Make It Official! Twins 5, Royals 1: Byron Buxton Doubles Down for Minnesota

[Ted Schwerzler]

It was a somber start to the second game of the season with the Minnesota Twins providing injury updates on Royce Lewis and Anthony DeSclafani. Austin Martin was promoted to grab a roster spot though, and the club looked for a 2-0 start to the season.

Image courtesy of © Peter Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

Box Score
Joe Ryan: 5 1/3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
Top 3 WPA: Ryan .265, Buxton .257, Castro .232
Win Probability Chart:

Following an Opening Day victory in which Pablo Lopez made his opening statement towards a Cy Young award, the focus of the off day was how Minnesota would handle Royce Lewis. Rocco Baldelli’s third baseman came out of the game following a Carlos Correa double that left him limping. Derek Falvey provided an update pre-game on Saturday and it wasn’t great. While the grade of his quad strain wasn’t noted, the injury is significant and Lewis will be shut down for at least the next month.

Similarly to Lewis, and update was provided on pitcher Anthony DeSclafani. He has been slowed since spring training with an elbow issue, and the only starter acquired this offseason now won’t pitch at all. Jorge Polanco was sent to Seattle with DeSclafani coming back to Minnesota in the package. His litany of injury issues was well noted, and now undergoing season-ending flexor tendon surgery, he can add to the list.

Ultimately the game got going with top prospect Austin Martin in the dugout for his major league debut. Joe Ryan was one the bump to pitch for the first time this season, and the Twins are hoping to see him take his game up another notch. He turned in 5 1/3 innings of solid work. Allowing just three hits, two of which were doubles to Bobby Witt Jr., Ryan also kept the ball in the yard. Lifted for Steven Okert with Witt on second and one out in the 6th inning, the inherited runner came around to score the first tally of the game.

Ryan pushed to 81 pitches on Saturday, and as he has done over the course of his career, piled up strikeouts. With five on the day, he avoided bats while getting just nine whiffs during his outing.

Looking to draw even or take the lead, Minnesota mounted their first real threat in the 7th inning. Newly signed Royals starter Seth Lugo was lifted from the game, and reliever John Schrieber immediately hit Matt Wallner with an errant pitch. Carlos Santana following with a single of his own put runners on the bases. Baldelli took the opportunity to bring in speed, pinch running Martin for Wallner, and the goal was to draw even. After a Ryan Jeffers strikeout, Willi Castro loaded the bases with his own hit by pitch. Unfortunately Christian Vazquez did the one thing the Twins couldn’t afford, and him grounding into a double play killed the rally.

Jorge Alcala made his first appearance of the season for the final two outs of the 7th inning, and Minnesota went back to work trying to even the score. Edouard Julien ripped and opposite field double over the head of M.J. Melendez to start the inning, and Alex Kirilloff pushed him to third. With the Royals infield in, Byron Buxton doubled on a bounce over the head of third baseman Maikel Garcia and the Twins tied things up. Martin was set to step in for his first major league at bat, but with a right-handed pitcher on the mound, Baldelli pulled him back in favor of the veteran Manuel Margot. Whiffing on a 3-2 curveball out of the zone, Margot stranded Buxton as the go ahead run on second base.

Not waiting for the 9th inning or a save situation today, Baldelli turned the ball over to Griffin Jax in the 8th inning. With the best Royals hitters coming to the dish, this looked to be the manager utilizing his best reliever in a spot where the game dictated he was needed most. This type of practice is something we could see more of with Jhoan Duran unavailable to start the year. After walking Witt Jr., the speedy Royals youngster took off. An incredible throw and tag by the Vazquez and Correa tandem cut him down for the second out of the inning, and Jax wrapped up the frame with a Vinnie Pasquantino ground out.

The Royals turned to their closer for the 9th inning of the tie game. Will Smith got Santana to start the inning, but then made Ryan Jeffers the fourth hit batter of the game. Walking Willi Castro in the next plate appearance, Minnesota had runners on first and second with Vazquez stepping in. Atoning for the earlier double play, Vazquez lined a single into the outfield grass scoring Jeffers from second. Kyle Farmer then became the last bench player to enter the game, pinch hitting for Julien, and immediately took a 90 foot jog to first after the intentional walk. Kirilloff stepped in with the bases loaded and one out looking to expand upon their 2-1 lead. His sacrifice fly was deep enough to score Castro, and double Minnesota's lead.

Minnesota continued to play an aggressive game and clearly weren't satisfied with the two-run lead. Farmer took 90 feet from Smith, and Buxton then grabbed his second double of the contest. Bringing home both Vazquez and Farmer, the Twins had completed a four-run 9th inning and made it a 5-1 game. Both Brock Stewart and Jay Jackson were up in the bullpen, and despite not being a save situation, Baldelli went with the former. He got Salvador Perez swinging to start the frame and although Melendez singled in the next plate appearance, the runner wasn't enough to take away Stewart's focus. He punched out both Hunter Renfroe and Garratt Hampson to end the game and give Minnesota their first series win of the season.

On a day that started sad, the Twins watched their star centerfielder lead the offense. Buxton finished 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and three runs batted. Health is something that has escaped him as well, but starting the year in Kansas City has been nothing but excitement for the former All-Star.

We have seen Baldelli mix and match for the duration of his managerial career, and that has been fully on display to start this season. Not only have the Twins employed platoon lineups, but Saturday saw the outfield constantly in flux with five different players shuffling through the three positions.

Postgame Interviews

 

 

Bullpen Usage

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[USAFChief]

Can't understand pinch running for Wallner in that situation. 

Leave the better hitter in the game.

But...nice rally and win.

 

[UK Twin]

A quiet season debut for Buck on Thursday, two huge (and completely different) doubles today. First one was almost the most encouraging in how he turned a single into a double with his speed. Early days but he looks good. 

Shout out to Vazquez too who came through in a big way after the rally killing double play with the bases loaded in the 7th. 

Ryan very good. His splitter was particularly effective. Correa unfortunate to go hitless after a great play by Melendez in LF. But another great defensive play to be able to tag Witt out going for 2nd after the throw put him somewhat in the firing line!

[jorgenswest]

Vazquez was great in the bottom of the 8th. Getting a called strike 3 on the lead off hitter topped by throwing out Witt. Then he wins it in the 9th with the bat. Wow!

[Mydaughterhastwins]

Such fun watching winning baseball, however had to watch the Royals feed cause apparently Fox Sports North blew a quad. Volume down.  Good guys win!

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

You have a healthy buck it changes the dynamic of this team.  Disappointing on Lewis but he will heal.  Get through the next couple weeks.  See if Correa and buck can lead you.  Sweeping the Royals would be a nice start.  

[wabene]

41 minutes ago, jorgenswest said:

Vazquez was great in the bottom of the 8th. Getting a called strike 3 on the lead off hitter topped by throwing out Witt. Then he wins it in the 9th with the bat. Wow!

It's the 7lbs.

[Melissa]

This new tradition of pouring it on in the  9th inning is pretty exciting! Go Twins!

[jkcarew]

Love watching Ryan pitch. Just keep keeping the fly balls in the park.

[Linus]

Great game by Buck obviously.  Kiriloff getting a sac fly against a lefty was huge. Correas tag on Witt was amazing. Not a good throw from Vázquez but Carlos saved it. Let’s blow them out tomorrow because Jax and Stewart won’t be available. 

[ashbury]

27 minutes ago, Melissa said:

This new tradition of pouring it on in the  9th inning is pretty exciting! Go Twins!

It's a long season.  Would be fun if that became their trademark.

[RpR]

14 minutes ago, Linus said:

Great game by Buck obviously.  Kiriloff getting a sac fly against a lefty was huge. Correas tag on Witt was amazing. Not a good throw from Vázquez but Carlos saved it. Let’s blow them out tomorrow because Jax and Stewart won’t be available. 

Where Vazquez threw it is the only reason they got him.

Correa knew exactly what to do.

[Linus]

5 minutes ago, RpR said:

Where Vazquez threw it is the only reason they got him.

Correa knew exactly what to do.

Ok. So catchers don’t aim for the bag?  The throw was six feet off target. The only reason they got him was a great play by Correa. Your love of vets is clouding your judgement. 

[Paul Walerius]

16 minutes ago, RpR said:

Where Vazquez threw it is the only reason they got him.

Correa knew exactly what to do.

I agree.  If that throw was at the base Witt beats it.   Not to mention it was right on Witt.   Correa just had to catch it and his glove was on him.  

 

 

[Squirrel]

33 minutes ago, Linus said:

Not a good throw from Vázquez but Carlos saved it

Have to disagree. That was the only place to throw it to get him. Further up the line toward 2nd and I think Witt gets the steal

[Ted Schwerzler]

2 hours ago, USAFChief said:

Can't understand pinch running for Wallner in that situation. 

Leave the better hitter in the game.

But...nice rally and win.

 

Martin’s speed plays, but I get it. I think the weirder thing was pinch hitting Margot.

[strumdatjag]

Vasquez came up big today.  In other words:  Chris(tian) Slapped that Rock thrown by Will Smith without making any comments about a sequel to “G.I. Jane.”  And count me in the “impressed” group on his throw nabbing Witt Jr. 

[AlwaysinModeration]

40 minutes ago, Linus said:

Ok. So catchers don’t aim for the bag?  The throw was six feet off target. The only reason they got him was a great play by Correa. Your love of vets is clouding your judgement. 

I think the shortest distance to the runner is to the right of the bag where the SS can tag the runner on the body. The throw and the tag were both exceptional.

[Linus]

34 minutes ago, Paul Walerius said:

I agree.  If that throw was at the base Witt beats it.   Not to mention it was right on Witt.   Correa just had to catch it and his glove was on him.  

 

 

Correa had to fully lay out to catch the ball. No way Vasquez is aiming there.

[FlyingFinn]

Julien just gets things going. When he gets on, things happen. Everyone else covered the other good points.

[RpR]

1 hour ago, Linus said:

Ok. So catchers don’t aim for the bag?  The throw was six feet off target. The only reason they got him was a great play by Correa. Your love of vets is clouding your judgement. 

The game announcer at the MLB clip said it was a good throw,.

I' m rubber , you're glue....

[ashbury]

I guess Correa was caught napping on that stealing attempt, because he's out of position waiting for Vazquez's perfect throw destined to arrive several feet to the side of second base after tailing a bit at the end.  Kangaroo Kourt will probably fine him.

[HerbieFan]

Huge ABs from Julien and Kiriloff.  Great work by the bullpen.  On Desclafini...he was basically a throw in to make money work.  That trade was for Topa and the Mariners' #4(5?) prospect.

[AlwaysinModeration]

34 minutes ago, ashbury said:

I guess Correa was caught napping on that stealing attempt, because he's out of position waiting for Vazquez's perfect throw destined to arrive several feet to the side of second base after tailing a bit at the end.  Kangaroo Kourt will probably fine him.

Correa is perfectly positioned to catch any ball that is at the bag or to the right of the bag (his left).

Catchers aim to have the ball be caught just to the right of the bag so that the SS can drop the tag down right in front of the bag as the runner slides in. They don’t have perfect aim, so aiming to the right of the bag also gives them margin for error in either direction.

Correa is set up so that he can catch anything to his left.  If he set up initially towards the first base side, he wouldn’t be able to get a runner out if the ball was to his right/at the bag, because he’d have to reach back to catch it; he’d be twisted around.

I didn’t say the throw was perfect, I said it was a shorter distance from home to the body of a sliding runner than from home all the way to the bag.  And Correa made a helluva a play to catch it and apply the tag.

 

[nicksaviking]

Tomorrow's shaping up for the more questionable bullpen arms to get some innings. Can't wait!

Funny, I typed that as snark, but I am actually looking forward to seeing these new guys.

[wabene]

Yeah I don't think I would've used Stewart there. Save him for the finale.

Kirilloff quietly had himself a game. The bat looks good, stay healthy, man.

[ashbury]

1 hour ago, AlwaysinModeration said:

Correa is perfectly positioned to catch any ball that is at the bag or to the right of the bag (his left).

Catchers aim to have the ball be caught just to the right of the bag so that the SS can drop the tag down right in front of the bag as the runner slides in. They don’t have perfect aim, so aiming to the right of the bag also gives them margin for error in either direction.

Correa is set up so that he can catch anything to his left.  If he set up initially towards the first base side, he wouldn’t be able to get a runner out if the ball was to his right/at the bag, because he’d have to reach back to catch it; he’d be twisted around.

I didn’t say the throw was perfect, I said it was a shorter distance from home to the body of a sliding runner than from home all the way to the bag.  And Correa made a helluva a play to catch it and apply the tag.

 

Satire is apparently lost at this site unless it's labeled as such.

So here's more satire. If you want the absolute shortest distance from home to the body of the runner, then throw to first base, as long as the runner is slow enough.

Here's the not-satire part.

1. Correa is an excellent shortstop.   I presume the position he's shown in the screen grab is not accidental.  The 2023 change in rules about infield shifts affects the logic just slightly, but when a steal attempt is developing there is some time after the pitcher releases the ball to pick the desired location to receive the throw from home.  The ball in that screen grab is already partway to its destination. and Correa hasn't begun his lunge.  If the location the ball actually arrived at was optimal, wouldn't Correa have been set up differently?
2. The ball thrown by the catcher goes at a far higher velocity than a human can run. So the distance being a few inches shorter,, thrown a few feet toward the first base side, does not make up for the speed differential of throwing to where the runner must eventually arrive in order to steal the base.  The little joke, above, about throwing to first if you want to minimize the distance, is just to help visualize that the shortness of the throw does you no good if the runner is already past that point.  Throw to the optimal corner of the base, at 80+ MPH, and you'll beat the runner much more easily than throwing to a spot the runner will reach sooner., those few feet closer to first  A throw at the same speed Vazquez threw, but to the spot that Correa clearly was setting up for, has the runner sliding hand-first into the glove that's safely holding the ball, with much less drama.
3. You're certainly correct that no catcher can throw with pinpoint precision.  And you're right that the infielder taking the throw must be agile.  Vazquez did his job on that play.  Correa, by contrast, went above and beyond his job, and made a play worthy of a Gold Glover.  Greatest play ever by a SS?  No.  But a play that I don't think most infielders can make.  He gave a master class on that tag.
4. My post wasn't in response to any particular other post, and even less so to your first one which was relatively moderate in its praise for Vazquez's throw.

[jmlease1]

Thought Alcala looked pretty good, which was nice. If he's back and throwing well he can be a difference maker in the bullpen.

If Buxton can move like that and stay on the field, I'm going to be one happy Twins fan. He's so fun to watch when he's right, and seeing him leg out doubles that would be singles for most people is awesome.

Thought Ryan looked pretty good. A few nervy fly balls, but the revised slider looked pretty effective and the splitter was working too. Good to see the velocity on the fastball as well. 

KC made a bunch of great plays defensively at 3B and LF, had me wondering if they were going to steal it. nice to see the team rally late.

[UK Twin]

8 hours ago, Linus said:

Ok. So catchers don’t aim for the bag?  The throw was six feet off target. The only reason they got him was a great play by Correa. Your love of vets is clouding your judgement. 

It will depend on the runner and the quality of the SS. Witt is an elite runner and Correa is an elite SS so Vazquez nailed his throw. It required a brilliant tag but Correa (rightly so) backs himself to make those plays. Maybe Vazquez thew more to the right of the bag than he intended but the throw had to go to the right to get Witt. 

[AlwaysinModeration]

1 hour ago, jmlease1 said:

Thought Ryan looked pretty good. A few nervy fly balls, but the revised slider looked pretty effective and the splitter was working too. Good to see the velocity on the fastball as well. 

The tv broadcast team did an excellent job of showing his revised repertoire, with velo comparisons.  He and Lopez went to Driveline in the offseason.