Make it Official! Twins 6, White Sox 2: Bailey Ober Does it Again, Max Kepler and Late-Inning Offense, White Sox Lose 19th Straight

[Ted Schwerzler]

Bailey Ober got the start against the Chicago White Sox on Saturday night, and he was again dominant. Ryan Jeffers kicked off the scoring early, and Max Kepler made the difference late. The Griffin Jax/Jhoan Duran tandem shut things down to hand Chicago yet another loss.

Image courtesy of Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Box Score
SP: Bailey Ober 7.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K (88 pitches, 56 strikes)
Home Runs: Ryan Jeffers(16), Max Kepler(7) 
Top 3 WPA: Max Kepler (.206), Bailey Ober (.139), Ryan Jeffers (.136)

Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)

Early Jeffers Jolt 
Bailey Ober started Saturday for the Twins, and he got a bit of run support early. Ryan Jeffers blasted his team-leading 16th dinger in the second inning to make it a 1-0 game.

It took until the fifth inning for Korey Lee to provide a White Sox answer. His triple scored Gavin Sheets on a truly ugly play by Manuel Margot. Brooks Lee picked up his teammate with a single to score Austin Martin and retake the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Twins Thwart Chicago Response
Brooks Baldwin hit his first career home run in the sixth inning to tie things at 2-2, but that’s where the good news ended for Chicago. Max Kepler, after missing time due to a throw to the back of his head, stepped in and launched his seventh home run of the season. The solo shot put Minnesota back in front by a 3-2 tally.

In the eighth inning, on the 13th pitch of his at-bat, Willi Castro singled home Carlos Santana and Jeffers to give Minnesota additional breathing room. Lee drove home Martin, and following Griffin Jax’s blank inning and 17th hold, Jhoan Duran was on to finish a 6-2 ballgame. Rocco Baldelli’s closer got Chicago to wrap it up on just six pitches. The White Sox dropped their 19th straight game.

The Twins scattered eight hits while drawing seven walks and striking out just five times. Jeffers, Martin, and Lee all recorded two hits on the evening. Thankfully Pedro Grifol pulled Garrett Crochet after just four innings. While he allowed four walks, he did give up just a single run on one hit. The White Sox best starter was sent to the showers early.

Notes
The Twins celebrated Joe Mauer’s Hall of Fame induction with a plaque giveaway on Friday. His bronze bust certainly wasn’t ideal, but his enshrinement in Cooperstown is forever. You can find them here.

Paul Molitor announced that the Twins will build a statue of Joe Mauer outside of Target Field. That’s has been know for a bit. Where his gate will be positioned has yet to be determined. 

 

With his quality start tonight, Bailey Ober became the first Twins pitcher with eight straight quality starts since Phil Hughes in 2014. Hughes earned Cy Young votes that season, and set a single-season major league strikeout to walk record that still stands today.

 

What’s Next?
In the series finale, and final game between Minnesota and Chicago this season, the Twins send Simeon Woods Richardson to the mound. He will be opposed by Chris Flexen. A win would give Minnesota a series sweep, and allow them to finish with a 12-1 record against the White Sox in 2024.

Postgame Interviews

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

 

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[strumdatjag]

You want an ACE?   We got one!  

[Blyleven2011]

Team effort  ...

Nice to see Ober got the win with Kepler hitting his homer ...

Bottom half of lineup got 7 of the eight hits and  5 rbi's  ...

I'm sure everyone enjoys beating up on the white Sox  , 19 losses in a row , they're on pace for over 120 losses and another record will change , how can they be this bad  ,  they don't look like they are giving up  ...

[Parfigliano]

Baily is the ace.  Pablo hold serve.

[BH67]

There are new heroes for the Twins in every game. Jeffers's and Kepler's home runs and Castro's 13-pitch, 2 RBI single are evidence of this, and so were Martin, Lee and Margot in requiring 21 total pitches for Crochet to get through them in the 3rd inning. That surely contributed to his departure after the 4th, with the bullpen feasting delayed but realized.

And Bailey Ober. This is becoming much fun.

34,000 average home attendance since the All-Star break. Royals and Guardians losing tonight. Good things come to those who wait.

[Fatbat]

Ober has been incredible since the KC debacles. This is gonna be a great show to watch Aug/Sept/Oct!  
 

Has anyone looked at Cleveland’s remaining schedule?  It. is Brutal.   
 

C4 will be back soon and Farmer should be sent to the 60day Il. 
 

lets string together another dozen wins or so!!!

[Fatbat]

16 minutes ago, Parfigliano said:

Baily is the ace.  Pablo hold serve.

We wanted two #1’s! We got them 

[tony&rodney]

14 minutes ago, BH67 said:

34,000 average home attendance since the All-Star break. Royals and Guardians losing tonight. Good things come to those who wait.

Love it.

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

Ober just looks the part on the mound. No wasted movements. Goes right at hitters. Definitely the Twins ace right now. 

Great at bat by Castro. Kepler homer gave them the lead but huge to get those insurance runs across the plate.

Don't stop now. Hopefully a good outing from SWR and the Twins get help from the Orioles, Tigers and Rangers.

[ashbury]

Can the Manuel Margot Experience please be over?  The first Sox run looked like one that could have been prevented by Max Kepler or anyone with good speed on defense.

[mikelink45]

Hate to have to add this, but the Sox are as bad as any team I can remember.  Sorry Chicago, but you stink. 

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

21 minutes ago, Fatbat said:

Ober has been incredible since the KC debacles. This is gonna be a great show to watch Aug/Sept/Oct!  
 

Has anyone looked at Cleveland’s remaining schedule?  It. is Brutal.   
 

C4 will be back soon and Farmer should be sent to the 60day Il. 
 

lets string together another dozen wins or so!!!

Guardians schedule definitely catches up to them the last few weeks. Twins have to take care of business against them. At least 3 of 4 this upcoming weekend. Will be hard to do but if they have any chance at the division, winning that series at Target Field is a must.

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

1 minute ago, mikelink45 said:

Hate to have to add this, but the Sox are as bad as any team I can remember.  Sorry Chicago, but you stink. 

What happened to them? Seems like in 2020, they were supposed to be overtake the Twins and control the division for the next 4-5 years. To go from that to arguably one of the worst teams of all time, it's bizarre.

[Tball]

It’s hard for me to be excited about this team because of Rocco.  He’s a platoon guy until it comes to substituting lefty batters vs. right handed relievers.  Because he was a righty batter, I think he has a blind spot for subbing in for righties when the opposing team brings in a bullpen right hander.

On the other hand, if I’m a lefty batter on this team, I would be looking over my shoulder waiting for the hook when a lefty reliever takes the mound.  I saw it in the playoffs last year when Rocco used Buxton as a pinch hitter to face a righty and have him essentially end the season.

 I think a large part of Tom Kelly’s success was that everyone on his roster knew what their role was.  I think it’s the opposite with Rocco.  When the Twins enter the playoffs, Rocco mounts his garbage can lid sized panic button on the back wall of the dugout and uses it often.  

[JD-TWINS]

55 minutes ago, BH67 said:

There are new heroes for the Twins in every game. Jeffers's and Kepler's home runs and Castro's 13-pitch, 2 RBI single are evidence of this, and so were Martin, Lee and Margot in requiring 21 total pitches for Crochet to get through them in the 3rd inning. That surely contributed to his departure after the 4th, with the bullpen feasting delayed but realized.

And Bailey Ober. This is becoming much fun.

34,000 average home attendance since the All-Star break. Royals and Guardians losing tonight. Good things come to those who wait.

Red Sox went down as well tonight!

[Jocko87]

In first to ask if they can afford that statue. Hurrrdurrrdurp.

[USAFChief]

5 minutes ago, Jocko87 said:

In first to ask if they can afford that statue. Hurrrdurrrdurp.

Prolly gonna get Hennepin County taxpayers to spring for it.

[JD-TWINS]

38 minutes ago, Twins_Fan_in_NJ said:

Ober just looks the part on the mound. No wasted movements. Goes right at hitters. Definitely the Twins ace right now. 

Great at bat by Castro. Kepler homer gave them the lead but huge to get those insurance runs across the plate.

Don't stop now. Hopefully a good outing from SWR and the Twins get help from the Orioles, Tigers and Rangers.

He looks the part of “The Bearded Nightmare”…..a nickname that’s gotta stick, from Trevor Plouffe.

Jeffers - Kepler - Martin - Castro all big contributors………Kepler’s homer was huge to get them back in front. He hammered another ball later off LH pitcher that got caught. Good to see him picking it up a bit!!

[thelanges5]

We need 2nd half Kep!

[TheLeviathan]

We'd have won this game if Rocco let starters pitch after the 4th inning.

Little known fact, we wouldn't have to shovel snow if not for Baldelli.

[gregens]

45 minutes ago, Tball said:

It’s hard for me to be excited about this team because of Rocco.  He’s a platoon guy until it comes to substituting lefty batters vs. right handed relievers.  Because he was a righty batter, I think he has a blind spot for subbing in for righties when the opposing team brings in a bullpen right hander.

On the other hand, if I’m a lefty batter on this team, I would be looking over my shoulder waiting for the hook when a lefty reliever takes the mound.  I saw it in the playoffs last year when Rocco used Buxton as a pinch hitter to face a righty.

 I think a large part of Tom Kelly’s success was that everyone on his roster knew what their role was.  I think it’s the opposite with Rocco…

I'm enjoying the season despite Rocco's managing shortcomings.   Many people on TD believe Rocco has a great wealth of baseball knowledge and I don't have any reason to disbelieve them.  However, there's a big difference between having knowledge and knowing how to use it!

[Jocko87]

25 minutes ago, gregens said:

I'm enjoying the season despite Rocco's managing shortcomings.   Many people on TD believe Rocco has a great wealth of baseball knowledge and I don't have any reason to disbelieve them.  However, there's a big difference between having knowledge and knowing how to use it!

I guess I'm not sure which TD you are referring to.

[Doctor Wu]

7 hours ago, thelanges5 said:

We need 2nd half Kep!

That would help, plus I'm also hoping that Ober doesn't get too tired pitching all these innings during the next 2-3 months. We need him in top shape to maintain this ace-like pace. 

[theBOMisthebomb]

8 hours ago, Fatbat said:

8 hours ago, Parfigliano said:

Baily is the ace.  Pablo hold serve.

We wanted two #1’s! We got them 

My guy He Ain't No Ordinary Joe Ryan has them both beat in bWAR, ERA+, innings pitched, and strikeouts. 

[William K Johnson]

9 hours ago, ashbury said:

Can the Manuel Margot Experience please be over?  The first Sox run looked like one that could have been prevented by Max Kepler or anyone with good speed on defense.

And to think that he is a late inning defensive replacement some games.

[Eephus]

9 hours ago, mikelink45 said:

Hate to have to add this, but the Sox are as bad as any team I can remember.  Sorry Chicago, but you stink. 

Team OPS of .617...and that includes a handful of guys they traded. Jeff Reboulet's career OPS was .649. Glenn Borgmann .630. It's like facing a lineup of Ben Rortvedts (.615).

[Craig Arko]

Despite all you read above, this was a good night.

[Eephus]

17 minutes ago, Craig Arko said:

Despite all you read above, this was a good night.

Castro at bat was awesome 

[Fatbat]

1 hour ago, theBOMisthebomb said:

My guy He Ain't No Ordinary Joe Ryan has them both beat in bWAR, ERA+, innings pitched, and strikeouts. 

Ryan just has to be more consistent.  Carry 5-8 consecutive games into the 7th inning and we can talk about 3 Aces. 
Also, as SWR develops, he has that kind of potential.

 

[Peter]

Great win last night!!! Willi with at bat for ages!!! How did white sox get so bad??? Get the sweep today!!! Go twins!!!