Twins 4, Royals 0: Joe Ryan Plays Stopper, Offense Plays Longball

[Sherry Cerny]

In the third game of their four-game series at Kauffman Stadium, the Twins finally gave Byron Buxton his first off day of the 2025 season. Necessary though that might be, it only made the question more pressing: where would this dismal lineup find some runs?

Image courtesy of © Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Box Score
SP: Joe Ryan 7.0 P,  2 H, 0 ER,  0 BB,  4 K (85 pitches, 63 strikes (74%))
Home Runs:  Matt Wallner (1), Ty France (1)
Top 3 WPA: Joe Ryan (.464); Ty France (.105); Griffin Jax (.056)

Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)

Joe Ryan started the game by putting on a masterclass during the first 7 innings, retiring six in order over the first two frames and only using 23 pitches. The first hit for the Royals came in the third, on a one-out single for Maikel García. Both Edouard Julien and Willi Castro had run-saving plays thereafter, scuppering the potential for the Royals to get on the board first. 

The Twins offense continued its struggle, striking out five times in three innings, and playing into outs the others. Even with Byron Buxton out of the lineup, they continue to swing at everything and make tepid contact. There seems to be no real order at the plate; they hit more desperate than disciplined. 

The one thing that the lineup did do, however, was run the pitch count up on starter Seth Lugo. Lugo had 55 pitches with only one out in the third. Carlos Correa drew the first walk of the game for Lugo, followed by another walk from Trevor Larnach. 

Both Correa and Larnach showed a lot of patience at the plate with Lugo, running up the pitches to eight in each appearance. Julien had a 2-2 count with two outs on the board. He fought through the at-bat, fouling off three pitches before getting a single to right field, scoring Correa and leaving Larnach in a pickle that ended in the final out of the inning.

The Royals finally threatened in the fourth inning. Ryan allowed a double from Bobby Witt Jr., who then tried to advance to third on a line drive to center fielder Harrison Bader. Bader, however, fired to Julien to get Witt out, getting the inning-ending double play and keeping the Twins ahead on the board. 

Ryan seemed more locked in than any of his other starts so far this season. Even with the balls the Royals were hitting, they were effortlessly played by the defense. His velocity was not dropping; his four-seamer was used consistently, without issue; and he even used his splitter to get around some of the hitters. 

The lead was only one going into the top of the sixth inning. Matt Wallner led off by striking out swinging. However, Correa got a two-seam fastball, ripping it down the left-field line for a single. Larnach took an errant ball inside, advancing Correa again to third base. Lugo then intentionally walked Larnach. Ty France ripped a base hit into the gap on the right side, scoring Correa to give the Twins a 2-0 lead and advancing Larnach to second, who stayed put this time. The Royals finally sent Lugo to the showers, after 110 pitches. 

Ryan got an opportunity to come out for the eighth inning, something that he very well earned. Ryan only got behind the count once, leaving the inning with only 83 pitches. He was superb. 

Wallner has only seen three lefties this season, but his patience at the plate showed when he hung his first solo home run of the season on Royals pitcher Sam Long to put up the score 3-0.

Griffin Jax came in to cover the eighth inning. Jax had a disastrous game on Sunday, being part of the loss of the lead and the game to the Astros, but Wednesday night, Jax locked in and walked out with a scoreless inning. 

In the ninth, France launched a ball into the Twins bullpen for his first homer as a Minnesota Twin, pushing the score to 4-0. The Twins have not only been lacking in wins, but also in longballs, with only six on the season. Wednesday night, they got two. 

Jhoan Duran came out to close out the game, and Witt was the only one who would reach base. (He walked.) A short chop to first from Vinnie Pasquantino ended the Twins' six-game losing streak to the Royals. 

What’s Next? 
The Twins finish the series against the Royals on Thursday. Bailey Ober (0-1; 12.15 ERA) taking the bump against Michael Wacha (0-2; 4.66 ERA) at 1:10PM CST. The club then heads home after that game to face Detroit. 

Postgame Interviews

 

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

View full article

[tony&rodney]

Ryan was good. Defense was good. Twins win.

[Aggies7]

Can we just get 7 out of the starter every night and then turn it over to the top pen guys? Sounds good 

[USAFChief]

Nice job Mr Ryan

 

[Blyleven2011]

Enjoy the win , they don't come often enough ...

Twins shut out royals tonight  , had they not given up 2 unearned runs the night prior  it could of been a shoulda coulda woulda win ...

Defense and pitching does win games , offense still needs some work ( what have our 3 new  hitting coaches been doing ) ...

[tony&rodney]

Shohei Ohtani is the most famous, Juan Soto the highest paid, and Aaron Judge the most ferocious slugger, but if I'm picking a team I pick Bobby Baseball #1. Witt Jr. is the most exciting player in the game. His sprint from home to third and subsequent dash home last night was electrifying athleticism. He had third base stolen and then got up and nearly turned it into a close play. Who else is all out on the chopper back to the pitcher and the hustle against all odds back to second base? He has a motor like Kirby but hustles like Pete Rose. Bobby Witt Jr. is a must watch player. I find myself keeping an eye on Royals games to catch his plate appearances.

It has been fun to watch the Twins compete against Jr. What a player. He and Elly De La Cruz are something splendiferous.

[GNess]

Joe Ryan has developed into an excellent SP. He likely still has some room to grow as well.

[jmlease1]

Ryan was great. Did a fine job in keeping KC down, and was efficient in getting there so he got through 7, which was great for the bullpen. He looks fully recovered from the injury from last season, which is great. We need him.

Maybe all the Twins needed was nice weather?

Nice to see the defense add rather than subtract too.

[Whitey333]

Nice win Twins!!  We need to win Thursday to start a streak.  Ryan was great.  Ober needs a nice performance Thursday.

[rv78]

Gee, the Twins can win without Buxton. Time to put him on the IR.

[mikelink45]

So nice to have a win but more important to me was Ryan pitched the way that I expect a starting pitcher got and I'm sorry they didn't go out for the 8th cuz I would have loved to see him just complete this game. As I read this excellent summary. I was impressed that for once it's not about how many k's the pitcher gets instead. 83 pitches getting the picture through the 7th inning. Sometimes that little one pitch ground out is a lot more valuable than the K. 

[ryanking61]

Good to see a little bounce back in the team, and seeing Ryan deal the way he did 🤙

[Doctor Gast]

Great pitching by Ryan together with Jax in the 8th & Duran in the 9th; great formula. Great defense by Castro, although the 2 solo HR were welcome, they weren't needed. Fortunately, baserunning errors by Larnach & Vazquez didn't hurt us. Hopefully, it was a learning process. Although the lineup wasn't inspiring w/o Buxton, they did their job from unlikely sources (except Wallner's solo HR). Great to see Keirsey get some ABs, he needs them.

[Bodie]

An ace-type start (but there will never be an ace on this iteration of the team - if fact can't be) from Ryan.

Solid defense, even from the black hole of d starting at 2B. 

Bader is a stud.  The offensive numbers will likely fall back (.300 average seems unlikely for any Twin, but...) but defense and hustle will get you quite a ways (assuming you also have ML talent), and he can set an example for others.  Added bonus: he seems to be having fun playing this game we love. 

If I go to Target field, he is currently the guy to keep an eye on all game (hopefully he isn't the only one all  season!).  Best FA  signing since Cruz. 

[BrokenCompass]

Pitching has been fine for the most part. The problems are - same old story - hitting. While it's great to see the win, the Twins offense is still sputtering and difficult to watch. 

[LambchoP]

Nice to see better defense and no errors in the field. Of course we made up for that with two inexcusable base running blunders. This team struggles with fundamentals which is really not a good look. Rocco needs to go......

[JD-TWINS]

Wallner striking out 3 straight times is never fun…….HR’s help make it better.

Ryan seems healthy and in a good frame of mind - really good to see?

With Lopez down my assumption is Matthews takes his slot and things move forward………I am wondering if it makes sense to get him to 15 day IL today so they can utilize the roster spot for a couple days before Zebby would be needed? Could bring up a PEN arm to help keep things fresh………could bring up a bat for a start Friday or Saturday to try and find an alternative to Gasper or even Kiersey?

Paddack gets ONE more shot and then, if not successful, Festa comes over from St. Paul?

Didn’t see the game but it seems France found something last night. 3-4 with a line-out to pitcher……couple RBI in separate AB’s. Julien seems to be on the edge of regular play - hanging in there.

[DJL44]

1 hour ago, Doctor Gast said:

Fortunately, baserunning errors by Larnach & Vazquez didn't hurt us.

Vazquez has reached base 3 times this year and been picked off twice. He's made an out in 95% of his plate appearances.

[DJL44]

Larnach is selling out for breaking balls, which has allowed pitchers to get first-pitch fastballs down the middle past him. He needs to recognize those and punish the first pitch fastball when he gets it.

[DJL44]

15 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

Paddack gets ONE more shot and then, if not successful, Festa comes over from St. Paul?

Paddack is in the rotation until Lopez returns. Zebby is auditioning for that spot.

[Rod Carews Birthday]

Great start by Joe Ryan last night. He did a masterful job managing his pitches and induced some early in the count ground balls. He’s not overpowering, but he knows how to do the job. I’m also continually impressed by how cool and calm he is out there. He might be the most relaxed guy in baseball.  Just like last year (pre-injury) I think he is probably our best starting pitcher. 

Based on the last few days, it looks like Gasper and Keirsey are playing themselves back to St. Paul, which will more than take care of the “who’s next” situation.  Send down Keirsey and bring up Martin for now and then send down Gasper when/if Lee is ready to go.  It looks like Julien is starting to look like he might turn things around.  He was solid defensively and had a couple of pretty nice plays at second last night.  His at bats are also seeming getting better.  A work in progress for sure, but incremental progress is still progress.  

Now lets win another one and we’ll have a winning streak on our hands.