Twins 5, Diamondbacks 3: Keuchel Shines and Twins Bats Rally for a Walk-Off and Series Sweep

[insagt1]

We all know Kepler is a streaky hitter...and right now he is hot. Ride him as long as possible! Gallo on the bench. Absolutely. Giving Bux a long rest. Also a good idea. Is it remotely possible that all his ailments will heal? And if so, for how long?

Disappointing that Pagan blew a save and Thielbar gave up a crucial 9th inning HR. 4 1/2 lead over scuffling Cleveland is a good look! Twins have lived a charmed life so far in 2023. But this is also a great time to get hot. Would like to see Jeffers become an everyday player down the stretch (as catcher and DH) O's are doing this daily with their 2 catchers.

[JD-TWINS]

4 hours ago, Aerodeliria said:

If Keuchel gets hitters to swing at those pitches just off the strike zone and mixes his pitches and speeds ala Greg Maddux, he'll be just fine.

Going Old School with a Tommy John comparison to Kuechel.

[NotAboutWinning]

Julien is adjusting to seeing fewer fastballs. 🤞 that Wallner will as well!

[JD-TWINS]

17 minutes ago, insagt1 said:

We all know Kepler is a streaky hitter...and right now he is hot. Ride him as long as possible! Gallo on the bench. Absolutely. Giving Bux a long rest. Also a good idea. Is it remotely possible that all his ailments will heal? And if so, for how long?

Disappointing that Pagan blew a save and Thielbar gave up a crucial 9th inning HR. 4 1/2 lead over scuffling Cleveland is a good look! Twins have lived a charmed life so far in 2023. But this is also a great time to get hot. Would like to see Jeffers become an everyday player down the stretch (as catcher and DH) O's are doing this daily with their 2 catchers.

Charmed life?? Maybe relative to push from fellow competitors?

At least 6 pitchers out at times with ailments……

Stewart - Lopez - Mahle - Maeda - Winder Thielbar

Polanco & Lewis alone have been a killer, not to mention Buxton & Kirilloff……..gotta be nearly 200 games missed between these 4 starters.

[Whitey333]

Nice win Twins!!  Kuechel was ok.  Not great but not bad.  He had some great defense helping him and the Dbacks have been terrible lately.  They all of a sudden can't score.  Since everything came together at least for this past series.  Well done Twins.  Kurchel will be ok but since his fastball is routinely around 90 or less he needs to be pinpoint perfect.  Otherwise they will light him up like a Christmas tree.  It's interesting hiw they seem to play better when Buxton and Gallo aren't in the lineup making the automatic outs.  On to Detroit boys.  GO Twins!!

[madtowntwin]

The combination of an experienced ground ball pitcher like Kuechel, the pitch clock, and the lineup deployed yesterday, made for an MLB defense primed - ready - and able to go....Castro was wizard. Though not as precisely as Maeda on Saturday, "One Of The Best Beards In Sports" generally hit his spots and pitched to said defense. A little luck here and there helped and the difference in a few MPH was also apparent compared to Kenta's effort (in the Maeda side of the ledger). I was concerned about the two pitchers with not dissimilar styles going back to back, but it played out OK. Perhaps a turning point both for the Twins Season as well as Wallner as player?? Let's hope....But on that theme - When was Kepler's "Turning Point"?? As many have stated - His play has been prime of late. Win Twins. 

[terrydactyls]

1 hour ago, Peter said:

Wow wow wow!!!This is season changing turning point win!!!! Castro was fantastic with his play at 3rd base and yes Kepler has turned it on!!! Wallner with walkoff was huge!!!! As I said this is the season changing turning point win we needed!!!! Just wow wow wow!!!!!

23 exclamation points in a 48 word comment.  That's a .471 exclamation slugging percent.

[wabene]

3 minutes ago, terrydactyls said:

23 exclamation points in a 48 word comment.  That's a .471 exclamation slugging percent.

When it comes to bringing the enthusiasm, Peter does not disappoint, lol!!!! 

[Mike Sixel]

1 hour ago, Major League Ready said:

I think Gallo is still here because we have no depth a 1B. If we let him go, what do we do if Solano gets hurt?  CJ Cron would have looked pretty good on this roster.  What will they do if/when Kirilloff gets healthy?  The roster management is going to be interesting the rest of the way.  

There's a first baseman at AAA with a massive OPS. Just try it! 

[Major League Ready]

25 minutes ago, madtowntwin said:

The combination of an experienced ground ball pitcher like Kuechel, the pitch clock, and the lineup deployed yesterday, made for an MLB defense primed - ready - and able to go....Castro was wizard. Though not as precisely as Maeda on Saturday, "One Of The Best Beards In Sports" generally hit his spots and pitched to said defense. A little luck here and there helped and the difference in a few MPH was also apparent compared to Kenta's effort (in the Maeda side of the ledger). I was concerned about the two pitchers with not dissimilar styles going back to back, but it played out OK. Perhaps a turning point both for the Twins Season as well as Wallner as player?? Let's hope....But on that theme - When was Kepler's "Turning Point"?? As many have stated - His play has been prime of late. Win Twins. 

It's been about 8 weeks.  Since 6/20 his wRC+ is 152.  He has been pretty consistent too.  His wRC+ is also 152 for the last 4 weeks.

[joefish]

2 hours ago, mikelink45 said:

Keuchel strikes out zero - the Twins strikeout 10 times and we win.  It reminds me of all the pitchers in years past who relied on ground balls to win and knew how to pitch.  Nice game. 

Yes. We struck out 10 times and gave up 8 stolen bases. How do you win games like that?

With a walk off HR I guess.

Strange game. 

[dex8425]

1 hour ago, Nine of twelve said:

Twins fans look at the bottom of the ninth as a hitting success. Diamondback fans look at the bottom of the ninth as a pitching failure. Not sure which is more accurate.

The pitch to Max was especially bad. You can throw it anywhere but there to get him out. Fastballs up or slow stuff away will get him out. 

[Major League Ready]

12 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

There's a first baseman at AAA with a massive OPS. Just try it! 

It's hard to imagine Williams could we worse than Gallo at this point.  He has been brutal for a couple months now.  I would say give Prato a few starts at 1B in AAA.  He is 5'9 so not ideal but they need some of the dead weight off the roster.  How about giving Severino a few starts at 1B in St. Paul?

[VivaBomboRivera!]

1 hour ago, Karbo said:

Putting Correa in the #2 slot is foolish. He hits so many hard grounders that with a guy on 1st are automatic DP's. I'd drop him down to 7 or 8.

And yet he drives in the tying and go-ahead runs, and anchors the infield behind Keuchel, hovering up those ground ball outs. 

[Mike Sixel]

7 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

It's hard to imagine Williams could we worse than Gallo at this point.  He has been brutal for a couple months now.  I would say give Prato a few starts at 1B in AAA.  He is 5'9 so not ideal but they need some of the dead weight off the roster.  How about giving Severino a few starts at 1B in St. Paul?

I'm all for all those ideas. 

[stringer bell]

40 minutes ago, terrydactyls said:

23 exclamation points in a 48 word comment.  That's a .471 exclamation slugging percent.

A slightly higher ! percentage than Joey Gallo's K percentage (43%).

[Riverbrian]

54 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

I think Gallo is still here because we have no depth a 1B. If we let him go, what do we do if Solano gets hurt?  CJ Cron would have looked pretty good on this roster.  What will they do if/when Kirilloff gets healthy?  The roster management is going to be interesting the rest of the way.  

Agreed... Real interesting. Extremely interesting. 

Typically there will be future injuries that uncloud the picture but if this team gets to full health on the offensive side. Lewis, Buxton and Kirilloff will need spots. 

Luplow is easy so there is one. 

After that? 

Gallo would be my choice... that's two. Wallner is a much much much better Gallo. 

#3 ??? I have no idea. Someone with options I assume. 

I don't want it to be Julien or Wallner.

Lewis and Kirilloff shouldn't be considerations much like Julien or Wallner shouldn't be considerations. 

I think Castro has become necessary.

Jeffers of course not. 

That leaves Farmer who has an option remaining and it won't be him. 

Solano or Taylor won't be cut. Solano better not be cut because he has been one of our more consistent hitters.  

I agree with you... Real Real Interesting and I haven't even mentioned Nick Gordon. I know most fans want to throw him away but he was a decent ball player for us last year. 

In addition to my above thoughts... Lewis looks like the first one back.

Julien may need to start getting some reps at 1B in anticipation of the arrival of Lewis.

Lewis may need to shag some balls in the OF while rehabbing in St. Paul. 

And then when Buxton returns... Buxton may need to play on the grass because we are going to need that DH spot back.   

 

 

[bighat]

"The Diamondbacks had two double steals against Keuchel, and stole bases eight times in the game, six of them double steals. "

Holy hell!

Nice to see the sweep. For those saying things like "now it's time to overtake Texas for the 2 seed" or something crazy like that, remember what happened last week, they lost 5 straight and got swept by KC.  This team will continue to have ups and downs as we roll into the dog days of August. Nothing should be taken for granted and a division win is still very much up in the air, despite what fangraphs says. Tread lightly with your hopes. 

This Wallner kid is everything we hoped Trevor Larnach would be. Might be the best offensive weapon the Twins have right now. He should be playing every day until the team's season is over!

[stringer bell]

9 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

It's hard to imagine Williams could we worse than Gallo at this point.  He has been brutal for a couple months now.  I would say give Prato a few starts at 1B in AAA.  He is 5'9 so not ideal but they need some of the dead weight off the roster.

I am as sick of watching Joey Gallo strike out as everyone else, but I am highly skeptical of AAA breakouts like Williams, Prato and Stevenson (BTW Williams hit 9th in St. Paul's lineup yesterday). I do believe the Twins should have made moves that would lead to a Gallo DFA, and that is a lot more than claiming Jordan Luplow. It is about three and a half weeks until September 1st and there appear to be 40-man roster issues on that horizon. Adding Williams or Prato only add to that issue and I don't think they make the club any better. 

[David Maro]

Offense was flat until Castro got the double. He is the straw that stirs the drink right now. Once he is on base he puts the pitcher on defense. Good defense played kept game in reach. Correa did make up for his 2 DP by finally getting a hit and 2 RBI's to take the lead. With Cleveland reeling need to take care of business in Detroit. 

[Riverbrian]

18 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

I am as sick of watching Joey Gallo strike out as everyone else, but I am highly skeptical of AAA breakouts like Williams, Prato and Stevenson (BTW Williams hit 9th in St. Paul's lineup yesterday). I do believe the Twins should have made moves that would lead to a Gallo DFA, and that is a lot more than claiming Jordan Luplow. It is about three and a half weeks until September 1st and there appear to be 40-man roster issues on that horizon. Adding Williams or Prato only add to that issue and I don't think they make the club any better. 

I agree with you.

The time for Williams, Prato or Stevenson was June when the offense was searching for answers. You'd want to look at them before the trade deadline to help determine needs at the trade deadline.  

After the trade deadline. It's a little late to see if they might help. If Williams has a good September does he start in the playoffs? The answer is he won't.   

This roster is set now. Who we lose becomes a much bigger question than who do we add. 

Personally... I would have dropped both Kepler and Gallo in June to look at anyone else. Kepler has turned around and now I say... let him roll because he is rolling. While Gallo has gotten worse. 

Let's hope Kepler stays hot and he hits a 3 run homer in the 9th to knock out the Blue Jays in the first round of the playoffs. 

This team will be our team from here on out.  

[HoskenPowell]

To say Keuchel shined is a monstrous overstate......walks and hits all over the place.......hard hit outs and a couple double plays saved him.   He did ok.  And that's all we should expect.  He's been done for a couple years already.

[Karbo]

37 minutes ago, VivaBomboRivera! said:

And yet he drives in the tying and go-ahead runs, and anchors the infield behind Keuchel, hovering up those ground ball outs. 

After grounding into 2 more double plays

[Blyleven2011]

If kuechel shined yesterday  is was the only shine we had yesterday  , the sunshine was missing  ....

Kuechel  kept us in the game  but  he worked  5 nervous innings  , Arizona hit some balls hard and some balls soft for infield and blooper hits ...

It was a team effort  and Kuechel has earned another start  ....

[VivaBomboRivera!]

53 minutes ago, Karbo said:

After grounding into 2 more double plays

Would you rather Annie called your name on the double plays, or his name on the 2-RBI single?

[Alex Schieferdecker]

Keuchel got the job done, but nothing about that performance was sustainable. Hopefully Joe gets healthy soon.

Floro has been a good pick-up so far. He hasn't looked unhittable, but he's looked like a dependable mid-inning guy. He's not going to beat himself the way that guys like Jorge and Jovani were doing.

[RpR]

1 hour ago, bighat said:

"The Diamondbacks had two double steals against Keuchel, and stole bases eight times in the game, six of them double steals. "

Holy hell!

Nice to see the sweep. For those saying things like "now it's time to overtake Texas for the 2 seed" or something crazy like that, remember what happened last week, they lost 5 straight and got swept by KC.  This team will continue to have ups and downs as we roll into the dog days of August. Nothing should be taken for granted and a division win is still very much up in the air, despite what fangraphs says. Tread lightly with your hopes. 

This Wallner kid is everything we hoped Trevor Larnach would be. Might be the best offensive weapon the Twins have right now. He should be playing every day until the team's season is over!

Wallner has much better defense numbers in right field but I think it would be a good idea to play him in left enough times to see if he can do as well there as in right.

[mikelink45]

3 hours ago, joefish said:

Yes. We struck out 10 times and gave up 8 stolen bases. How do you win games like that?

With a walk off HR I guess.

Strange game. 

Strange, but the kind of game where a team comes together outside the expected.

[Karbo]

20 hours ago, VivaBomboRivera! said:

Would you rather Annie called your name on the double plays, or his name on the 2-RBI single?

To be clear, I'm not saying bench the guy, I'm simply saying move him down in the lineup. IMO having a guy prone to DP's isn't an ideal fit hitting in the 2 hole behind a guy with a high OBA.