Make It Official! Twins 10, Angels 5: If the Sausage Never Dies, the Summer Never Ends

[Hans Birkeland]

The Twins uh, haven't been great lately. Fortunately for them, the Angels haven't been a functional team for a decade. Kyle Farmer roused the rally sausage out of retirement with a big three-run home run, and Pablo Lopez survived a mid-game rally to continue his roll as the Twins finally got an easy(ish) win.

Image courtesy of © Jordan Johnson-Imagn Images

Box Score:
Starting Pitcher: Pablo Lopez: 7 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 10 K (105 Pitches, 70 Strikes, 66.6%)
Home Runs: Kyle Farmer (5), Matt Wallner (12), Carlos Santana (21)
Top 3 WPA: Santana (.236), Farmer (.192), Lopez (0.42)
Win Probability Chart (Via Fangraphs):

Following the Twins latest loss, this time to the woeful Angels of Anaheim, it was fair to ask if this was rock bottom. A 6-14 stretch will prompt those kinds of questions, but if Monday was the bottom, that meant Tuesday had to be better by default.

Two factors supported that argument: Pablo Lopez has been great in the second half, but unbeknownst to many, so has Kyle Farmer, or at least since his return from the IL in August. He has a .568 slugging percentage since that point, and following a rare series of singles to start the second inning, demolished a three run homer to give the Twins a comfortable lead for the first time since the series finale in San Diego several weeks ago.

But Lopez set the tone early, showcasing the increasingly potent raw stuff he has featured lately. He pitched around a double from Zach Neto in the first, and was in control from there, leaning heavily on his fastballs, but also commanding his secondary pitches well, including quite a few curveballs. Hitters that came up with an aggressive approach never got the pitch they were looking for, particularly the Angels' young catcher, Logan O'Hoppe, who struck out twice on a steady diet of offspeed stuff. Hitters that worked the count couldn't get the barrel on the ball, either.

Meanwhile the Twins had little trouble getting out of their funk facing Angels righty Griffin Canning, who had a mild amount of hype as a prospect, but hasn't really developed into anything, with a 4.71 career ERA around a multitude of injuries and demotions. Matt Wallner hit a massive home run in the third, a healthy 448 feet, and Ryan Jeffers delivered a sacrifice fly later in the frame to make the game 6-0.

But this team is still fighting it, and in the fifth, with Lopez still cruising, Edouard Julien got in front of a hot smash from Angels rookie Bryce Teodosio, picked up the ball and then glitched before firing to first, allowing Teodosio to reach with two outs. The hot-hitting Taylor Ward then hit a long single off the limestone in right field, and Neto then destroyed a Lopez sinker 428 feet to dead center field, quickly making the game 6-4.

The pitch Neto hit wasn't terrible, a sinker up and away, but the young shortstop got his arms extended and the outcome was never in doubt. In recent weeks, the Twins MO would be to go down quickly the following inning and hand the ball back to their starter before he can catch his breath from the inning before.

It appeared that sequence would come to fruition again, with Wallner and Jose Miranda making quick outs. But Trevor Larnach laid off some tough pitches before drawing a walk, and Carlos Santana made sure that would matter, as he reached out on a Canning change-up and launched a home run over the high right-center field wall to put the Twins back in control of the game.

Defensive miscues from young players has been a recurring theme during the Twins recent cold stretch, but not in the sixth, with Lopez looking for a quick inning.  Former first overall pick turned fifth outfield Mickey Moniak lined a ball to center that I immediately knew Austin Martin, Manuel Margot and Willi Castro wouldn't get to, but DaShawn Keirsey Jr. was out there tonight, and made an excellent diving catch for the first out of the inning.

Brooks Lee has looked listless lately, but ranged to grab a grounder from O'Hoppe deep in the hole, and looked like prime Derek Jeter with a beautiful throw on the run to nab the Angels catcher.

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Twins Daily's winning "Make It Official!" game recaps are sponsored by Official Fried Chicken, which you can find in center field of Target Field. With a name like "Official," we know we have to be the best in the game every day, and from your first bite, you'll know thats a promise we make good on.

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The Twins piled on in the sixth. Farmer drew a one out walk, and Julien singled with two outs. Wallner then lifted a double off the wall in right-center for a double to get the lead back to six. The Angels are just a rich man's White Sox, but it was nice to see the Twins add on late in a game they had to win.

Trends:

	Healthy	Hurt
Performing
Contributing
Low Impact
IL/Minors
C	Ryan Jeffers 📈	Christian Vazquez 📈
1B	Carlos Santana 📈	Alex Kirilloff 📉	Jose Miranda 📈
2B	Edouard Julien 📈	Kyle Farmer 📈'
3B	Royce Lewis 📉
SS	Carlos Correa 📉	Brooks Lee 📉
LF	Matt Wallner 📈	Trevor Larnach 📈	Austin Martin 📉
CF	Byron Buxton 📉	Manuel Margot 📉	DaShawn Keirsey Jr. 📈
RF	Max Kepler 📉
UTIL	Willi Castro 📉	Michael Helman 📈
SP	Pablo Lopez 📈	Bailey Ober 📈	Joe Ryan 📉	Chris Paddack 📈
RSP	David Festa 📈	Zebby Matthews 📉	Simeon Woods Richardson 📉
CR	Jhoan Duran 📉	Griffin Jax 📈
SR	Brock Stewart 📉	Jorge Alcala 📈	Cole Sands 📈
MR	Caleb Thielbar 📈	Scott Blewett 📈	Michael Tonkin 📈	Louie Varland 📈
LR	Josh Winder 📈	Ronny Henriquez 📈	Randy Dobnak 📉	Diego Castillo 📈

 

 

Stray Notes:
-With Christian Vazquez on the paternity list, Jeffers made a rare back-to-back catching appearance and drove in two runs.
-Royce Lewis, in the midst of an 0-20 slide, was not in the lineup. Lee is now 0-18 and his at-bats have been dreadful, so he might be the next player to take a breather.
-Louie Varland made his 2024 relief debut (not counting bulk appearances) and touched 101 MPH with his fastball as he made mincemeat out of the Angels Quad-A lineup, striking out two and breaking the bat of the other hitter he faced.
He came back out for the ninth, but his velocity was down to 95 MPH and the Angels were able to string some hits against him.
-Keirsey Jr. got his first big league hit in the eighth, dribbling a ball past the pitcher's mound and beating the feed from the pitcher easily.

What’s Next: Zebby Matthews (1-3, 7.36 ERA) tries to justify his spot in the rotation as he faces young Angels righty Jack Kochanowicz (2-4, 4.89 ERA). Kochanowicz was a third round pick in 2019, but hasn't really had much success in the minor leagues and has only twelve strikeouts in 38 2/3 innings thus far for Los Angeles, a ratio which would make Carlos Silva blush.

Postgame Interviews:

(Coming soon)
 

Bullpen Usage Chart:

	FRI	SAT	SUN	MON	TUE	TOT
Henríquez	13	0	0	29	0	42
Varland	0	0	0	0	35	35
Blewett	0	0	19	13	0	32
Tonkin	0	0	0	31	0	31
Sands	0	0	30	0	0	30
Thielbar	19	0	0	0	0	19
Durán	0	17	0	0	0	17
Alcalá	0	0	11	0	0	11
Jax	0	8	0	0	0	8

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[TheLeviathan]

Rocco'd again.  When will this guy figure out that we'd go 162-0 if we'd just average as many runs per game as there are daily, whiney ass, gripefest threads about Rocco on Twins Daily?

[Peter]

Huge huge huge much needed win!!! 

[jmlease1]

Winning is the best deodorant.

Nice to see the bats get going early and often. The big blast from Farmer made a difference. Pablo looked pretty good, so it was a bit odd to see him have the wobbly inning, but still nice to see him roll through 7 with good efficiency. His velocity looks good, the movement on the sweeper is pretty nasty.

I'm terrible at estimating HR distances. I would have thought that Wallner's was longer, because boy howdy that was a blast. Certainly no doubt about it!

[S Bart]

I will get off the topic in order to mention praise for a member of the Twins who has put forth efforts to help the community. Not only is he one of the top pitchers in the American League, but he is also a great human being. Vote Pablo Lopez for the Roberto Clemente Award. via the link below.

Minnesota Twins Roberto Clemente Award nominee | MLB.com

 

Edited September 11, 2024 by S Bart
correction

[Danchat]

Wow, Varland touched 101? He needs to be a one-inning reliever going forward. He's simply too hittable as a starter and this appears to be his path to being a full-team major league pitcher.

[MMMordabito]

Way to get off the schneid(wurst)

[MMMordabito]

23 minutes ago, TheLeviathan said:

Rocco'd again.  When will this guy figure out that we'd go 162-0 if we'd just average as many runs per game as there are daily, whiney ass, gripefest threads about Rocco on Twins Daily?

And they still aren't enough to counter old, tired Israelite-priest/sea monster wannabes who are too self-absorbed to realize they aren't clever or funny.

[Parfigliano]

Rally sausage rallies bats.  I think that sausage is going to be sticking around.

[S Bart]

It is time to tip my hat to Kyle Farmer who seems to be doing an about face (3 homers in 5 days) after having some very tough months. Also, he is better at second base than Julian.

[D.C Twins]

I'll provide an optimistic take for these Twins. 

If....a BIG IF.... they make the playoffs, Lopez and Ober will be a formidable #1 and #2 starter which can be a HUGE advantage in the playoffs (see Viola and Blyleven in 1987).

But...alas... we still have to make it.... 

[D.C Twins]

1 hour ago, TheLeviathan said:

Rocco'd again.  When will this guy figure out that we'd go 162-0 if we'd just average as many runs per game as there are daily, whiney ass, gripefest threads about Rocco on Twins Daily?

(Narrator voice) Rocco had nothing to do with Lopez pitching lights out but deserves a golf clap for actually allowing him to pitch 7 innings and avoiding self-inflicted wounds from bad bullpen decisions. 

[IndianaTwin]

Tonight’s result was wonderful. Last night’s, not so much, but I have a wondering about last night.

I don’t have many opportunities to see games on TV, but they were on FS1 last night. Several things I think I saw: 

1. Miranda hustling for a diving stop in the first that he turned into a double play. 
2. Farmer looking focused when he jacked the homer. 
3. Lewis hustling down the line when he had a chance to beat out a grounder to first, where the pitcher made a nice play. 
4. Guys making poor choices on pitches to swing at, but generally erring on being overaggressive rather than cautious with their swings and taking too many pitches.. An example would be Miranda when he was the tying run in the fourth. 
5. Henriquez looking good for five batters before the wheels came off for a few batters, but settling after the mound visit. His body language after the homer seemed very much of, “Dangit, I let people down.” 
6. Tonkin looking good for two innings.
7. Unless I’m forgetting something, no real defensive or baserunning miscues.  

For those who were able to (or chose to) actually watch last night (not just read the game report), was I reading things/body language right?

I ask because the actual look of last night’s team felt different to me than the way things sounded on the radio the last week. Last night the process felt different, which is a start. Tonight the process also sounded different than last week (I was back on the radio), but the results also followed. Am I all wet on last night? 

[BH67]

The seedlings eventually sprouted in the Georgia earth scorched in 1864 by Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman and his troops.

Here's hoping that this Twins win marks a similar moment on the Twins Daily post-game comment boards. That admonishment applies as much to me as anyone else.

[SwainZag]

This team is one of the streakiest offensive clubs I think I have ever seen.  They seem tp feed off each other so well when thing's are going well......and fall into the same pattern when the majority are struggling.  The highs are great and the lows well....suck.  The fancy thing about baseball is one nice 2-3 week fun high hot streak can mean a deep playoff run.  

[MMMordabito]

1 hour ago, S Bart said:

I will get off the topic in order to mention praise for a member of the Twins who has put forth efforts to help the community. Not only is he one of the top pitchers in the American League, but he is also a great human being. Vote Pedro Lopez for the Roberto Clemente Award. via the link below.

Minnesota Twins Roberto Clemente Award nominee | MLB.com

 

[cmoss84]

2 hours ago, TheLeviathan said:

Rocco'd again.  When will this guy figure out that we'd go 162-0 if we'd just average as many runs per game as there are daily, whiney ass, gripefest threads about Rocco on Twins Daily?

I don't like this one. Stinks like fromunda cheese.

[Nashvilletwin]

2 hours ago, TheLeviathan said:

Rocco'd again.  When will this guy figure out that we'd go 162-0 if we'd just average as many runs per game as there are daily, whiney ass, gripefest threads about Rocco on Twins Daily?

I appreciate this comment, but I’m not sure I fully understand it.  Did Rocco do something extraordinary tonight that I missed? Was it that he left Lopez in to finish the seventh (with which I agree) with a big lead, having given up 7 hits (several hard hits at that) and a walk, and over 90 pitches after pulling Ober last week after 83 pitches and one weak single? Or maybe it’s just Rocco deserves the credit for the wins as well as the losses.  Regardless, it was a good win tonight in so many respects (Pablo recognition and performance, bats woke up, plenty of fun). Hopefully, we get back on track.
 

Btw, anyone notice the liquor bottles behind Rocco in his office while giving an interview? How the Twins have been playing, it’s easy to understand having a quick snort close at hand.  

[TheLeviathan]

15 minutes ago, Nashvilletwin said:

I appreciate this comment, but I’m not sure I fully understand it.  Did Rocco do something extraordinary tonight that I missed? Was it that he left Lopez in to finish the seventh (with which I agree) with a big lead, having given up 7 hits (several hard hits at that) and a walk, and over 90 pitches after pulling Ober last week after 83 pitches and one weak single? Or maybe it’s just Rocco deserves the credit for the wins as well as the losses.  Regardless, it was a good win tonight in so many respects (Pablo recognition and performance, bats woke up, plenty of fun). Hopefully, we get back on track.
 

Btw, anyone notice the liquor bottles behind Rocco in his office while giving an interview? How the Twins have been playing, it’s easy to understand having a quick snort close at hand.  

Good sir...we won.  Therefore Rocco had absolutely no impact whatsoever.  None.  Impossible.  

This is how logic works my fine fellow!

[Blyleven2011]

Alittle magic came our way tonight,  a double digit win ( seems like for ever  since the last one )  ...

The bats had bloops and blasts , wallners homer had to be farther than the estimate  , it was a blast ...

Also worth mentioning  ...

Keirsey Jr  played good defense and got his first career hit , Congratulations  ...

Juliens error caused by umpire blocking his view ,  kind of almost wrecked Pablo's night , 4 unearned runs almost wreaked the fans night too as angels closed the gap to within 2 runs , glad the twins were able to answer right back and score more runs ...

[Doctor Gast]

Congrats to Keirsey for that nice catch & 1st MLB hit. Keep up the good work! Lewis wasn't playing but he looked more excited than Keirsey over his 1st hit.

[Craig Arko]

 

[CRF]

The green weenie rocks!

[TwinsDr2021]

Huge win, almost a must win and Pedro came though. The Twins seem to do fine against mediocre right handed pitching. My goodness imagine being a mediocre RH starting pitcher and have to face Wallner, it must feel like everybody else facing Judge.

Take advantage of another one today!

[Doctor Gast]

Castro & Martin aren't CFers but they are very good utility players, IMO they could make that diving catch that Keirsey made look easy. They shouldn't be lumped together with Margot. Because Castro & Martin aren't CFers, I'm glad we finally have Keirsey, a true CFer, available to play there on more regularity.

Just a shout-out to Farmer, who hit a big HR against a righty. Maybe he's back better than ever.

[Doctor Gast]

1 hour ago, Craig Arko said:

 

Was it worth 3 lives? Let's hope so.

[Karbo]

I'm so happy that Farmer is finally having some success! From all I hear he deserves the "good guy" clubhouse award. They over paid terribly for him, so I hope he can stay hot!

[Doctor Gast]

4 minutes ago, Karbo said:

I'm so happy that Farmer is finally having some success! From all I hear he deserves the "good guy" clubhouse award. They over paid terribly for him, so I hope he can stay hot!

He also started & brought back the sausage!

[Nashvilletwin]

6 hours ago, TheLeviathan said:

Good sir...we won.  Therefore Rocco had absolutely no impact whatsoever.  None.  Impossible.  

This is how logic works my fine fellow!

Like I implied, Rocco should get credit for wins and losses.

Maybe last night he rallied the hitters and that is what caused the barrage at the plate.  Maybe it was leading off Julien followed by Wallner.  Maybe it was starting Farmer. Maybe it was (finally) giving Lewis a night off. Maybe he brought back the sausage.  Who knows? Let’s give him credit for a good, important win.

But let’s not pretend Rocco is infallible or not meriting criticism as well as praise at times.  And (rightly or wrongly) he very well might be managing for his job over the next three weeks. I wish him luck.

[Whitey333]

It's funny what one win against a poor pitcher and a very poor Angels team will get us world series bound.  Yes it was a needed win.  Very well done.  Let's put a meaningful win streak together before we declare their recent month long losing record done.  Go Twins!!