Rays 7, Twins 6: Miranda Blast Sends it to Extras, But Minnesota Comes up Short

[Ted Schwerzler]

The Minnesota Twins needed a strong start from Simeon Woods Richardson today, and Rocco Baldelli got it. Then he turned the game over to his bullpen and a pair of slider-throwing relievers blew up forcing a ninth inning comeback. The lineup was ready for the moment and Jose Miranda stepped up, but extras did them no favors.

Image courtesy of © Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Box Score
SP: Simeon Woods Richardson 6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K (92 pitches, 60 strikes, 12 whiffs)
Home Runs: Royce Lewis (9), Carlos Santana (12), Jose Miranda (8)
Bottom 3 WPA: Carlos Correa (-.395), Steven Okert (-.271), Manuel Margot (-.165)

Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)

Carlos Motors Home
The Minnesota Twins needed a good start from Simeon Woods Richardson on Thursday afternoon with Rocco Baldelli’s bullpen a bit taxed. He made it through a scoreless first inning before Josh Lowe and Randy Arozarena traded doubles to score Tampa Bay’s first run. In the bottom of the first inning though, the Twins lost their right fielder. Max Kepler attempted two bunts, getting the second one down, and he slid head first into first base seeking a hit. Leaving the game with neck spasms, Manuel Margot was on with Trevor Larnach shifting to right field.

It might just be Matt Wallner time.

Responding with a quick answer, Carlos Correa singled against Zack Littell to open the Twins half of the second inning, and he put the pedal down on Kyle Farmer’s double to race home and tie the ballgame. The Rays did cash in a run on Alex Jackson’s leadoff double in the third inning, but Minnesota pushed their former hurler Zack Littell to 48 pitches in just the first two innings.

With rain falling at Target Field, the sides needed to stay warm and settle in.

Death, Taxes, and Royce
Minnesota’s lineup turned over in the third inning and it didn’t take long for them to make an impact. With Royce Lewis stepping into the box, the unrelenting home run aficionado did it again. His per plate appearance production remains unfathomable, and would have even Barry Bonds smirking. Ripping a home run to left field, the Twins designated hitter knotted the game at two.

Woods Richardson walked Arozarena with one out, and he swiped second base. The Twins starter worked around the traffic though, and getting Jose Siri on strikes, he wrapped up the inning unscathed. The Twins went scoreless in the fourth inning, and Woods Richardson punched out Brandon Lowe for a zero in the fifth inning.

Okert and Jackson Off Again
Both teams matched zeroes through the sixth and seventh innings, but it was Steven Okert that came on in the eighth inning and couldn’t get the job done. Isaac Paredes singled before being lifted in favor of Richie Palacios . The pinch runner quickly stole second base, and the slop-throwing lefty gave up a double to Amed Rosario making it a 3-2 game. Lifted for another slop-throwing slider reliever in Jay Jackson, Rosario stole third without a throw and Tampa had another threat with two outs. Jackson did freeze Jonny DeLuca on a fastball for strike three.

Willi Castro pinch hit for Trevor Larnach in the bottom of the eighth inning and led off with a single. Jose Miranda flew out on a 3-1 pitch but Lewis worked a walk. Garrett Cleavinger was lifted and Kevin Kelly was called upon to end the Twins threat. He got Margot looking Ryan Jeffers suffered the same fate (albeit on a pitch off the edge). The Twins were going to need to do it in the ninth inning if a win was to be had.

Jackson stayed out for the ninth inning, and his second slider to Siri was sent into the left field seats. Having been designated for assignment previously, it continues to look like the slider specialist just doesn't have it for Minnesota. Walking Alex Jackson, the Twins Jackson watched his changeup get crushed into the bullpen from Yandy Diaz and the Rays took a 6-2 lead. Having allowed three home runs since being recalled, there's little reason for him to wear a Minnesota jersey again. With the game all but out of hand, Caleb Thielbar was on to grab the final two outs.

Brandon Lowe welcomed Thielbar with a double but the lefty got Palacios to roll over a ground out. Taylor Walls struck out and the Twins had a four-run deficit to make up.

Hello, Carlos
Carlos Santana led off the ninth inning against Rays Chris Devenski and he welcomed him with his 12th home run of the season. A potential All-Star, Santana showed life for Minnesota. Byron Buxton then stepped in and ripped his ninth double of the season, and suddenly the Twins were in business. Farmer drew a walk to put Austin Martin up as the tying run, and Pete Fairbanks was called upon to pitch. Having dealt with a thumb contusion following a comebacker on Tuesday night, he was deemed ready to go by Kevin Cash.

 

Martin's groundout put runners on the corners with one out and it was Castro stepping in with a chance to do damage. Fairbanks got the Twins utility man to whiff on a bunch of benders, and while Martin stole second base, Minnesota was down to their final out. Behind 0-2, Miranda held up on a check swing, and then put a pitch on a clothesline and tied the ballgame at six. Lewis couldn't walk it off, but the Twins forced extras again.

Headed for Extras, Again
Because the Twins and Rays love to play extra-innings it seems, they went there again on Thursday. Griffin Jax took the ball and quickly disposed of Arozarena. DeLuca got him for a single on an 0-2 pitch though, and Walls came around to score. Jax worked the Rays into an inning-ending double play and Minnesota needed to respond again.

Carlos Correa stepped in for Margot, and despite his hitting streak having ended, he was looking to keep up the hot run for Minnesota. He got a hanging breaking ball and missed it. Attempting to move up 90 feet, Lewis was nailed by Siri at third base. Up to Ryan Jeffers, he ripped a single over the glove of Walls and the Fightin' Baldelli's had a chance to walk it off with a home run. Santana couldn't get Fairbanks though, and his fly out ended the ballgame.

Notes
After breaking one of the ribbon boards last night, the Twins had a bit of fun with Royce Lewis today. It’s almost like he channeled Caitlin Clark’s energy.

Justin Morneau pulled a trump card during Rocco Baldelli’s media session today.

Jay Jackson was again DFA'd immediately following the game. Kodu Funderburk is reportedly joining the Twins in Oakland. Max Kepler is hoping to avoid the injured list, and will be day-to-day over the weekend.

What’s Next? 
Headed to Oakland this evening, the Twins will make their last trip to the dump that is the Oakland Coliseum. Having just mopped the Athletics this week at Target Field, they’ll look to go 7-0 against Mark Kotsay’s club this year.

Postgame Interviews

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

View full article

[Peter]

Horrible unacceptable loss!!! 9th inning comeback means nothing! 🤬😡👎🤮💩😥😭😢 

[MMMordabito]

The Fightin' Baldelli's? 🤢🤮

[BH67]

Another frustrating loss despite (because of?) the 9th inning rally. It spoiled a solid start by SWR as well. Two thoughts:

1)    The Rays stole four bases while the game was tied or had a one-run difference. I never again want to read about Christian Vázquez’s batting limitations here. Frankly, he’s hitting better than Jeffers in June as well.

2)    Okert and Sands combined for 76 pitches in the last 18 hours. Perhaps they’re getting a workload buildup similar to that of Griffin Jax last summer, which proved wise in the playoff run, but that’s too much. Varland should return to the bullpen in place of either Thielbar or Jackson to avoid this. If that means waiving either, it seems timely. (UPDATE: I see Jackson was just DFA'd.)

Edited June 20, 2024 by BH67
New information.

[Patzky]

11 minutes ago, MMMordabito said:

The Fightin' Baldelli's? 🤢🤮

Mama Fratelli would cut his tongue.

[Parfigliano]

Bye bye Jackson.  Will some team grab him?

[bean5302]

26 minutes ago, BH67 said:

Another frustrating loss despite (because of?) the 9th inning rally. It spoiled a solid start by SWR as well. Two thoughts:

1)    The Rays stole four bases while the game was tied or had a one-run difference. I never again want to read about Christian Vázquez’s batting limitations here. Frankly, he’s hitting better than Jeffers in June as well.

2)    Okert and Sands combined for 76 pitches in the last 18 hours. Perhaps they’re getting a workload buildup similar to that of Griffin Jax last summer, which proved wise in the playoff run, but that’s too much. Varland should return to the bullpen in place of either Thielbar or Jackson to avoid this. If that means waiving either, it seems timely. (UPDATE: I see Jackson was just DFA'd.)

Look, it's important to rest guys to prevent them from wearing down... except sometimes Baldelli's macro is broken and keeps repeating the same bullpen arms. LOL

[DJL44]

20 minutes ago, BH67 said:

1)    The Rays stole four bases while the game was tied or had a one-run difference. I never again want to read about Christian Vázquez’s batting limitations here. Frankly, he’s hitting better than Jeffers in June as well

I ran the numbers after today. Jeffers is at 19% CS% and Vazquez is 21% - league average is 22%. If Jeffers throws out his next baserunner they're even. Jeffers has allowed 0.066 stolen bases per inning (0.6 per 9 innings) and Vazquez is at 0.089 stolen bases per inning (0.8 per 9 innings).

[Shaitan]

28 minutes ago, BH67 said:

Another frustrating loss despite (because of?) the 9th inning rally. It spoiled a solid start by SWR as well. Two thoughts:

1)    The Rays stole four bases while the game was tied or had a one-run difference. I never again want to read about Christian Vázquez’s batting limitations here. Frankly, he’s hitting better than Jeffers in June as well.

2)    Okert and Sands combined for 76 pitches in the last 18 hours. Perhaps they’re getting a workload buildup similar to that of Griffin Jax last summer, which proved wise in the playoff run, but that’s too much. Varland should return to the bullpen in place of either Thielbar or Jackson to avoid this. If that means waiving either, it seems timely. (UPDATE: I see Jackson was just DFA'd.)

Way too many SB off the bullpen this year in particular. Pitchers need a meeting on it...or something.

[bean5302]

Anybody else need to see more Jay Jackson? I know the Twins fixed him in those 3 innings he pitched in St. Paul, but it seems like they didn't use the waterproof duct tape on the repair.

[bean5302]

Loved the Morneau mic drop. Morney qualified as a hitter 8 times in his career despite the concussion issues and 157+ games 4 times.
Plate appearances in qualified seasons: 543, 661 (MVP), 668 (AS), 712 (AS/MVP#2), 590 (AS), 570, 635, 550 (batting title). 

So MVP, MVP runner up, 3x All Star, and a batting title. Guess he should have rested more...

[Doctor Gast]

1 hour ago, BH67 said:

Another frustrating loss despite (because of?) the 9th inning rally. It spoiled a solid start by SWR as well. Two thoughts:

1)    The Rays stole four bases while the game was tied or had a one-run difference. I never again want to read about Christian Vázquez’s batting limitations here. Frankly, he’s hitting better than Jeffers in June as well.

2)    Okert and Sands combined for 76 pitches in the last 18 hours. Perhaps they’re getting a workload buildup similar to that of Griffin Jax last summer, which proved wise in the playoff run, but that’s too much. Varland should return to the bullpen in place of either Thielbar or Jackson to avoid this. If that means waiving either, it seems timely. (UPDATE: I see Jackson was just DFA'd.)

!00% correct.

[DJL44]

52 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

I ran the numbers after today. Jeffers is at 19% CS% and Vazquez is 21% - league average is 22%. If Jeffers throws out his next baserunner they're even. Jeffers has allowed 0.066 stolen bases per inning (0.6 per 9 innings) and Vazquez is at 0.089 stolen bases per inning (0.8 per 9 innings).

Oh, and last season MLB stole 0.72 bases per game. The Twins are pretty much average at controlling the running game. Tampa is 6th in steals per game at 0.96.

[FlyingFinn]

59 minutes ago, Parfigliano said:

Bye bye Jackson.  Will some team grab him?

No. There's 1.5 million reasons nobody will claim him and $1.5 million reasons Jackson will accept the assignment to St. Paul.

[Doctor Gast]

We started the game without our prized left side on defense. No Correa at SS, no Lewis at 3B & no Castro at LF.  TB is a tough team you don't devastate your whole left side against them, I'd rather they rest them one at a time away at OAK instead all three at home. TB took advantage of us stealing bases, a concern I've had for a long time, I imagine other teams will try to exploit that. But good thing defense doesn't matter. Still, again, it was a game we should have won.

A shout out. Great game by Miranda & SWR for keeping us in the game.

 

[DocBauer]

Down year for the Ray's, but they aren't a horrible team. They are always fundamentally solid. Not putting lipstick on a pig, just saying, we didn't lose to a really bad team. But it feels like we gave away 2 games, no matter how tightly played.

I didn't see the Lewis play at 3B live. Looked like it took a perfect throw to get him though. Being aggressive is normally a good thing. And it looked like a perfect throw WAS made. STILL, I might have kept him from. running and trusted in the next 2 batters.

I'm not one to ever blame a loss on a RP, unless it's just an obviously poor performance...crap happens. EXAMPLE: Alcala has been very good this season. He allowed the winning run the previous night. It happens.

But honestly, I NEVER understood the Jackson promotion. He got a couple innings to SUDDENLY prove the slider was back, even with lost velocity. He's NOT back, which is the reason for the loss today, and a bad read/mistake by Falvey. 

The limited IP by Castillo were poor. Henriquez and Winder remain on the 40 man. So is Funderburk. If you want to add to the 40 man instead of Jackson, you would have done better giving someone like Blewett a shot vs a 36yo that has shown he doesn't have IT any longer. Thielbar, at LEAST has a track record and history with the Twins thats worthy of rope.

I don't know that Henriquez, or anyone else, would have done better. Maybe they wouldn't have. But giving another chance to someone who generally HASN'T performed this season was a major misstep this past week. Today's loss is not on SWR, the lineup, or Okert for a run given up. IMO, today's loss is on the FO for Jackson. 

I'm sure he's a quality person, but he's just not part of a reliable pen. Good "shot in the dark" addition. But he's not part of tomorrow, or the future. Glad he's gone.

 

 

[USAFChief]

33 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Oh, and last season MLB stole 0.72 bases per game. The Twins are pretty much average at controlling the running game. Tampa is 6th in steals per game at 0.96.

The Rays ran pretty much at will all series. Frickin' embarrassing.  Jackson in particular paid no attention whatsoever.

[USAFChief]

So they played today's game with

1. SWR starting....pretty much guaranteed no more than six innings. And he gave them that. Six GOOD innings in fact. 

2. Coupled with A completely shredded bullpen which includes the unusable Thielbar (who had sat on his hands for 8 (eight!) days. Winnable gone, entrusted to Sands, Jackson, Okert. And finally Thielbar. That's some fine roster management, gentleman. You couldn't be bothered to have a fresh option or three on hand?

3. Correa AND Castro needing "rest" again, and Lewis not on the field either. (Sorry Mr Schwerzler, Carlos Correa did not single in the second inning.) Well played, Rocco. 

4. Nobody on the team from the manager on down apparently ever heard of or gives a damn about stolen bases.

 

We need a MLB manager.

[USAFChief]

1 hour ago, Shaitan said:

Way too many SB off the bullpen this year in particular. Pitchers need a meeting on it...or something.

It's beyond apparent someone in the organization, with clout, believes stolen based aren't important.

They make only token attempts to stop other teams from running, and few attempts to steal bases on offense. 

 

[mnfireman]

2 hours ago, bean5302 said:

Look, it's important to rest guys to prevent them from wearing down... except sometimes Baldelli's macro is broken and keeps repeating the same bullpen arms. LOL

I loved Morneau's answer to Baldelli's question....

[mnfireman]

39 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

The Rays ran pretty much at will all series. Frickin' embarrassing.  Jackson in particular paid no attention whatsoever.

Not many relief pitchers hold runners any more....

[Guest]

All those Lewis HR videos clearly are cheap fakes....

[Parfigliano]

I understand resting players.  I dont understand resting Lewis and Correa on the same day.  

Anybody hear what the situation is with Kepler?

[Parfigliano]

28 minutes ago, Minderbinder said:

All those Lewis HR videos clearly are cheap fakes....

AI magic.

[mnfireman]

2 minutes ago, Parfigliano said:

I understand resting players.  I dont understand resting Lewis and Correa on the same day.  

Anybody hear what the situation is with Kepler?

Baldelli's "Get-away day" line-ups are infamous.....but so we're Gardy's.

[Linus]

I have no info whatsoever but I’m saying right now put Max on the IL. He’s famous for making day to day turn into a week. Perfect chance to see if Wallner is ready. 

[BH67]

3 hours ago, DJL44 said:

I ran the numbers after today. Jeffers is at 19% CS% and Vazquez is 21% - league average is 22%. If Jeffers throws out his next baserunner they're even. Jeffers has allowed 0.066 stolen bases per inning (0.6 per 9 innings) and Vazquez is at 0.089 stolen bases per inning (0.8 per 9 innings).

Thank you. I was admittedly surprised to see their caught-stealing percentages so similar given Vázquez's overall defensive prowess. Perhaps it wasn't the catcher that inspired the running today.

[Rosterman]

33 minutes ago, Parfigliano said:

I understand resting players.  I dont understand resting Lewis and Correa on the same day.  

Anybody hear what the situation is with Kepler?

If Kepler goes down - The Return Of Wallner!

Man, I would've started the inning with Thielbar. But it did make it easy to jettison Jackson.

 

Waiting for The Return of Dobnak - long relief! Got the open roster spot. How short is the leash on Sands at the moment?

[DJL44]

1 hour ago, USAFChief said:

It's beyond apparent someone in the organization, with clout, believes stolen based aren't important.

They make only token attempts to stop other teams from running, and few attempts to steal bases on offense. 

And yet they're basically league average in allowing stolen bases and 20th in stealing bases. It's not a big part of their game but that's true for most MLB teams.

[Whitey333]

Right from the start it was apparent Rocco didn't care if they won or lost.  To not start two of your hottest hitters and the put in a seldom used guy at shortstop and an almost never use second baseman it's totally ridiculous.  I don't like Rocco and never have.  Last year it happened that he had both Correa and Buxton off at the same time.  He said he didn't know how to fix that.  Really??  I'm sure Jackson will clear waivers again.  He will then go to st. Paul and be recalled by the Twins again.  Like ive said before if we don't have anyone better in the organization than Jackson then this team is in trouble.

God I miss Corey Provus on the radio.  So eone should let Atteberry know that there is an actual game being played on the field.