Orioles 15, Twins 2: A Twins Loss that Sums Up the First Half

[Steven Trefz]

Joe Ryan took the mound in an attempt to deal the Twins back to the top of the AL Central. He left before the fifth inning was over, and by the time the dust settled on the sixth inning the game was going, going, long gone. Here's how the first half of the season ended.

Image courtesy of Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

Box Score
Starting Pitcher: Joe Ryan: 4.1 IP 5 H 5 ER 2 BB 10 SO (98 Pitches, 61 Strikes, 62%)
Home Runs: Edouard Julien (7)
Bottom 3 WPA: Ryan (-.191), Jovani Moran (-.189), Byron Buxton (-.063)

Win Probability Chart (Via Fangraphs):

Familiar Faces, Familiar Results
The Twins faced off against one of their home-raised starters today, as Kyle Gibson took the mound looking to give the Orioles a sweep in his old stomping grounds. Gibson started the game by quickly walking the lead-off man Carlos Correa while trying to nibble the strike zone's edges. Then Gibson proved that he could throw a strike, and Edouard Julien proved he could hit the ball a long way by scorching a double to the right field gap to score Correa from first and put the Twins up 1-0. 

In typical 2023 Twins fashion, the Twins left Julien on base and failed to capitalize with runners in scoring position with nobody out. This lack of attack became an issue immediately in the top of the second inning when Austin Hays greeted a polite Joe Ryan fastball by crushing it to the home run porch in left field. No margin for mistakes when pitching for the Twins, and Hays looks to be healthy again as he heads into next week's All-Star Game.

Ryan Tries to Pitch Like the Twins Offense, and That Ain't Good
Having watched the strike out, walk, or home run outcome approach from the dugout all season long, he tried his version on Sunday against a potent Orioles lineup. While striking out the first eight and ten total batters in 4.1 innings was neat, he followed up the Hays homerun by serving up a long fly ball that didn't stop carrying to Ramon Urias, which put the Orioles up 3-1. Ryan followed that up with two straight walks, ending his outing.

His ERA, however, wasn't done moving, as Jovani Moran came in to clean up Ryan's mess. Moran left after facing four batters, with the score now 8-1. After two RBI singles by Ryan Mountcastle and Austin Hays, a demoralizing (on several levels) Aaron Hicks' three-run home run to right followed. I refuse to place the highlight video here. I also advise that if you didn't see it, watch it when you are in a healthy and safe space...so November.

At Least it's Draft Night
Remember to follow along with the fantastic Twins Daily coverage of the 2023 MLB amateur draft starting Sunday night! The future is our hope! 2027 is right around the corner!

Back to the Game...Because I'm Obligated To
By the sixth inning, Dick Bremer and Glen Perkins were dissecting a town ball home run that Bremer gave up back in the day when the baseballs were hand-stitched. Cole Sands was attempting to return from the injured list, and the Orioles were enjoying it.

Adley Rutschman...gone.
Anthony Santander...gone.
Cedric Mullins...almost gone.

Sands got one out in the sixth and gave up four runs. Jordan Balazovic came in, and gave up two more hits and two more of Sand's runs. 14-1 Orioles.

Knowing that it would take the Twins almost until August to score enough runs to come back when down 14-1, the Twins started packing their bags for vacation week. No vacation for Pablo Lopez and Sonny Gray, however. Those guys have to go to Seattle and try to explain why your number-one-ranked pitching staff is still not over .500.

They Finished the Game...Because They Get Paid To
Julien keeps playing and hitting. Julien sent a 2-1 changeup to the opposite field bleachers to close the gap to 14-2. Julien has the only two Twins hits in the first six innings. Julien is the reason that Kyle Gibson isn't no-hitting the Twins today. Meanwhile, Buxton found a way to have a -.063 WPA in a 15-2 ballgame. That's how bad his at-bats were.

While it's refreshing to think that at least one of the Twins didn't mail in today's game, it's even more distressing to think that Julien is likely the player they will send down once Jorge Polanco returns from the IL. Meanwhile, Buxton will still not be in center field and will take up Wallner's DH spot.

Balazovic was the sacrificial lamb for eating up the pitches in the seventh inning. Santander took his first pitch slider deep to right, squashing the Twins' budding comeback and making it 15-2.

Alex Kirilloff got a lead-off double in the bottom of the seventh! I'll give you three guesses on what happened next, and the first two don't count. Remember, Gibson is still on the mound in the seventh. Strike out, fly out, strike out. I can't make this stuff up. 

Kirilloff continued to play, even to the point of ripping his pants. Jorge Lopez appreciated that some of his teammates played defense into the ninth inning. I'm posting the video because it matters too.

One more item to note, just because I watched until the very last out. Jose Miranda reached on an infield single with two out in the ninth. The play was initially called an out, but Miranda hustled the whole way and beat it out. As Max Kepler flailed weakly at the final pitch to finally end this misery, my thoughts returned to Miranda for some reason. And Kirilloff. And Julien. And Wallner. And Royce Lewis. And Brooks Lee. And whoever we pick 5th in tonight's draft. 

The Twins are invested in a different team than the one performing in the field and lineup this season. The second half will be necessary, but for what reason?

System Failure or Just a Bad Day at the Office?
Luckily for the Twins, the Guardians fell prey to the juggernaut Royals today, so the Twins are only 0.5 games out of the lead in the AL Central entering the All-Star Break. It's one loss. It's also the 45th game in which the Twins scored three or fewer runs.

So tell me, faithful reader of Twins game recaps, no matter the result, what is your honest assessment of the club at the break? Can it get any worse? Can it get any better? Or is it where things are just about right and not ripe for change any time soon?

What's Next: Lopez and Gray hopefully don't injure themselves in the All-Star Game on Tuesday. Then the season begins again...again on Friday, July 14th, versus the Oakland Athletics in the echo chamber known as Oakland Coliseum. Starters for this game have yet to be named, but rest assured, the series will be more meaningful than needed. First pitch is scheduled for 8:40pm CDT.

Postgame Interviews:

Bullpen Usage Chart:

	WED	THU	FRI	SAT	SAT	TOT
Balazovic	0	0	0	0	42	42
Sands	0	0	0	0	38	38
Morán	0	0	16	0	14	30
J. López	0	0	0	13	14	27
Ortega	0	0	0	25	0	25
Durán	0	0	21	0	0	21
Jax	0	0	13	0	0	13
Pagán	0	0	4	0	2	6

 

 

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[Aggies7]

How has nobody (players and staff) lost their job yet lol

[QuinnSwanny]

This just sums up the whole twins season in one game. Also shows that our pitchers are human and not gods. I almost wished we got no hit just to let the game sink into the hitters minds. Make them think, “man… maybe we need to change our approach.” But also, I would like to point out how dead the dugout looks throughout the game. Even when the game was close nobody seemed to be cheering or rooting their teammates on. There are no leaders, no sparks, no friends in that dugout right now. Such a boring and disappointing team to watch. That somehow day in and out have me questioning, “god, when will this game end?” Seems the nightmare that is the 2023 Minnesota Twins is finally turning into sleep paralysis. For all of us.

[jkcarew]

Will the FO demonstrate the courage and common sense to sell at the deadline??

If we played in a legitimate division…any division accept this one, there would be no question. Instead, no doubt, we’ll be asked to continue to pretend we’re “competing”…and embrace mediocrity in perpetuity.

[darwin22]

Travel  day back from Chicago after and 11-day/ 8 game baseball experience courtesy of Jay Buckley Tours (based out of LaCrosse, WI).   Considering the last 2 days, I had zero interest in checking a Twins score, but was hopeful (stupid me) Ryan would have a solid start & bats would wake up.  Wrong on both accounts.

Glad to miss Rocco's postgame presser.  Can't believe he found ANYTHING positive after ANOTHER lackluster day at the plate in addition to Twins pitchers doing their best impersonation of some of the horrendous games by Twins pitchers in the 90s.

Not much to add to another depressing day, but a a few numbers that (warning alert) that don't inspire confidence heading into the 2nd half:

1.  When you score 2 runs or less nearly 40% of the the time (39.5 %)----36 of 91 games-----you aren't going to win anything, let alone a playoff game.

2.  When you have a winning % of .431 since May 1st---(28-34)----you're not heading in the right direction.

3.   Even if the schedule makers helped out the Twins by giving them 6 more against KC (9-1 on year) that wont help.   Twins are a dismal 36-45 against everyone except the Royals.

Stupid me--part 2-------I AM hopeful that our #5 pick will become an impact player for years to come.  

[wavedog]

I settled down for an uninterrupted afternoon of baseball - someone needs to question my decision-making.    Our pitch recognition ability has to be near the bottom of the league - I saw a lot of flailing swings.  Don't know if that is lack of talent or lack of study/work.   I can't see running the same lineup out there in the 2nd half and expecting much better or different - lineup needs a spark and/or need a new batting coach philosophy.  Not sure what Moran and Sands were throwing out there either but it got embarrassing real fast.    A lot of listless baseball which I don't really want to continue to watch.    

[Linus]

At what point will the FO do something?  Seriously what has to happen for them to say this isn’t working and we are wasting the best starting rotation in decades?  Apparently they will still stick with their projections which at this point are laughable. 

[ohiotwinsfan]

37 minutes ago, QuinnSwanny said:

This just sums up the whole twins season in one game. Also shows that our pitchers are human and not gods. I almost wished we got no hit just to let the game sink into the hitters minds. Make them think, “man… maybe we need to change our approach.” But also, I would like to point out how dead the dugout looks throughout the game. Even when the game was close nobody seemed to be cheering or rooting their teammates on. There are no leaders, no sparks, no friends in that dugout right now. Such a boring and disappointing team to watch. That somehow day in and out have me questioning, “god, when will this game end?” Seems the nightmare that is the 2023 Minnesota Twins is finally turning into sleep paralysis. For all of us.

At least there's a pitch clock to speed to the end.

[jkcarew]

24 minutes ago, darwin22 said:

2.  When you have a winning % of .431 since May 1st---(28-34)----you're not heading in the right direction.

3.   Even if the schedule makers helped out the Twins by giving them 6 more against KC (9-1 on year) that wont help.   Twins are a dismal 36-45 against everyone except the Royals.

Hey…but a dominant series against Oakland out of the brake can turn things around!!

(apologies for not knowing how to do the sarcasm font)

[Brett]

Let’s just put a Mr. Yuk sticker on the first half to warn people away from the “highlights”.

Being a true MN sports fan, I will start fantasizing about next year while suffering through the rest of this year.

[D.C Twins]

 

"We definitely grinded through the first half in a lot of ways. ... Nothing easy or smooth about it, but that's part of our game."

So, part of your game plan is NOT playing easy or smooth baseball?!?! Does he even listen to himself? 

Indifference is setting in for me.... The Pohlads better hope that I'm an outlier... because community indifference is far worse than community frustration, anger, or disappointment (especially for their precious bottom line)

[Old Crow]

Until the Twins put Buxton back in center field and open up the DH position the Twins are toast.  If he can bat, run, and steal bases he should be capable of playing defence.  If his condition is so bad that he can't play in the field he is of little day to day value.  The team doesn't need two Joey Gallos. 

[Beast]

People have to start getting fired.  The ineptitude is just raging out of control at this point.  There is no turning this ship around with the same personnel.

Must have been a heck of a closed door players meeting that led to getting crushed by a score of about 57-4 in a 3 gamer.  Such fortitude and courage.

[NotAboutWinning]

I wonder if the players got wind of Falvey's pregame interview on Bally. He essentially said they are satisfied with the team as they constructed it. Arrogant, obstinate and tone deaf!!!

[Hubie29]

25 minutes ago, D.C Twins said:

 

"We definitely grinded through the first half in a lot of ways. ... Nothing easy or smooth about it, but that's part of our game."

So, part of your game plan is NOT playing easy or smooth baseball?!?! Does he even listen to himself? 

Indifference is setting in for me.... The Pohlads better hope that I'm an outlier... because community indifference is far worse than community frustration, anger, or disappointment (especially for their precious bottom line)

I have been fairly indifferent since the beginning of the season. I knew, and posted, exactly what is happening with this offense. A few guys agreed with me, but more did not. Now that it is obvious the front office doesn't care, I don't care either. I still hope they win, but won't spend any time on them.  Let's GO VIKINGS!

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I’d be curious to know who was listening to Levine talk about Buxton this morning, and who was listening to Provus and Gladden during that 6-run sixth inning today. (The second big inning after the game was already out of reach.)

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Also, incredible that our boys made Kyle Gibson look like Bob Gibson today.

Who had Gibson striking out more batters than Joe Ryan, especially considering Ryan’s hot start? I don’t know if Ryan was upset at some ball strike calls, but you can’t let it affect you. That’s a thing where coaching absolutely makes a difference. Just sit down with him and tell him to forget it. Remind him who is coming up next inning and how to get that strike one, and put it behind you. Maybe someone like Tingler did that and it didn’t work. Not sure. 

[USAFChief]

This is rock bottom for 2023, IYAM.

-it started bottom 1. You get a walk and a double to start the game, with the eminently hittable Kyle Gibson on the mound, and your 3 4 5 hitters can't even push a second run across.

- said Kyle Gibson somehow goes 7 innings, gives up no more walks 1 more run, and Ks 11. Set Down 17 straight at one point. 

Kyle. Blanking. Gibson.

The 11 Ks is a career high, BTW.

- Aaron. Blanking. Hicks. Are you KIDDING me??

- Buxton somehow manages to swing and miss AT A 3-0 Fastball. 

LOL. I'm not sure, but I don't believe I've ever seen that before, and I'm willing to bet I'll never see it again. 

A 3-0 fastball. Pretty much batting practice. Swing and a miss. From a MLB hitter. Hitting 3rd in your lineup, no less.

Talk about embarrassing.

Just freaking awful.

Said it after Atlanta series, agree with Aggies above...how has nobody lost their job yet?

At the very minimum, how do the hitting coaches-yes, coaches. More than 1-still have jobs?

 

 

[Mike Sixel]

I do not understand the FO ..... And I continue to want them fired for their refusal to act on the hitting. 

[USAFChief]

And while I have a good rant on...WHY WERE THE ORIOLES OUT THERE TAKING INFIELD PRIOR TO TODAY'S GAME, BUT IT'S APPARENTLY TOO MUCH BOTHER FOR ROCCO'S TWINS???

 

Disgusting. Is this rec league or major league baseball?

[tarheeltwinsfan]

1 hour ago, Hosken Bombo Disco said:

I’d be curious to know who was listening to Levine talk about Buxton this morning, and who was listening to Provus and Gladden during that 6-run sixth inning today. (The second big inning after the game was already out of reach.)

I chose not to listen to Levine nor Provus or Gladden today. Instead I watched my grandsons' U 18 travel baseball team get hammered. My grandson missed a game tying HR by a few feet. I know, I know: If ifs and buts were candy and nuts, we'd all have a merry Christmas. 

[Aggies7]

7 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

And while I have a good rant on...WHY WERE THE ORIOLES OUT THERE TAKING INFIELD PRIOR TO TODAY'S GAME, BUT IT'S APPARENTLY TOO MUCH BOTHER FOR ROCCO'S TWINS???

 

Disgusting. Is this rec league or major league baseball?

Fielding and hitting before the game is voluntary. They apparently are during the game, too

[karcherd]

25 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

And while I have a good rant on...WHY WERE THE ORIOLES OUT THERE TAKING INFIELD PRIOR TO TODAY'S GAME, BUT IT'S APPARENTLY TOO MUCH BOTHER FOR ROCCO'S TWINS???

 

Disgusting. Is this rec league or major league baseball?

Rocco likes to say the players know what it takes to prepare themselves for the game.  When you are winning 100 games you can maybe get away with that.  But for the last three years we have been a sub .500 team and our fielding has not looked good at all on a regular basis.  It is time to give the players a time to be on the field before the game for fielding practice.  And also it would be really helpful if we could have our best outfielder play in CF.

[David Maro]

Glad Vikings camp is coming up. Hopefully they will show something because the Twins are showing us zero. Pretty bad when a player that will be back in St. Paul in 10-14 days did his part. When a business is failing changes need and always are made. This FO is becoming a laughing stock. Where the you know what are Polhad's.

[Aerodeliria]

3 hours ago, D.C Twins said:

 

"We definitely grinded through the first half in a lot of ways. ... Nothing easy or smooth about it, but that's part of our game."

So, part of your game plan is NOT playing easy or smooth baseball?!?! Does he even listen to himself? 

Indifference is setting in for me.... The Pohlads better hope that I'm an outlier... because community indifference is far worse than community frustration, anger, or disappointment (especially for their precious bottom line)

Yes, that quote also stuck in my craw...I must admit.

[mikelink45]

Being in the middle is actually the worst place to be. You keep hoping to get better even though you haven't shown that you can improve. You're trying not to get worse because in this division you're still at the top or close to it. If your Detroit you see. Ahead, if you are KC, you know you're not going to win in the future. Doesn't look good, if you are the White Sox you go to the asylum and hope there's a doctor on call, if you're a guardian fan, you just wait for francona to push the right buttons and take over the lead. If you're in Minnesota twin you enjoy the first month and then hang on, hoping that you can somehow cross that 500 barrier at the end of the year. It's not good enough. 

[sftwinsfan]

Looks like Joe Ryan's mid-season swoon might be becoming an annual thing. Hope not. 

[KirbyDome89]

5 hours ago, Hosken Bombo Disco said:

I’d be curious to know who was listening to Levine talk about Buxton this morning, and who was listening to Provus and Gladden during that 6-run sixth inning today. (The second big inning after the game was already out of reach.)

What was said?

[Doctor Wu]

Ugh! A thoroughly depressing game in every aspect for the Twins. We all hope the break for the All-Star Game will help to right this leaky ship, but I don't think a few days rest is the answer. 

[rv78]

So tell me, faithful reader of Twins game recaps, no matter the result, what is your honest assessment of the club at the break?

They stink.

Can it get any worse?

Yep. We are seeing signs of the ''great starting pitching" coming apart.

Can it get any better?

Not with the current Manager and Coaches in charge.

Or is it where things are just about right and not ripe for change any time soon?

That's up to ownership and the fans. Yeah, quit going to games and hit the Pohlads where it counts. It's the only way they'll notice.