Twins 9, Angels 3: Twins' Bats Bring the Rain, Get Back to Their Winning Ways

[Steven Trefz]

The Twins were locked into a dogfight on Sunday afternoon with the Angels, until the skies opened up and stopped the game. When the seventh inning resumed the Twins' bats unleashed five unanswered runs to seal the victory. Here's how the series winner transpired.

Image courtesy of Matt Blewett - USA Today

Box Score:
Starting Pitcher: Joe Ryan 6 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 10 K (91 pitches, 64 Strikes, 70%)
Home Runs: Jorge Polanco (14), Max Kepler (23), Ryan Jeffers (12)
Top 3 WPA: Jeffers (.216), Trevor Larnach (.150), Matt Wallner (.137)
Win Probability Chart (Via Fangraphs):

The Twins entered Sunday afternoon's final matchup with the Angels with a major league lineup, and a quality starter on the mound. After Saturday's hangover game, the time to get the positive momentum flowing again was now. Joe Ryan pitched good enough for the win, the offense delivered just enough for the win, and the Twins

Young Lefties for the Lead
Angels opener Andrew Wantz came into today's contest with a 2.53 ERA in September. He encountered Alex Kirilloff (single), Matt Wallner (walk), and Trevor Larnach (RBI single) but limited the damage to a 1-0 Twins lead. Ryan offered the lead right back in the top of the third when Brandon Drury laced a two-out double that plated two Angels to make the score 2-1.

Old Lefty for the Tie
The Angels lead was short-lived, however, because Jorge Polanco was back in the lineup, and he likes to get clutch hits. Twins fans like it when he gets clutch hits too.

Trading Runs
Ryan failed to hold the lead yet again when a Randal Grichuk sent a fly ball one inch further than Larnach could travel for a double. Zach Neto followed immediately with another double to push the Angels back into the lead. Ryan completed his six innings without allowing any more runs to cross, and finished the day with a quality start and 10 strikeouts as he continues to make a case for a spot on the playoff rotation.

Unlike on Saturday, the Twins offense came alive in support of their starting pitcher in time to get him the win. Ryan Jeffers crushed a triple to center field, scoring Wallner. With only one out, Larnach had a variety of options for plating Jeffers. He chose the ground out to first base method, and just like that the Twins had regained a 4-3 advantage.

Rain Rain Go Away...or Stay Long Enough So That We Win!
The game was suspended in the top of the seventh inning as the rain began to pour down upon Target Field. Chris Paddack was warmed up to make his season debut (after missing 16 months following Tommy John surgery), but Louie Varland got the spot instead after the delay. The rain went away, but the Twins offense definitely was around to stay. After a leadoff Edouard Julien walk, Max Kepler came up to the plate with visions of hitting the ball a long way. He succeeded, and it was 6-3 Twins.

The bottom of the seventh continued, and the usual suspects were involved. Wallner doubled, Kyle Farmer stayed hot with an RBI single, and then Jeffers hit another rocket that went a little bit higher than the last one. 9-3 Twins, and the rout was on. Game, set, match...to the AL Central Champions.

What’s Next: Operation Playoff Prep-Work continues on Tuesday evening, with Twins RHP Kenta Maeda (6-7, 4.28 ERA) getting the start against the Oakland A's and a pitcher or four to be named later. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40pm CT at Target Field.

Postgame Interviews:

 

Bullpen Usage Chart:

	WED	THU	FRI	SAT	SUN	TOT
Winder	29	0	0	35	0	64
Durán	21	0	34	0	0	55
Funderburk	0	0	0	0	27	27
Varland	0	0	11	0	15	26
Thielbar	0	0	20	0	0	20
Floro	0	0	0	1	17	18
Jax	17	0	0	0	0	17
Pagán	0	0	0	10	0	10
Paddock	0	0	0	0	0	0
Keuchel	0	0	0	0	0	0

 

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[rwilfong86]

Varland looked good out of the 'pen, Funderburk.. ehh not so much. Good win though. 

[Blyleven2011]

Good game today  , the Twins put the wood to the ball and only struck out 4 times in the game ...

Kepler was 0-9 coming into today's game  and had 2 hits , Jeffers hit as well , nice to see him finally showing he can hit consistently  , polanco the veteran did his part ...

The 3 mentioned players above had something in common  today , they each hit homeruns  ...

ryan gave us 6 good innings and struck out 10 while the bullpen got 6 more strikeouts  for a total of 16  , good game by the staff , would have been nice to see paddack get into the game but rain interupted his chance after he warmed up to come into the game  but the rains came and he was cooled down by the time the rains quit , hopefully against Oakland we can see paddack  get his 2023 season going ...

Would be nice for the team to win the last 6 games against Oakland and rockies  ...

[stringer bell]

They haven’t had a longer winning streak than 5 and never won 9 of 10 this season., but they are playing poor teams eliminated this year. 

[LastOnePicked]

Sure, a few more wins like this are nice, but if I were the manager, I would be sooo tempted to wrap like 3/4 of this roster in bubble wrap for the next week and just put some fringe players on the field. Maybe even invite a few fans to play.

 

[stringer bell]

Given Rocco ‘s experience with the Twins (too many injured guys, some trying to play), that might be tempting. 

[Melissa]

5 hours ago, LastOnePicked said:

Sure, a few more wins like this are nice, but if I were the manager, I would be sooo tempted to wrap like 3/4 of this roster in bubble wrap for the next week and just put some fringe players on the field. Maybe even invite a few fans to play.

 

We were at the game today, and it was so fun! I’m glad we didn’t have “fringe players” instead of (mostly) regulars. Save that for that final series in Denver next weekend!

Joe Ryan looked sharp. His fielders let him down - Polanco snagged a sharp grounder down the line in the 3rd, but his throw to second hit the dirt ten feet or more away and we didn’t get the double play. Angels scored in the next at bat.

The “double” he gave up the next time (5th inning, I think) should have been caught by Larnach, or so it looked from row 21 in section 108, and then for some reason Trevor threw to third and let the batter reach second - leading to another “earned” run charged to Joe.

Still, Jorge otherwise looked pretty good at that unfamiliar position. I wonder if we’re getting a preview of the playoff lineup? Trevor seemed not quite up to snuff, so let’s hope he finds something.

 

[stringer bell]

Polanco got the out and they weren’t going to turn two. Larnach threw toward third, but the runner didn’t take second. The following double off the top of his glove scored two runs, including the guy on first. 

[Doctor Wu]

I've been down on Ryan recently, but that was a very good game for him. I was leaning towards Maeda as the third starter in the playoffs, and that still may be my preference, but Ryan looked sharp in this game. Very encouraging. 

[madtowntwin]

On the concept of "Bringing Rain".....Atlanta presently sits at 288 Home Runs - Is the Twins season record of 307 safe with a half dozen games to go and the Braves probably resting players?? Also - Will Josh Donaldson make the Brewer's playoff roster? My mind wanders....Win Twins!

[Fat Calvin]

2 hours ago, madtowntwin said:

On the concept of "Bringing Rain".....Atlanta presently sits at 288 Home Runs - Is the Twins season record of 307 safe with a half dozen games to go and the Braves probably resting players?? Also - Will Josh Donaldson make the Brewer's playoff roster? My mind wanders....Win Twins!

Thanks for the post.  Now I'll have something new to check on in the next week: Atlanta's home run total.  I'm hoping they'll tie the Yanks for second at 306.

As for Donaldson, I'm pulling for him.  I always liked the guy.  It'd be cool to see him tearing it up in the playoffs--even if it's for the Brewers.