Make it Official! Twins 17, Rockies 9: Twins Punish Rockies

[Ted Schwerzler]

The Minnesota Twins needed a victory on Wednesday against the Colorado Rockies if they were going to take a series win against one of baseball's worst teams. It was a slow start, but Rocco Baldelli's squad started scoring and kept it going for a blowout victory.

Image courtesy of © Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Box Score
SP: Pablo Lopez 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 K (91 pitches, 60 strikes, 14 whiffs)
Home Runs: Willi Castro (5), Royce Lewis (5)
Top 3 WPA: Carlos Santana (.195), Jhoan Duran (.153), Carlos Correa (.097)

Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)

Round Goes the Carousel
Pablo Lopez gave up a first inning run to the Colorado Rockies, but his teammates had his back in short order. Facing former St. Louis Cardinals lefty Austin Gomber, Rocco Baldelli’s right-handed-heavy lineup went to work. Manuel Margot, Carlos Correa, and Royce Lewis singled in succession to load the bases. Jose Miranda couldn’t hold up on a check swing, but Byron Buxton singled to left field and drove in the tying run. Carlos Santana then crushed a ball high off the right-center field wall, clearing the bases, and he advanced to third base on the throw. Minnesota’s early deficit had quickly turned into a 4-1 lead.

Kyle Farner stepped in, needing to keep producing, and his single back up the middle scored Santana to make it 5-1. Unfortunately Gomber picked him off of first base due to some bad instincts, but the Twins had done their damage. Forcing Gomber to throw 36 first inning pitches, Minnesota was in a great spot.

Rockies Claw, Twins Answer
Ryan McMahon got Lopez for a solo shot in the fourth inning to make it a 5-2 game, but the Twins weren’t content with a three run lead. Willi Castro launched his fifth homer of the season to open the fourth inning, and a Margot double scored Vazquez. Correa then singled home the outfielder and Minnesota led by six, up 8-2.

Jacob Stallings grabbed a run back for the Rockies in the sixth inning, but Lewis had some firepower ready to unleash. His fifth home run of the season scored Correa and made it a 10-3 game. The home run master just continues to bash big flies. Brenton Doyle singled home Adael Amador and Charlie Blackmon to halve the lead, and then the rains came.

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A Slight Delay
After the Rockies completed the top half of the seventh inning, the Twins rushed out the tarp and put a delay on the contest. A delay of about 30 minutes slowed the contest, but both teams returned to sunny skies. Reliever Caleb Thielbar took over in the eighth inning, and he had some depressing thoughts following his outing on Tuesday night.

Continuing to put up terrible results, the lefty walked McMahon to start the frame before giving up a double to Stallings. Michael Toglia then walked before Jake Cave got to first on an error that scored a pair and made it a 10-7 game. Jhoan Duran took over with runners on the corners and no outs. He walked Elehuris Montero on five pitches to load the bases and Minnesota was clearly in trouble.

A double play from Amador scored a run, but allowed Minnesota a chance to close out the inning. Facing Blackmon, Duran tried to push 99 mph past him, but a curveball induced a pop out to Miranda at third, ending the frame.

Miranda cashed in a Correa single and Lewis double to score a pair on his 12th double of the year. Pushing the Twins lead to 12-8, Minnesota had some serious breathing room late against Colorado. Buxton followed with a walk putting runners on first and second before Santana singled home Miranda. Farmer followed with a single to score Buxton, and Vazquez plated Santana and Farmer with a double of his own. Kepler lifted a sacrifice fly to drive in Castro and make it 17-8.

Recently promoted Jay Jackson came on for the ninth inning. He struck out Greg Jones before allowing an Alan Trejo single. Hunter Goodman then punched out before Stallings doubled home Trejo. Jackson got Toglia on strikes to end the game and Minnesota won 17-9.  Correa recorded a career-high five hits, an Lewis, Santana, Farmer, and Castro each had a trio of their own.

Notes
The Twins made a couple of moves, with Louie Varland being optioned as expected. Grabbing another bullpen arm, Minnesota selected the contract of recently DFA’d Jay Jackson. In the process, they also designated Diego Castillo.

Royce Lewis has already begun to incorporate new City Connect colors into his regular routine.

What’s Next? 
With the Oakland Athletics coming to town, Joe Ryan will kick off the series on Thursday. Friday night’s game includes the on-field debut of Minnesota’s City Connect uniform as well as a postgame Flo Rida concert.

Postgame Interviews

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

View full article

[BH67]

After 353 pitches and a rain delay, the Twins have a one-game winning streak. Eight Twins had at least three total bases.

Meanwhile, the June Absurdity intensified today…since June 1:

Margot, 1.268 OPS (22 PA)
Vázquez, 1.072 OPS (20 PA)
Jeffers, .258 OPS (28 PA)
 

[Schmoeman5]

So according to the probable win chart. The Twins went from nearly 100% down to around 65% after Thielbar pitched to 4 batters. He needs to get his confidence back. Twins need him out of the pen 1st in their next game. Absolutely 💯%

[mnfireman]

16 minutes ago, Schmoeman5 said:

So according to the probable win chart. The Twins went from nearly 100% down to around 65% after Thielbar pitched to 4 batters. He needs to get his confidence back. Twins need him out of the pen 1st in their next game. Absolutely 💯%

There is no way he pitches 3 days in a row, especially after throwing 40 pitches between yesterday and today.

[JD-TWINS]

ELEVEN hits from our 6-9 hitters today - that usually works out well!!

Lopez looked a bit disinterested today. Maybe he just knew he had their number?

Thielbar (I had stopped watching at 10-3) sounds like from comments and box score here, was not exactly sharp for a second straight day. Walk last night - walk today……that’s something he can’t get away with, unscathed. I had him possibly getting DFA’d this morning  - definitely demoted to the “8th spot in pen” and looks like he reinforced those thoughts.

Jay Jackson is back - gotta get some miles out of him if they’re going to pay him regardless, I guess?

Saw a couple rollers Correa hit today to get to his 5 hit day - pretty fortunate but that’s OK, we’ll/he’ll take it for sure!

An aside……after Tuesday night, how long before the Wallner (or anybody) for Kirilloff exchange is made? ALWAYS have been a supporter of Alex but he looked absolutely feeble at the plate on Tuesday and he’s hovering at .200, plus a bit. Needs a change of scenery and fans/Team needs to see a different LH hitting guy in LF!

[Karbo]

Thielbar should go on the IL. Something must be wrong or maybe father time is calling? Is getting old a reason to go on the IL?

[arby58]

I've been a pretty constant believer in Santana this year. In his last 10 games, he is 12 for 35 with 11 RBI. He's second on the team in HRs, RBIs and total bases and is solid defensively.

[SwainZag]

28 minutes ago, Karbo said:

Thielbar should go on the IL. Something must be wrong or maybe father time is calling? Is getting old a reason to go on the IL?

Maybe both?  Wouldn't be shocked at all to see him hit the IL.  

[SotaSports in NM]

Was hoping I'd see Correa gets his 6th hit there in the 8th. Don't think I've ever seen that happen live. Correa and Lewis are a great 1-2 punch.

Definitely looked like Jackson has his slider back. Perhaps I'll eat my words that it was too soon to bring him back up.

Feel bad for Thielbar, but I don't think it's DFA time just yet. Though I do think Fundy can step in.

[KirbyDome89]

4 minutes ago, SotaSports in NM said:

Definitely looked like Jackson has his slider back.

If by "back," you mean the slider he hung middle/middle for a ground rule double then yeah, it's certainly back. 

[SotaSports in NM]

5 minutes ago, KirbyDome89 said:

If by "back," you mean the slider he hung middle/middle for a ground rule double then yeah, it's certainly back. 

Did you see the movement on it? That pitch was a location issue. So I guess it'd be more accurate to say he has the slider movement back and it's not as one dimensional as it previously was.

[h2oface]

1 hour ago, Schmoeman5 said:

The Twins went from nearly 100% down to around 65% after Thielbar pitched to 4 batters.  Twins need him out of the pen ....... Absolutely 💯%

Took some liberties.. 😇 I totally agree, now.

[KirbyDome89]

24 minutes ago, SotaSports in NM said:

Did you see the movement on it? That pitch was a location issue. So I guess it'd be more accurate to say he has the slider movement back and it's not as one dimensional as it previously was.

Location is certainly part of the problem, but the movement on his slider this year is the worst it has been at any point in his career. Not counting the game today hitters have a .569 slugging % against that pitch. So yeah, it (the slider) is back, but Jackson looked like the same guy who was DFA'd a few weeks ago. 

[Doctor Gast]

Varland's start was overdue but happy it'll help the rotation. Thielbar should be DFAed, IMO he'd pass through. He might voluntarily go down. When was the last time Twins scored 17 runs?

[mikelink45]

What a joke - these are the Rockies.  Fun victories, but don't make a lot of assumptions based on this game

[Vanimal46]

2 hours ago, Karbo said:

Thielbar should go on the IL. Something must be wrong or maybe father time is calling? Is getting old a reason to go on the IL?

It always sucks to witness it happening in real time. He’s 37 with a crazy MLB story. He’s left handed and breathing so maybe we can trade him for something in July. Falvine pulled off one miracle before when they traded JA Happ for a breathing person. Maybe it can happen again. 

[Schmoeman5]

50 minutes ago, h2oface said:

Took some liberties.. 😇 I totally agree, now.

Thank you. Much better. 

[h2oface]

Great to see the guys hit, today. I will really love it when they do it consistently in close games. 

Can't have too much positivity. 😇 The pitching was horrible.  5-1 to 10-8 after 7. You could think this was a blowout by the final score. Bye bye Caleb. Every pitcher gave up at least one run. You say Duran didn't? Well, inherited runners scored count in my book. (Although Vazquez throwing into centerfield and Correa's boot costing a couple of runs didn't help) 9 runs on the pitching staff. Easy to not pay attention to the need to address when your offense piles on 17 in the rare offensive stat padding burst. But a great day for fans at Target. They deserve it.

After Gomber gave up 11 hits and 8 earned in 3 innings, his season ERA is still a run better than Pablo Day Lopez, at .4.26, playing for the Rockies. Maybe he's an ace, too 😵

[tony&rodney]

Thielbar will be fine. He just needs to relax, have a few Surly's, and get back on track.

[D.C Twins]

Royce F-ing Lewis needs to be playing Every F-ing Day!!!!

Conversely, Thielbar needs to go to IL or AAA 

[tarheeltwinsfan]

2 hours ago, mikelink45 said:

What a joke - these are the Rockies.  Fun victories, but don't make a lot of assumptions based on this game

A win is a win, no matter who the opponent  may be.

[Guest]

Kiriloff needs a reset badly.  Started so strong, but just looks lost and it's a darned shame because his hit tool profiles as one of the best FO draft selections this century.  Would suspect injury but he hit a couple of big homers last week.  Chuck the beard and start over....

[David HK]

5 hours ago, Karbo said:

Thielbar should go on the IL. Something must be wrong or maybe father time is calling? Is getting old a reason to go on the IL?

It is for me.  Trouble is, at my job, there is no 10-day IL.  🫤

[JD-TWINS]

2 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

It always sucks to witness it happening in real time. He’s 37 with a crazy MLB story. He’s left handed and breathing so maybe we can trade him for something in July. Falvine pulled off one miracle before when they traded JA Happ for a breathing person. Maybe it can happen again. 

Not sure if they want to maintain control long enough to try & move him in July? I think he gets another shot to contribute but either up big, once again, or down big. No high leverage situation anytime soon.

[David HK]

Thoughts:  While it's a kick to put up a Vikings/ Broncos score today, this series should have been a sweep, and that's totally on Rocco.  No way we should have given away that game yesterday.

I'm up for a Keirsey/ Kiriloff swap.  He can play OF a hell of a lot better than Alex, and Miranda can spell at 1B.  Wallner has shown signs of regaining consciousness, but he needs to keep producing for a spell before I'd throw him back to the MLB pitchers/wolves. 

"Recently promoted Jay Jackson..."  Why?

Thielbar-  needs an IL rest, or a rehab in AAA.  

Sidebar:  haven't been noticing- is that Gd sausage still around, and if so, it's way past its cutesy-thing date.  

[bean5302]

Thielbar looks cooked to me. He just doesn't have it, and he hasn't had it for a while. Looking at reliever ERA isn't great because the inherited base runners allowed to score isn't part of their ERA. Thielbar's FIP looks real rough for over a month now, and it was only serviceable before that. His xFIP has been bad all year.

Rocking a 2.04 WHIP on the season after today due to hitters , that puts him as the 3rd worst in all MLB among relievers with 15+ innings. He's in the bottom 25-35% for a whole host of numbers on BaseballSavant as well so it's not like it's all luck, either.

[David HK]

4 hours ago, Doctor Gast said:

Varland's start was overdue but happy it'll help the rotation. Thielbar should be DFAed, IMO he'd pass through. He might voluntarily go down. When was the last time Twins scored 17 runs?

Heck, when's the last time the VIKINGS scored 17?  🤔

[bean5302]

2 minutes ago, David HK said:

Thoughts:  While it's a kick to put up a Vikings/ Broncos score today, this series should have been a sweep, and that's totally on Rocco.  No way we should have given away that game yesterday.

I'm up for a Keirsey/ Kiriloff swap.  He can play OF a hell of a lot better than Alex, and Miranda can spell at 1B.  Wallner has shown signs of regaining consciousness, but he needs to keep producing for a spell before I'd throw him back to the MLB pitchers/wolves. 

"Recently promoted Jay Jackson..."  Why?

Thielbar-  needs an IL rest, or a rehab in AAA.  

Sidebar:  haven't been noticing- is that Gd sausage still around, and if so, it's way past its cutesy-thing date.  

The Phantom IL is not going to happen with Thielbar. This is especially the case with a front office who'd be easy to suspend considering their Lame Duck contract status situation.

Aside from that, AAA is not a magical cure all or fountain of youth which fixes career twilight pitchers like Jay Jackson and Caleb Thielbar.

[FlyingFinn]

1 hour ago, David HK said:

I'm up for a Keirsey/ Kiriloff swap.

Nope. Keirsey is still injured. Hasn't played a game all month and could down for weeks.

[DJL44]

9 hours ago, bean5302 said:

Thielbar looks cooked to me. He just doesn't have it, and he hasn't had it for a while. Looking at reliever ERA isn't great because the inherited base runners allowed to score isn't part of their ERA. Thielbar's FIP looks real rough for over a month now, and it was only serviceable before that. His xFIP has been bad all year.

Rocking a 2.04 WHIP on the season after today due to hitters , that puts him as the 3rd worst in all MLB among relievers with 15+ innings. He's in the bottom 25-35% for a whole host of numbers on BaseballSavant as well so it's not like it's all luck, either.

He admitted that the rise on his fastball is gone. Without that movement it is very hittable. 

Caleb Thielbar struggles in loss to Rockies (mlb.com)

Quote

“The velo is better, but the movement is terrible,” Thielbar said.

It's a very good article. The Twins and Thielbar know exactly what is wrong. He's very aware that he needs to fix the problem or his career may be over. The question I have is why the Twins keep running him out there when his stuff is broken. He is not a pitcher they should be using in a tie game.

I think the problem is fixable but it may not happen this month or even this season. He is healthy and lefthanded which means he will keep getting chances.