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Twins 5, Mets 2: Absurd 7th Inning, Royce Lewis Doubles Start the Weekend with a W

Matt Braun

By Matt Braun
in Twins Daily Front Page News

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Matt Braun Cedar Rapids Kernels

Matt Braun

Twins Daily Contributor
Posted
Posted

"Absurd" doesn't cover it, but describing the play in question would be work for even the nation's finest poets. 

Image courtesy of Jordan Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Box Score
Dallas Keuchel: 5 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
Home Runs: Carlos Correa (18)
Top 3 WPA:  Carlos Correa (.121), Andrew Stevenson (.120), Caleb Thielbar (.086)
Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)

chart(30).png.5d79b2845d4d0818a67b8b80330222a5.png

It had been a while: the Twins and Mets played each other for the first time since 2019, when Minnesota shockingly decimated Jacob deGrom in the middle of his historic terror, and Luis Arraez shook his head into our hearts with his legendary pinch-hit walk off of Edwin Díaz. Those may have been in two separate series, but such memorable events coming from these two teams facing off spoke to something happening tonight. Folks... just wait. 

Kodai Senga started for New York. The 30-year-old Japanese sensation entered the game with an excellent 2023 already behind him, as his special “ghost-fork” has helped strike out the world. He’s had his issues, though: command occasionally eludes him, as the fork ball refuses to ever truly be mastered, and the Twins were well-prepared to wait him out early. 

Jorge Polanco walked in the 1st, giving Minnesota their first base runner of the night. They quickly had their second base runner of the night; Royce Lewis scalded a double into the left-field corner, allowing Polanco to gallop home.

Dallas Keuchel appreciated the help. The veteran lefty was matched up against a lineup likely far younger than the Mets expected to have at this time of the year—and he diced them up with ease. He worked the edges early, opening up his arsenal of looping off-speed pitches. Usually behind in the count, New York’s rookies flailed helplessly, jutting all sorts of ligaments out over the plate as they swung in vain to make contact. He struck out six. 

But, things weren’t always smooth sailing—the Mets still employed some talented veterans, after all—and Keuchel ran into trouble in the 4th inning. A walk and a pounded double by Pete Alonso placed two runners in scoring position. Francisco Lindor then caught a cutter far to center-cut not to hit, and plated both runners with a double. Keuchel escaped the trouble with yet another signature double play. 

And the lead lasted four pitches. Carlos Correa—who was once almost a Met, if your memory can extend back that far—pulverized a Senga offering into the second deck. The ball looked to be rising as it reached the seats. 

Things settled; Senga found control not previously seen on Saturday, and the Twins began their adventure through their bullpen. Runners sometimes reached, but all rallies died a tepid death.

That is, until the bottom of the 7th inning, when perhaps the most ridiculous play since Miguel Sanó lined a ball into right against the Tigers in 2022. With Andrew Stevenson on 2nd and Willi Castro on 1st, the Twins called for a double steal, sending both runners bolting for the next base. Sean Reid-Foley’s offering hit the dirt, shooting by Francisco Álvarez to give the runners their desired base. Stevenson was greedy. He took a few extra steps before letting the universe know through body language that he (messed) up. He scrambled back to third base. Álvarez’s throw scooted into left, sending Stevenson home; Tim Locastro’s throw scooted beyond anyone’s grasp, making Stevenson safe. 

And, the Twins tacked on two more runs. 

(The second scored on a Max Kepler dying quail that Bally Sports evidently deemed not cool enough to tweet).

That was about it. Jhoan Duran shook off drama after firing a 103 MPH to nowhere in particular, re-finding the strike zone, and ending the game with a pair of strikeouts and a fielder's choice. 

Notes:

Dallas Keuchel's six strikeouts were the most for him in one outing since joining the Twins.

Carlos Correa is two homers away from having his 7th 20+ home run season in MLB. 

Willi Castro's 31st stolen base ties him with 1976 Larry Hisle and 2001 Luis Rivas for the 14th-highest single season total in Twins history.

Royce Lewis' pair of doubles gave him his first multi extra-base-hit game since August 24th.

Post-Game Interview:

 

 

 

What’s Next?
The Twins and Mets will play the second game of their series on Saturday. First pitch will exit Kenta Maeda’s right hand at 1:10 PM. 

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

Screenshot2023-09-08204946.png.ed94851a2226b4f3fd90fb43dccb4b1e.png

 


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Althebum82 College Ball

Althebum82

Verified Member
Posted
Posted

Dallas Keuchel the strikeout master (6 in 5 innings)?  Ultimately it amounted to a good enough five inning start followed by outstanding relief work.  Nice call on the double steal, but what an embarassing display by the catcher and left fielder not being able to make Stevenson look like the fool he really was on that play.

Nashvilletwin FCL Twins

Nashvilletwin

Verified Member
Posted
Posted
2 minutes ago, Althebum82 said:

Dallas Keuchel the strikeout master?  Ultimately it amounted to a good enough five inning start followed by outstanding relief work.  Nice call on the double steal, but what an embarassing display by the catcher and left fielder not being able to make Stevenson look like the fool he really was on that play.

This is now Lewis’s team

Schmoeman5 FCL Twins

Schmoeman5

Verified Member
Posted
Posted
5 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Dallas has been 1000000000 times better than expected. Congrats to him.

That's a lot! What do you think his role will be if they make the playoffs? Out of the pen exclusively or do you see Rocco polling a Dobnak type move?

DocBauer All-Star

DocBauer

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted

A lot of thoughts:

I'm not convinced Stevenson was stupid and lucky. I think, with his speed, he might have scored anyway. But what a weird play.

NOT  fan of Kuechel overall at this point, but I'll be damned if he didn't turn in another quality performance overall. He's doing exactly what he was supposed to do when signed and promoted. A couple bad performances, and a few good ones. He's filling an IP area the Twins want and need. My only complaint or conundrum is in regard to Ober. We all understand they are being pro-active in regard to his IP. That's why he's down right now. But is he really DOWN? I'm really hoping this is a respite and he comes back soon, with a rest and some bullpen side throwing to start another game or two with a piggyback. He's one of the guys to get us here, and a few extra innings only helps him for 2024.

Do I have to state the obvious that Lewis is a STUD? 

Another good win. Shoot for 90 and make this a season to remember!

 

UK Twin Draft Eligible

UK Twin

Verified Member
Posted
Posted

Sport can be so predictable sometimes. Correa crushed the hardest hit HR in his career - that would have felt really good!

Side note: Very amusing to see what's happened to the two highest spending teams in recent years - the Mets and Padres. Padres will probably bounce back next year but I bet Correa is quite happy not to be on the Mets now who have pretty much torn everything down.

stringer bell Cooperstown

stringer bell

Verified Member
Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, VivaBomboRivera! said:

Winning run sequence:

  • BB (PR)
  • H
  • SB, SB
  • WP
  • E2

Even on the scorecard, this is entertaining.  Why do I love this game?  Right here.

 

No wild pitch was charged as the runners were attempting stolen bases. Stevenson got lucky twice—bad throws by both the catcher and left fielder.  
 

Both ESPN and the betting line favored the Mets, so this would appear to be the most difficult game of the series. A sweep is in play and two out of three is likely. 

mikelink45 Minnesota Twins

mikelink45

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted

Happy for Keuchel, but he is not a playoff pitcher.  The Mets are not a good team.  Glad we won, so happy to have Lewis and nice to see Stevenson getting a reward for a good season in St Paul.  

Question - Winder is now the Cole Sands.  Let's get someone in the pen that we will use.  Same with Floro. 

Whitey333 FCL Twins

Whitey333

Verified Member
Posted
Posted

Nice win Twins.  Well not a nice win.  But not a bad win either.  It was one of those non losses that goes into the win column.  And that's all that counts.

ToddlerHarmon Draft Eligible

ToddlerHarmon

Verified Member
Posted
Posted
8 hours ago, DocBauer said:

My only complaint or conundrum is in regard to Ober. We all understand they are being pro-active in regard to his IP. That's why he's down right now. But is he really DOWN? I'm really hoping this is a respite and he comes back soon, with a rest and some bullpen side throwing to start another game or two with a piggyback. He's one of the guys to get us here, and a few extra innings only helps him for 2024.

I gotta believe they see Ober as the 4th playoff starter behind Gray/Lopez/Ryan, with Maeda and Keuchel as junkballer bridges to the pen to keep lineups off-balance

karcherd First Round Pick

karcherd

Verified Member
Posted
Posted

Question, are the Twins too conservative when dealing with injuries.  I am not saying I want an injured player to play.  But if feels like if they get a little ding, they are down.  An example was last night again, Duran grimaces on the mound because of the pitch he threw and they immediately come running out there to check on him.  That seems a bit overboard, he didn't indicate he felt something or that he was hurt.  In contrast in the Pirates series, their pitcher took a shot off of his foot, no one from the dugout came out to check on him because the pitcher indicated there was nothing wrong.  It just feels like their philosophy is a little over the top.  Again I don't want a player to play if he is hurt.  But are we always putting our best lineup out there because we are always afraid someone will get injured.

Blyleven2011 Ft Myers Mighty Mussels

Blyleven2011

Verified Member
Posted
Posted
9 hours ago, DocBauer said:

A lot of thoughts:

I'm not convinced Stevenson was stupid and lucky. I think, with his speed, he might have scored anyway. But what a weird play.

NOT  fan of Kuechel overall at this point, but I'll be damned if he didn't turn in another quality performance overall. He's doing exactly what he was supposed to do when signed and promoted. A couple bad performances, and a few good ones. He's filling an IP area the Twins want and need. My only complaint or conundrum is in regard to Ober. We all understand they are being pro-active in regard to his IP. That's why he's down right now. But is he really DOWN? I'm really hoping this is a respite and he comes back soon, with a rest and some bullpen side throwing to start another game or two with a piggyback. He's one of the guys to get us here, and a few extra innings only helps him for 2024.

Do I have to state the obvious that Lewis is a STUD? 

Another good win. Shoot for 90 and make this a season to remember!

 

90 wins is a stretch but it OK to shoot for the moon  ...

If I was younger I would have liked to go to the moon ...

The op  mentioned arraez's pinch hitting walk against Diaz  , only he didn't mention he came in with a 0-2 count cause the batter cron I think got injured , he drew the walk and made it to third and almost scored before the game ended  , he won our hearts , yes He did , Lewis is now the man winning us over  ...

Blyleven2011 Ft Myers Mighty Mussels

Blyleven2011

Verified Member
Posted
Posted
3 hours ago, mikelink45 said:

Happy for Keuchel, but he is not a playoff pitcher.  The Mets are not a good team.  Glad we won, so happy to have Lewis and nice to see Stevenson getting a reward for a good season in St Paul.  

Question - Winder is now the Cole Sands.  Let's get someone in the pen that we will use.  Same with Floro. 

You do know that Miami waived Lopez  who we sent over  for floro  , Lopez resigned  with Baltimore  ...

Twins should do the same with floro and waiver him and bring up ober when ready  ...

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