Red Sox 9, Twins 2: Streak Ends Amid Physical and Mental Mistakes

[Peter]

Streak had to end at some point. Taking 2 of 3 against Red Sox is huge. Interested seeing how twins respond after loss. It’s all about winning series and twins are doing that as they are in 2nd place back in division race. 

[hitterscount]

Hard to believe a 12 game winning streak from late April thru early May gets you to a tie for second and still 2.5 gmes back. They did what was needed , beating some mediocre to really bad teams. Some good competition coming up, lets play .500 ball, hit or at least drive-in a run with the bases loaded and zero outs, play solid defense. Lewis cannot get back soon enough.

[Whitey333]

Blaming Angel Hernandez for the loss is just whining, pure and simple.  I will agree he may be the worst umpire ever.  He certainly is the past several seasons.  But to blame the loss on that stiff is a huge stretch.  Although frustrating good major league pitchers are able to get over it.  I'm sure the strike calls he gets on pitches that were balls don't affect him nor should they.  

One question I have is regarding Margot.  It's a good day to pick on him.  What is his batting average when specifically batting for Kiriloff?  It must be awful.  I understand the lefty/ lefty thing but how is Kuriloff going to get any better hitting against lefties if he isn't given the opportunity?  I realize AK is slumping now but so are many other Twins.  Margot isn't the answer in my opinion.  Let AK bat against lefties.  He can't do much worse than the pinch hitter they send up there for him.  

[bighat]

This is the second game in a row where the Twins have had the bases loaded or runners on 2nd & 3rd with nobody out and failed to score. 

To manage not to score in either situation is extremely rare, to do so in back-to-back games suggests a pattern. Heck even scoring just ONE run in such situations is considered a failure.

CBS Sports reports say that Royce Lewis could come back at the end of May. Knowing the Twins, that means June 15th but whatever. More Royce updates, please! 

[JD-TWINS]

16 hours ago, mnfireman said:

2 of 3 against Boston is a good weekend. That being said, the team lost today due to known weak spots that couldn't be overcome.

- Ryan pitched well, but "lost it" for a couple pitches and it cost him.

- Julien watching hittable/spoilable pitches for strike 3.

- Miranda. He was horrible in all aspects of the game today.

- Margot - see Miranda.

- Santana hit well today, but made what should have been scored his second error this week.

The team's approach at the plate is terrible - inexcusable to not score with bases loaded and zero outs, not advancing runners, some guys watch too many hittable pitches, and others swing at unhittable pitches.

The defensive problems that had been overcome throughout the winning streak finally caught up to them - I've seen players DFA'd after games like Margot had today, and today's game wasn't a blip on an otherwise solid year for him.

The bullpen threw too many hittable pitches, turning a close game into a relatively easy win for Boston.

And, as seems to happen more often than not, Rocco's decisions didn't play out well while the opposing managers did.

All is not lost, but with Seattle and Toronto up next with no off day until a week from tomorrow, things need to tighten up on the fly.

 

I completely agree on Santana’s lack of catching a reasonable throw to first from Ryan. Lead to first run.

Ryan not leveling out mentally cost him BIG time with the 2 run homer. Up 1-2 in the count after walking a guy and he misses with 2 fastballs & then grooves one f oh r the 2 run homer ……lack of composure was a bummer.

Julien has this arrogance about him & the TAKES on 3rd strikes doesn’t help! Is he guessing or just think he can take pitches that may be an inch out of the zone??? Fight off the pitch - gotta swing the bat with 2 strikes on pitches that are IN the zone. Come on!!!

Miranda’s potential tumble to .220 scares me big time. He just does not look polished at all.

Margot needs to contribute to 2-3 wins in the next couple weeks or he may be released by early June. ……..Kiersey/Martin can contribute at the .225 BA level and play better OF - maybe steal a base. Margot looks like he’s older than Santana & he’s 29!

[David Maro]

They played 12 games of baseball and then decided to play homerun again.This one was over after the 2nd inning.With bases loaded you have to put the ball in play not strike out.It is time for the FO and Rocco to release Margot,he is this years Gallo.How do you swing at the first pitch you see coming off the bench.Then make matters worse with the stone glove in the outfield.

[CCHOF5yearstoolate]

12 hours ago, Linus said:

Blaming Angel is incredibly weak. I didn’t see the pitch you are referring to but I saw innings 2-7 and it was one of the better games I’ve seen this year year. He literally didn’t miss a pitch. 

Angel was not the reason the Twins lost, but he was not good. 

 

[Fat Calvin]

16 hours ago, Patzky said:

Note to Margot and  selves.. Wallner has flipped the proverbial switch in St Paul again. Too soon?  

Not too soon, imo.

[joefish]

18 hours ago, Patzky said:

Really.. bases loaded nobody out.. was the game there and a flashback to darker days. 

 

Was a nice run though. Now.. Hip Hip!

...Jorge?

[Patzky]

Yes he will be warmly received. As was Urshela.