaming, why pull him and if you had to why go to Moran, can't Jax get you to the 8th?

Finally people talk about this team having no heart, I disagree it was looking like they might not get to double digits strikeouts, but this team really rallied the last three innings to strikeout out 5 times and get to double digits.

Time for Rocco to go and the FO after the year if a new manager can't inject so life into this team, with the money and prospect capital spent there is no way this should be one of the worst teams in the league over a Month plus time frame.

[UpstateNewYorker]

9 hours ago, USAFChief said:

On another note, I'm not sure the Twins can continue to play Julien. Just absolutely brutal defensively. 

Yeah, we have way too many bat-only players (Julien, Miranda, Larnach, now Buxton I guess). Even Lewis has struggled at 3B.

[wabene]

8 hours ago, Beast said:

You can’t make this up.  This is off the rails, out of control, lunacy.  If I’m the commissioner, I open an investigation into whether they are actively throwing games for betting purposes.  They can’t possibly be this incompetent.  

I'm guessing this isn't a joke, but it would make a damn good one 😂

1 hour ago, William K Johnson said:

Trade Max Kepler to Detroit for James Rowson

This one is pretty good too 🤣

 

 

[Shobae]

Wasn't watching the game but was checking in on Lopez stats and thought "well he must be done in a tie game after 5 IP given his walks and runs allowed". Then I look and he's back out for the 6th and what happens? He has runners on 2nd and 3rd with 2 outs and then to top it off the twins bring in moran who throws an 0-2 change up in the heart of the zone to verdugo. I thought maybe the pen had been heavily used but looking at the chart there would have been plenty of guys who were rested to bring in to handle the 6th. It's funny that for the amount of times people complain about Rocco pulling starters early when (to me) it looked like he should pull Lopez he didn't. Then the game gets blown wide up when that decision is compounded with bringing in a struggling reliever.
I'm not even going to comment on the offense, this performance as the standard issue Twins 2023 hitting effort. But I'm glad that someone posted the Gleeman tweet here, because I think it was clear to most they haven't been playing winning baseball since May. The fact that they have been that bad warrants a lot of the frustration in the fan base.

[mikelink45]

I am having a difficult time with the fact that Lopez is the only pitcher we have extended.  Since signing the contract he has looked terrible for the most part (I am trying not to mention who we traded for him) and I wonder what happened to the pitcher who looked so good to start the season.  His 4.40 era exceeds his career 4.01.  

Baseball Reference: 

Last 5 Games

 

• Glossary

Date	Tm		Opp	Result	App,Dec	DR	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	HBP	WP	IBB	PO	BK	BF	Pit	Str	StL	StS	GB	FB	LD	PU	Unk	GmSc	IR	IS	WPA	aLI	cWPA	acLi	RE24
2023-06-19	MIN		BOS	L 3-9	GS-6, L	5	5.2	6	5	4	3	9	0	1	0	0	0	0	27	104	69	18	15	4	1	7	2	0	45.0			-0.113	1.23	-0.06%	1.13	-0.561
2023-06-13	MIN		MIL	W 7-5	GS-6	5	6.0	4	3	3	1	9	0	0	0	0	0	0	24	97	64	21	14	7	3	3	1	0	60.0			-0.007	0.95	0.00%	0.88	0.047
2023-06-07	MIN	@	TBR	L 1-2	GS-7	5	7.0	5	1	1	1	6	1	0	0	0	1	0	26	92	63	15	13	11	4	2	2	0	68.0			0.211	0.78	0.11%	0.69	2.461
2023-06-01	MIN		CLE	W 7-6	GS-6	4	5.2	8	6	6	1	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	26	88	67	12	10	10	3	4	3	0	33.0			-0.531	1.30	-0.37%	1.50	-3.638
2023-05-27	MIN		TOR	W 9-7	GS-6, W	5	5.2	5	4	4	3	6	2	0	0	0	0	0	24	88	54	14	12	3	6	4	2	0	46.0			-0.101	0.89	-0.06%	0.82	-1.186

Next Game: Tuesday, June 20th vs BOS