Orioles 2, Twins 1: Same Old Offense Dooms the Twins' Chance for Sweep

[Steven Trefz]

The Twins pitching staff held the Orioles to two runs on a day when they needed another shutout. The Orioles pecked and pecked away at Jhoan Duran in the eighth, and salvaged the last game of the series for their 29th comeback win of the season. Here's how the exercise in futility went down today.

Image courtesy of Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Box Score:
Starting pitcher: Sonny Gray: 6 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 7 SO ( 87 pitches, 55 for strikes, 63%)
Home Runs: None
Bottom 3 WPS: Jhoan Duran (-.584), Jose Miranda (-.113), Joey Gallo (-.096)
Win Probability Chart (Via Fangraphs):

 

 

The Twins were 2-0 since their meeting to reset the season Wednesday late afternoon. Sonny Gray entered the game to regain his early season length and results. This Sunday afternoon game wasn't even on TV, leading to scrambling for those seeking to view the potential sweep. Those who missed the action missed a nail-biter, but ultimately a game worth missing for Twins fans. Missed opportunities and bad luck on offense, mixed with dominant pitching and a terrible inning from one of our most trustworthy relievers on defense, equals a 2-1 loss.

Sonny Skies in Baltimore, After All
Gray started the game dealing, survived the middle innings by trusting in his best pitches despite the situation, and finished strong. The threats were few and far between through the first five innings for the Orioles' offense, as Gray kept the pitch count down to 66 while scattering two hits, two walks, and a plunked toe. 

Jose Miranda Returns, and Austin Hays Pays the Price
Miranda's return from his AAA banishment started as it ended, flying out and grounding into a double play to squash the start of the threat in the fourth inning. His defense was just as offensive, helping the Twins potentially but not in the way anyone intends to. 

League batting leader Austin Hays led off the bottom of the second inning and hit a slow roller to Miranda at third. Miranda made the play, but the throw led Solano off the bag and into a collision with Hays. The impact eventually knocked Hays out of the game and could have also taken out Solano. Due to the lack of TV replays, feel free to recreate the horrible play with pen and paper.

Willi Castro Continues to Make Himself Indespensible
Castro plays all positions, hits righties and lefties, steals bases, scores runs, and shows up with a blast when you least expect him to. After Byron Buxton singled in the top of the sixth with one out, Castro found himself up with Buxton on second and two outs, and he hit a ball so far that only the revamped Camden Yards could contain it. Here's how it looked and sounded in Spanish!

 

 

Skies Get Less Sonny in the Sixth
The Twins had been hitting laser beams all game, with consistent 100+ mph exit velocities and very few hits, let alone runs, to show for it. Again, like Saturday's game, the early innings "felt" like the Twins had accomplished improvement and should have been ahead by many runs. They scored one run over five innings against LHP Cole Irvin, who brought a 6.32 ERA and 1.69 WHIP into the game.

This lack of production became even more apparent in the bottom of the sixth when Cedric Mullins sat on a 3-2 fastball from Gray and parked it onto Eutaw Street. Luckily for Gray and my blood pressure, it was a few feet foul, and Ryan Jeffers convinced home plate umpire Mike Estabrook that the next pitch was not three inches outside for Gray's seventh and final strikeout of the night. The extra work in the fifth and sixth innings sealed his fate, and the game was officially left in the hands of the teams' bullpens to finish it out.

Griffin Jax and Jhoan Duran are Beasts...but One was Human Today
Jax stepped to the mound in the seventh inning, and 14 pitches later, the Twins were jogging back in from the field. Duran was given the nod in the eighth inning with the top of the Orioles lineup due up. The dominant Duran faced long at-bats. A swinging bunt from Adley Rutschman, and a single from Anthony Santander put runners on the corners with only one out. 

Aaron Hicks came to the plate, looking to play spoiler after replacing Hays earlier in the game. And spoil it he did, as the ex-Twin drove a game-tying single into center field. One Alex Kirilloff saved the game at first base as he dove towards the line and speared Mullin's attempt at a two-run double. 

The game was then lost when Duran lost Ryan O'Hearn to a four-pitch walk and plugged Jordan Westburg with a 101 mph fastball on an 0-1 count to send Anthony Santander home to put the O's up 2-1. Just like that, a sure thing turned into another reminder of how one run won't win you many baseball games, and a brilliant day by the Twins pitching staff went unrewarded. The Orioles 29th come-from-behind win of the season showed their resolve this season, exposing the Twins' approach as well.

What Version of the Twins Returns to Target Field Monday?
The Twins started the weekend with inspired play and joyful offense. After their live-by-the-homer, die-without-the-homer strategy emerged again, they finished it with more questions than answers. The Orioles scored three runs all weekend, and the Twins are lucky to leave town with two victories. That fact says all you need to know about the state of the Twins heading into their last homestand before the All-Star Break.

What's Next: Twins RHP Joe Ryan (8-5, 3.44 ERA) tries to rebound from his home run disaster fest against the Braves last week. He will face the Royals, sporting a bottom-five offense across all major categories. As of Sunday afternoon, the Royals have yet to announce who their starting pitcher will be. First Pitch at Target Field is scheduled for 7:10pm.

Postgame Interviews:

Bullpen Usage Chart:

 

	WED	THU	FRI	SAT	SUN	TOT
Morán	36	0	8	0	0	44
Durán	0	0	0	8	34	42
Balazovic	18	0	9	0	0	27
Pagán	0	0	19	0	6	25
Jax	0	0	0	11	14	25
Headrick	0	0	0	0	0	0
Ortega	0	0	0	0	0	0
Winder	0	0	0	0	0	0

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[pierre75275]

Twins hit a lot of rockets in the series that didn't land in the grass, especially Buxton. 

With all the left-handers coming up for the O's in the 8th surprised the Moran didn't get a chance to at least get some outs before Duran was brought in, it stinks because now he isn't available Monday for sure, altho sometimes when you bring the stud of the bullpen in it just doesn't work out.

Missing Brock Stewart hurt today.

[Peter]

I’ll take series win against Baltimore but should’ve swept them. with sweep of Kansas city and another 2-1 series win against Baltimore that gives us 5-1 record for week into break with 48-45 record.

[SwainZag]

11 minutes ago, pierre75275 said:

Twins hit a lot of rockets in the series that didn't land in the grass, especially Buxton. 

With all the left-handers coming up for the O's in the 8th surprised the Moran didn't get a chance to at least get some outs before Duran was brought in, it stinks because now he isn't available Monday for sure, altho sometimes when you bring the stud of the bullpen in it just doesn't work out.

Missing Brock Stewart hurt today.

Tough position.   If Duran is his good usual self we don't second guess.   I'm wondering is Brock doesn't start that inning if he was healthy. 

[pierre75275]

Just now, SwainZag said:

Tough position.   If Duran is his good usual self we don't second guess.   I'm wondering is Brock doesn't start that inning if he was healthy. 

For sure. If Duran pulls through there is no argument, if he doesn't you have clowns like me second guessing. I was surprised tho when Duran was brought out to face all the lefties for a somewhat uncommon 2 inning save when he had pitched the game b4 even tho it was only 8 pitches 

[IndyTwinsFan]

While I didn't expect the hitting approach to change overnight, even after the team meeting in Atlanta, I was expecting to notice some incremental improvements.  Thus far, outside of Friday, I have not gotten the sense that much of anything of significance has changed.  I didn't sense it yesterday and maybe someone who actually watched the game today can comment on that point.

If we’re still seeing the same garbage after a home series against KC, then, in my mind, it might be nearly time to take a very hard look at how this team is constructed and managed on a day to day basis.

As a long time fan, I hate even thinking this and being this pessimistic, but it's becoming increasingly clear to me that all is not well here and some significant change is needed here or we're just going to keep spinning our wheels here.

[SwainZag]

4 minutes ago, pierre75275 said:

For sure. If Duran pulls through there is no argument, if he doesn't you have clowns like me second guessing. I was surprised tho when Duran was brought out to face all the lefties for a somewhat uncommon 2 inning save when he had pitched the game b4 even tho it was only 8 pitches 

Agreed.   It's probably Thielbar's job when healthy actually.  I don't blame Rocco for being gunshy with Moran though. 

[DocBauer]

Nothing changes unless something changes.

Great pitching in the series. Duran was human today.

[Mike Sixel]

I'm guessing Kepler plays thru the break, alas. I just don't get it

[SwainZag]

4 minutes ago, IndyTwinsFan said:

While I didn't expect the hitting approach to change overnight, even after the team meeting in Atlanta, I was expecting to notice some incremental improvements.  Thus far, outside of Friday, I have not gotten the sense that much of anything of significance has changed.  I didn't sense it yesterday and maybe someone who actually watched the game today can comment on that point.

If we’re still seeing the same garbage after a home series against KC, then, in my mind, it might be nearly time to take a very hard look at how this team is constructed and managed on a day to day basis.

As a long time fan, I hate even thinking this and being this pessimistic, but it's becoming increasingly clear to me that all is not well here and some significant change is needed here or we're just going to keep spinning our wheels here.

Team only struck out 6 times and 3 against Bautista in the 9th.  A lot of soft contact today.  Pop ups, lazy flies, etc.

 

Leaving RISP in the 1st, 4th and 5th really set the tone.... and not for the positive. 

[USAFChief]

13 minutes ago, SwainZag said:

Tough position.   If Duran is his good usual self we don't second guess.   I'm wondering is Brock doesn't start that inning if he was healthy. 

The 8th was the top the order for Baltimore. 

I have no problem with asking Duran to get the top out in the 8th, and someone else take the 9th 

I kind of doubt the 8th would have been Stewart's, even if he was available. 

[Mike Sixel]

Just now, USAFChief said:

The 8th was the top the order for Baltimore. 

I have no problem with asking Duran to get the top out in the 8th, and someone else take the 9th 

I kind of doubt the 8th would have been Stewart's, even if he was available. 

Agreed

[SwainZag]

4 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

The 8th was the top the order for Baltimore. 

I have no problem with asking Duran to get the top out in the 8th, and someone else take the 9th 

I kind of doubt the 8th would have been Stewart's, even if he was available. 

Most likely right unless Caleb was healthy.  Would have been an interesting decision.  Both Adley and Santander hit better as lefties against RHP than the other way around. 

[jkcarew]

Yeah, the knashing of teeth is about the hitting, not Duran’s blown save….for me anyway.

Also 2nd time in a week the K’s were down significantly, and the hitting was still really really bad. The problems run deeper than the K’s.

[IndyTwinsFan]

28 minutes ago, SwainZag said:

Team only struck out 6 times and 3 against Bautista in the 9th.  A lot of soft contact today.  Pop ups, lazy flies, etc.

 

Leaving RISP in the 1st, 4th and 5th really set the tone.... and not for the positive. 

UGH!  Not the least bit surprised by this assessment of the game. 

[RpR]

27 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

I'm guessing Kepler plays thru the break, alas. I just don't get it

Yeah he is the reason they lost again -- good grief.

Hopefully Miranda is not around long.

 

 

 

1

[Mike Sixel]

1 minute ago, RpR said:

Yeah he is the reason they lost again -- good grief.

Hopefully Miranda is not around long.

 

 

 

1

Miranda is up for injury reasons. The offense is the problem. Have to start someplace, and they have options for RF. I get you hate rookies. 

[Whitey333]

Strange series.  The 8-1 win in the opener skewed things a lot.  After they scored those 8 runs through the first four innings, the Twins only scored 2 runs in the last 22 innings.  Thanks to great pitching we held Baltimore to 3 runs total in the three games.  People gave so much credit to Roccos speech to press and new hitting philosophy and changes to batting order trying to convince us they turned it around.  Yes we won 2 of 3 from Orioles.  That is awesome.  That was due to great pitching again.  It's the only thing keeping this team somewhat relevant In the obscurity that is the Anerican League Central.  The hitting continues to be very suspect.  2 runs in the last 22 innings of this series. That is a retreat into its previous doldrums.

 

[IndyTwinsFan]

4 minutes ago, Whitey333 said:

Strange series.  The 8-1 win in the opener skewed things a lot.  After they scored those 8 runs through the first four innings, the Twins only scored 2 runs in the last 22 innings.  Thanks to great pitching we held Baltimore to 3 runs total in the three games.  People gave so much credit to Roccos speech to press and new hitting philosophy and changes to batting order trying to convince us they turned it around.  Yes we won 2 of 3 from Orioles.  That is awesome.  That was due to great pitching again.  It's the only thing keeping this team somewhat relevant In the obscurity that is the Anerican League Central.  The hitting continues to be very suspect.  2 runs in the last 22 innings of this series. That is a retreat into its previous doldrums.

 

"Doldrums" is a kind way of putting it.

[SwainZag]

20 minutes ago, jkcarew said:

Yeah, the knashing of teeth is about the hitting, not Duran’s blown save….for me anyway.

Also 2nd time in a week the K’s were down significantly, and the hitting was still really really bad. The problems run deeper than the K’s.

It should be both.   1 run is obviously not going to cut it.  But Duran was off.  1 good contact ball off of him.   2 walks, a bloop and a HBP is tough from your dominant closer 

[insagt1]

even the very best closers will miss once in awhile. Bautista was sailing along as he usually does against Cincy last week two outs none on 1 run game...and he inexplicably gives up a tater to a guy who was hitting under .200 and was not a HR hitter (could argue I guess he already had hit one earlier...but the odds of another one against the guy with the best k to IP ratio in baseball were enormous) Blown save. What he usually does is what he did today.

Duran has been pretty sharp this season. Today he wasn't sharp. I get the walk to O'Hearn..I think that was semi-intentional all the way...so he could face a raw rookie who may have been impatient to make an impression.

I HATE that games are being shown on Peacock. How many streaming services does one have to buy? Moving baseball games around like this stinks.

[ashbury]

24 minutes ago, Whitey333 said:

Strange series.  The 8-1 win in the opener skewed things a lot.  After they scored those 8 runs through the first four innings, the Twins only scored 2 runs in the last 22 innings. 

Yes.  I didn't want to be Captain Wetblanket after that first game, but the breakdown of run scoring jumped out at me right away. 

It seems like the same old pattern, which of course applies to any team but somehow seems more extreme with the 2023 Twins than I ever remember: fatten up on a pitcher who is clearly not having a good day, get shut down by any competent major leaguer who has a good plan and the command to carry it out.

[mikelink45]

I believe there will be a players only meeting before every game the rest of the season!  One game with good bats, one game that Ober took charge of and another game where the pitchers suffered from the batteritis. 

[Brandon27]

This team need is bullpen help another starter ,and hitting before or after all star break I think they need to upgrade at firstbase and trade people from the outfield depth 

[Mike Sixel]

10 minutes ago, Brandon27 said:

This team need is bullpen help another starter ,and hitting before or after all star break I think they need to upgrade at firstbase and trade people from the outfield depth 

What outfield depth? They're starting three guys that need replacing, none of which are under contract next year. 

They don't need a starter. 

They aren't close to contending, no way they should be buying. 

[Blyleven2011]

How to stay positive  , it's a question  I often  ask myself  ...

It's just impossible to stay positive as we are once again 1 game below 500  ... 

I will never get my ten game twins winning streak and will have to watch other contending teams get their 10 game winning streak  ...

This was once again a winnable game but they just don't come up with the clutch hit , the past 3  seasons have not been kind to the twins having clutch hits and I don't see that changing  , nor have I  seen really much change the past 3 games as the first 81 before the players only meeting  ...

A wasted pitching performance from Sonny Gray  , wasted opportunities to score runs  , better contact today as they only struck out 6 times and 4 or 5 of those strikeouts came after the seventh inning , 3 strikeouts in the top of the ninth  , 2 by pinch hitters  ....

I expect the twins to have a winning homestand  before the Allstar game , and if the players haven't fixed it with their players meeting on hitting  , than it's time for changes to roster and coaching and then be sellers at deadline  ...

This is just not acceptable twins baseball  and if you listen to Rocco  pre game or post games chats and believe anything Rocco says.  Then I congratulate  you because it is a bunch of crock ....

Has anyone seen or heard anything from the FO  , or are they keeping quite and in hiding ...

[Aggies7]

32 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

What outfield depth? They're starting three guys that need replacing, none of which are under contract next year. 

They don't need a starter. 

They aren't close to contending, no way they should be buying. 

Can’t repeat the deadline mistakes of last year. A great start by Gray today helps his value. Hopefully he can keep it going for a couple more starts. We’d be foolish to be anything but sellers

[KirbyDome89]

43 minutes ago, ashbury said:

Yes.  I didn't want to be Captain Wetblanket after that first game, but the breakdown of run scoring jumped out at me right away. 

It seems like the same old pattern, which of course applies to any team but somehow seems more extreme with the 2023 Twins than I ever remember: fatten up on a pitcher who is clearly not having a good day, get shut down by any competent major leaguer who has a good plan and the command to carry it out.

I don't know if the opposing stater even needs to be all that competent. Allard dominated this lineup just a few days ago, and Irvin, who has been incredibly hittable, held the Twins down through 5 innings. 

I don't think it makes you a wet blanket to point out the fact this club is incredibly fortunate to be leaving Baltimore taking 2 of 3. 

[Danchat]

Kinda surprised that the amount of discussion on relievers, when they gave up a total of 2 runs in this series! We're at the point where the hitters are so bad that it demands perfection from all of our pitchers. Expecting to win back-to-back 1-0 games is foolish, and even guys like Duran can't always be lights out. Score some darn runs!!

[specialiststeve]

More of the same... Should not expect anything different until Baldelli and Popkins are gone. 

Baldelli mismanages the bullpen for the 100th time... 

Twins continue to have poor AB's... thanks Popkins. 

Hopefully the FO will make some changes during the all star break...