Twins 5, Red Sox 4: Kyle Farmer's Extra-Inning Walk-Off Ends Twins Losing Streak

[Matt Braun]

You know the game is unhinged when one of its WPA leaders wasn't in the starting lineup.

Image courtesy of Nick Wosika-USA TODAY Sports

Box Score
Sonny Gray: 5 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
Home Run: Max Kepler (9)
Top 3 WPA: Christian Vázquez (.257), Max Kepler (.195), Kyle Farmer (.150)
Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)

Sleep-walking and heavily pulverized over the past week, the Twins crawled into Wednesday’s battle against the Red Sox with the sort of enthusiasm men have when they’re due for a vasectomy. Nonetheless, the game must be played, so the two teams entered what became a compelling ball game.

But it didn’t start pretty. Starter Sonny Gray walked Justin Turner on three pitches (with help from a pitch clock violation) before Rafael Devers golfed a breaking ball, banging a double off the center field wall with authority. The game had begun.

Minnesota’s batters were up for the challenge, though, and their attack started in the second inning. Byron Buxton catalyzed the action, poking a double off the right-field wall before Max Kepler—in what must be the first time in his career—found a hole through the infield with a chopping single, scoring Buxton to re-knot the game. Royce Lewis swapped places with Kepler following a force out and immediately turned in one of the most exciting plays of the year.

It was bedlam. Christian Vázquez’s stinging single tipped off Kiké Hernández’s reaching glove, dribbling lazily into center field. Lewis bolted, rounding second with evil intentions as the Red Sox attempted to run down the parked ball; he did not stop, blazing past third to score on an odd, invigorating play wholly unique to Minnesota’s distinctive brand of offense. 

The slim lead couldn’t hold up for long. Boston was far too feisty to allow that. Justin Turner blasted an inside sinker deep into the night to bring the game back to even.

And yet—perhaps sensing the radiant angst emanating from Gray following his previous start—the Twins responded again. Edouard Julien socked the top of the left-field wall with a double; he eventually scored on a Carlos Correa dribbler. Lewis then smoked a double into left the next inning, finding himself on third with just one out. A gaffe killed him. Catcher Reese McGuire back-picked the young infielder, essentially ending the rally before a painted changeup to Joey Gallo concluded it for good.

Not all were pleased, and Gallo took great exception to the strike call. Marred in a terrible strikeout streak, the outfielder barked at home plate umpire David Rackley a little too long, necessitating an intervention from Rocco Baldelli. Gallo’s emotions were not cooled within a few minutes, and some extra words for Rackley as he re-entered the field earned him an ejection. Baldelli followed suit quickly. It was his 14th career ejection. 

The game only just now reached the fifth.

Boston re-tied the game—sometimes these plots are too predictable—but the match finally slowed a little, allowing the common monotony to take over.

Until, hilariously, Kepler gave Minnesota yet another one-run advantage with a solo homer delivered just far back enough into the overhang. 

And yet—and yet, and yet—the game was not done with its twists and turns. Jayce Tingler successfully exhausted Brock Stewart and Griffin Jax; the eighth was now Jhoan Duran’s time to pitch. Usually dominant, his command was off, leading to a walk turned stolen base turned game-tying run when Triston Casas lined a double into the left-center gap. Yet again, neither team could claim an advantage.

The game lurched into extra-innings, sometimes teasing favor one way before sling-shotting back to equilibrium as neither team could find That One Big Hit to break the score open and clear their anxiety.

Until the bottom of the 10th. A bizarre Michael A. Taylor sacrifice bunt—somehow called out by New York despite no part of the fielder’s glove ever touching his body—set up Kyle Farmer for the clutch hit, and he delivered, serving a single just in front of Jarren Duran to end the game in favor of the Twins.

Notes:

The hit was Kyle Farmer's second walk-off of the season.

Sonny Gray earned nine swings and misses during Wednesday's start.

The Twins totaled three Statcast "barrels" on Wednesday: one each from Edouard Julien, Alex Kirilloff, and Royce Lewis, respectively.

Wednesday was Julien's fourth multi-hit game since being re-called on June 10th; he has only once failed to reach base in a game he started since re-joining the Twins. 

Post-Game Interview:

 

 

What’s Next?

The Twins and Red Sox will conclude their four-game set with a day game on Thursday; the game starts at 12:10 PM, and Joe Ryan will face off against a starter to be named later.

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

 

 

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[Matt Braun]

That was a thoroughly exhausting game to recap 

[OvertheHill]

Nice summary. I should just be happy with the win but I really demand some accountability. The blown call in the 10th where no less than 3 replay camera angles showed Taylor safe. Someone has to explain that. 

[AceWrigley]

Pulling Rocco and putting in Jayce Tingler from the Manager Bullpen really payed off.

[Blyleven2011]

Sure glad we won , cleveland won tonight and had we lost it would have been  two teams below 500 tied for first in the division  ...

2 games in a row with less than 10 strikeouts  , 2 errors ....

Boston leads the league in doubles , I sure wish the twins would hit more cause all you need is a string of singles an a couple of doubles  and the runs will come , if you make contact that is ....

It was a better game  , the Milwaukee series was the best of this homestand 

[Peter]

Huge huge huge much needed win!!! Let’s hope this gives us the kickstart we need!!!  

[Dave Borton]

Another vote for Farmer at 3B on the A/S game (winks). Guy is one of the better trades FO played. $5,6MM well spent.

The boy has GRIT!

Joe Ryan needs to tame those BoSox hitters tomorrow. Go Twins.

[jorgenswest]

Big hits from Farmer, Kepler, Vazquez and Buxton. Shut down inning from Moran. Let’s do it again tomorrow.

[srjr19]

The blown review might have been the best thing for Twins.  Otherwise they would have had the bases loaded and nobody out, and we all know how that usually turns out.

[Aerodeliria]

Manufacturing a run...it works!!!

[glunn]

Lots of players played well tonight. Hopefully this was the start of a turnaround.

[UK Twin]

Phew. Just relief to get back in the win column after an ugly series against Detroit and 2 blow out losses to start this one. 

[Blyleven2011]

3 hours ago, glunn said:

Lots of players played well tonight. Hopefully this was the start of a turnaround.

Even a blind Squirrel finds an acorn once in awhile  ...

Sure hope we get our hope  ...

[Doctor Wu]

Royce Lewis is playing with a lot of energy, plus it looks like he's having fun. What a combination!

[Riverbrian]

It was a great game to watch. 

Hat tip to the home team

 

 

[weitz41]

I wonder if Rocco got himself tossed so he wouldn't have to talk about Buxton not being in centerfield during the post-game?

[Nashvilletwin]

7 hours ago, davidborton said:

Another vote for Farmer at 3B on the A/S game (winks). Guy is one of the better trades FO played. $5,6MM well spent.

The boy has GRIT!

Joe Ryan needs to tame those BoSox hitters tomorrow. Go Twins.

Don’t know about the ASG, but Farmer is a pro’s pro.  He is a huge asset to this team and was a good signing. He’s outplaying the more expensive player who he originally was signed to replace.

[TwinsDr2021]

Super happy they won and can't wait to see Gray pitch in the All Star game.

Love Bally's tweet - "Sonny Gray after allowing three runs in six innings of work on Wednesday night.'

Really hope Ryan can go deep tonight, they have kind of pinned themselves in the corner on trustworthy relief pitchers for tonight.

Kepler up to .200, he is saying cut me, no cut Gallo!

 

[tarheeltwinsfan]

7 hours ago, srjr19 said:

The blown review might have been the best thing for Twins.  Otherwise they would have had the bases loaded and nobody out, and we all know how that usually turns out.

Seriously, the blown call may have worked in the Twins favor. Especially since the Twins had a player coming up to bat who knew how to make contact without trying to hit a home run ( cough, cough Gallo, Buck) or a 2 hopper to the second baseman (cough, cough Kep). 

[Doctor Gast]

A great game of Lewis's fire, Farmer's grit and Kepler even had 2 hits.

[rv78]

1 hour ago, Blyleven2011 said:

Even a blind Squirrel finds an acorn once in awhile  ...

Sure hope we get our hope  ...

Unfortunately this can be said about the Twins a lot this year. 

Byron Buxton catalyzed the action, poking a double off the right-field wall

Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while

before Max Kepler—in what must be the first time in his career—found a hole through the infield with a chopping single,

Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while

Twins win with a single

Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while

They had as many hits as strikeouts

Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while

Maybe the secret to winning is to NOT have Rocco around when the game is on the line.

[Riverbrian]

1 minute ago, TwinsDr2021 said:

Super happy they won and can't wait to see Gray pitch in the All Star game.

Love Bally's tweet - "Sonny Gray after allowing three runs in six innings of work on Wednesday night.'

Really hope Ryan can go deep tonight, they have kind of pinned themselves in the corner on trustworthy relief pitchers for tonight.

Kepler up to .200, he is saying cut me, no cut Gallo!

 

Kepler has indeed had a couple of nice games back to back since getting 3 AB's in the previous 5 games. 

Gallo on the other hand. His last home run was over a month ago on May 20. 

To be fair... he's had a DL stretch in the past month but that's all the fairness I can muster. 

Gallo in his last 4 games:

14 AB's

10 K's

0 BB's

 

[USAFChief]

34 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

Kepler has indeed had a couple of nice games back to back since getting 3 AB's in the previous 5 games. 

Gallo on the other hand. His last home run was over a month ago on May 20. 

To be fair... he's had a DL stretch in the past month but that's all the fairness I can muster. 

Gallo in his last 4 games:

14 AB's

10 K's

0 BB's

 

Hey, ease off on Gallo...

He has four hits already this month. 

[Riverbrian]

33 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

Hey, ease off on Gallo...

He has four hits already this month. 

You are right... we can't dismiss the possibility of a 5th hit before Independence day. 

In all seriousness though. I shouldn't focus on Gallo this morning when I just want to enjoy the win last night and hope for another one this afternoon.  

 

[farmerguychris]

10 hours ago, OvertheHill said:

Nice summary. I should just be happy with the win but I really demand some accountability. The blown call in the 10th where no less than 3 replay camera angles showed Taylor safe. Someone has to explain that. 

I've noticed some horrible umpiring this year - not only this play, but more 'no where near the strike zone' calls being called as strikes.  The current batch of umps are making a pretty good case for robot umps going forward, even if most of us don't want them.  We want accuracy.

 

[terrydactyls]

10 hours ago, AceWrigley said:

Pulling Rocco and putting in Jayce Tingler from the Manager Bullpen really payed off.

And yet, he pulled Julien who was 2 for 3 against Whitlock (and a left against right matchup) for Farmer to set up a right against right matchup.  Huh?

[Whitey333]

Twins are a strange team.  Now they have many on here thinking they have turned it around or that this ma help them turn it around.  We have been saying this all year.  Maybe this or maybe that will turn them around.  Let's be truthful here.  We need a good streak.  No a one game winning streak won't do it.  Until the team somehow fixes their significant deficiencies, a 500 team is about all you can hope for.

[John Belinski]

I was really surprised when the Twins bunted in the 10th inning since Rocco doesn't have his players bunt, but then I read that Rocco wasn't the manager since he had been kicked out. The Twins won a 1 run extra inning game without Rocco and usually lose those games with Rocco. At least now the Twins know how to win those games.

[Sutter50]

9 minutes ago, terrydactyls said:

And yet, he pulled Julien who was 2 for 3 against Whitlock (and a left against right matchup) for Farmer to set up a right against right matchup.  Huh?

The reason Farmer was in the game was for defense 

[Sutter50]

Also, Julien was NOT pinch hit for. Farmer entered the game as a defensive replacement.  Facts do matter