Game Thread: Twins (Gray) v Orioles (Irvin), 7/2 @ 11:05am CT

[sampleSizeOfOne]

What i miss?

[SwainZag]

10 minutes ago, William K Johnson said:

Why walk O'Hearn to load the bases when your pitcher is struggling to throw strikes?    We need Lewis and Polanco back in this lineup as soon as possible.     Julien and Miranda need to go back across the river.

Because Duran ran a 3-0 count to him.   Get the favorable matchup rather than trying to come back from down 3-0.  Duran's control was very off today. 

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

Friday was fools gold as it's been all season when the offense produces. Home runs. Mixed with strikeouts and missed opportunities. A good team would have scored 10+.

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

Duran hasn't been as sharp this season but there's only him and Jax for high leverage situations.

[Mike Sixel]

29 minutes ago, Craig Arko said:

2-4, as expected. Hopefully KC will be the balm required. 

I bet most people would have been ok with that going into the trip....

[Craig Arko]

6 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

I bet most people would have been ok with that going into the trip....

I’ll be pretty surprised if either Atlanta or Tampa doesn’t win it all.

[Irishman]

Sonny Gray tossed the great game today.   What a wasted!  Thanks to the bullpen.  They blew it again.  Twins bats sucked.   

I am very sick of it,

[killebrewlover]

Starting pitching was great in series against Orioles.  Duran is a quality closer.  He just had a bad game today.  All's forgiven.  But the bats still need to produce in critical situations.  Another 8 LOB today.  Not good enough.  C'mon Twins.  You're better than that!

[insagt1]

strategy wise--it was probably the right thing to do. O'Hearn has been hitting well and Westburg is a rookie just called up from AAA Norfolk. While he hit a ton down there, the thought is, he would be over-eager to make a big splash and swing at Duran's good stuff. Getting HBP was a huge bonus for Baltimore..not expected at all..even though Duran was a bit erratic.

That Pagan got the 3-2 strikeout to leave the bases full was as close to a modern baseball miracle as it gets!

[insagt1]

You kinda knew the Orioles were not going to lose back to back 1-0 games, although they are in a little funk right now. Props to Hicks, who continues to validate the O's taking a chance on him. Major clutch hit. And rookie Westburg for taking one for the team to drive in the winning run.

Finally Bautista, who hasn't had a chance to pitch in a few games doing what he has does a lot this season...strike out the side to get the big save. Orioles still have not been swept in a series this year, although they have dumped the last two 1-2.

Can find things to complain about on both teams this series. Both teams wasted great pitching. Twins hit well in one game only. O's basically didn't hit at all and got lucky today..although good teams seem to make their own luck.

Miranda has been presented with a golden opportunity to earn back a spot on this roster after a terrible start this season. He wasn't very good today, but its just one game.

Hope Hays isn't hurt too bad. He has been the O's most consistent hitter all year. Rutschman is sort of in a sophomore slump (based on his immense talent) His BA is in the ,260's (not exactly where the O's expect it to be) and his 'd' has slipped a bit. He is really struggling to throw out base stealers. Despite all that, he's a pretty exciting player.

[Parfigliano]

3 hours ago, Irishman said:

Sonny Gray tossed the great game today.   What a wasted!  Thanks to the bullpen.  They blew it again.  Twins bats sucked.   

I am very sick of it,

Yup.  And no tools Buxton will be 3 or 4 in the lineup.  Its 2023 not 2019.