White Sox 3, Twins 0 (F/7): Twins Drop Ugly, Wet Finale to White Sox

[Matthew Taylor]

On a dreary Thursday afternoon in Minneapolis, the Twins had a chance to build rare momentum and breathe life into a sluggish start to the season. Instead, a lifeless effort at the plate and shaky pitching left Target Field drenched in both rain and frustration.

Image courtesy of © Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images

Box Score

SP: Chris Paddack 5.0 IP, 5H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 5 K (99 pitches, 57 strikes (58%))
Home Runs: None
Bottom 3 WPA: Trevor Larnach -.122, Edouard Julien -.116, Carlos Correa -.101

Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs):

In a game that had all the energy of a Tuesday afternoon dentist appointment, the Minnesota Twins closed out their series against the Chicago White Sox with a dismal 3-0 loss at a soggy, sparsely-attended Target Field. The seven-inning, rain-shortened contest dropped the Twins to 9-16 on the year and capped off a series win that somehow managed to feel more like a missed opportunity than a success.

Minnesota came into the game looking to sweep a White Sox team that is always ripe for sweeping. After erasing deficits in each of the first two games, the Twins were hoping for a momentum-building sweep that could begin to erase the deep 7-15 hole they dug themselves into heading into the series.

But momentum hit a wall early.

Chris Paddack’s struggles started in the second inning, when White Sox second baseman Lenyn Sosa turned on a first-pitch slider and deposited it into the left-field bleachers for a solo homer. Things didn't improve much from there. Paddack labored through five innings, needing 99 pitches to get there while issuing four walks (including one of the bases-loaded variety) and surrendering five hits. His ERA now sits at an unsightly 6.45, with a WHIP of 1.61, and while the Twins haven’t hinted at a rotation change, it's hard to ignore the growing chatter about Triple-A standout Zebby Matthews.

The bullpen didn’t offer much relief, either. Jorge Alcala allowed a solo home run in the sixth to Miguel Vargas, who entered the game with a .464 OPS. It was the final tally in what proved to be a rain-shortened affair, but the damage had long been done.

Still, pitching wasn’t the headline today—it was the offense, or the lack thereof.

In a theme that’s becoming too familiar, the Twins’ bats simply didn’t show up. The team mustered just six hits over seven innings, with the only extra-base knocks coming from Christian Vázquez, a man who’s been more known for framing pitches than hitting them lately. The 4-5-6 spots in the lineup—Trevor Larnach, Carlos Correa, and Ty France—combined to go 0-for-9 with six strikeouts.

But perhaps the most painful stat of the afternoon: 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position. The most glaring missed opportunity came in the sixth, when the Twins had two on with nobody out. Larnach, ahead in the count 3-0, struck out. Correa was rung up on a brutal called third strike, and Ty France lined out to end the threat. If you're keeping score at home (and, judging by attendance, you probably weren’t), the Twins struck out five times after getting ahead 3-0 in the count and seven times in full counts—a franchise record.

It was a lifeless performance, one that left fans thankful the game got "banged" early by rain. Frankly, the most merciful part of the afternoon was that it only lasted seven innings.

What’s Next
The Twins will remain at Target Field for a weekend series against the 11-12 Los Angeles Angels, as they attempt to salvage what’s left of this homestand. There’s a glimmer of hope on the horizon—Friday night marks the return of Pablo López, who is set to come off the IL and take the mound for Minnesota. He’ll be opposed by veteran right-hander Kyle Hendricks for the Angels. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m., and for the Twins, it’s time to start turning things around—or at the very least, start giving fans a reason to show up.

Postgame Interview

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

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[William K Johnson]

How many times did they swing at ball four?

[Patzky]

16 minutes ago, William K Johnson said:

How many times did they swing at ball four?

With that ump you never know. But they had plenty of other chances.

[Peter]

Ugly game!!! We weren’t going to go undefeated against Sox this year. I’ll take series win! Just need to get team back at full health start winning series. Pablo and Royce can’t come back soon enough!!! Need to put corea on il sometime isn’t right with him and it shows. Is it time to put paddock in bullpen bring up zebby/festa-dfa gasper/france/kirsey/bride? 

[Aggies7]

Thank god the nfl draft is tonight. Reminds me that the twins aren’t the only team of mine who perpetually disappoints.

[BillyBallLives]

The Twins couldn’t hit water if they fell out of a boat—and they’re swinging like they’re trying to miss.

 

[USAFChief]

"Dreary":

Bleak, Dark, Desolate, Somber, Depressing Miserable , Lonely, Gray, Gloomy, Wretched, Dismal, Cheerless, Sombre, Lugubrious, Sad, Forlorn, Funereal, Godforsaken, Sunless, Hopeless, Woebegone, Grim Dispiriting, Drab

 

Thesaurus game 

[The Great Hambino]

54 minutes ago, Matthew Taylor said:

the Twins struck out five times after getting ahead 3-0 in the count

 

 

This makes me sad

[Woof Bronzer]

I can safely say the last 3 games comprised the worst MLB series I have ever seen.  Two evenly matched teams doing everything in their power to lose.  Sox would issue free baserunners, we'd respond by handing them free outs.  Defense so sloppy it looked intentional.  Embarrassing hitting (watching hittable pitches, swinging at balls).  Professional athletes unable to muster up the self respect to run the bases hard.  And the strikeouts. Sweet jeebus the strikeouts.  

Whatever this is, it aint baseball and it aint entertainment.  

[BillyBallLives]

9 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

"Dreary":

Bleak, Dark, Desolate, Somber, Depressing Miserable , Lonely, Gray, Gloomy, Wretched, Dismal, Cheerless, Sombre, Lugubrious, Sad, Forlorn, Funereal, Godforsaken, Sunless, Hopeless, Woebegone, Grim Dispiriting, Drab

 

It didn't include:

“cold summer in Omaha"

 

[thelanges5]

Paddack:

[Linus]

Announced attendance of 12,414. There couldn’t have been more 3000 people there. Paddack, like Festa, just lost it in the fifth. 
 

Alcala with 41 pitches. Does he have options left?  I’m done with the guy. 

[Linus]

4 minutes ago, BillyBallLives said:

It didn't include:

“cold summer in Omaha"

 

I think you are mixing your metaphors. 

[mikelink45]

41 minutes ago, Patzky said:

With that ump you never know. But they had plenty of other chances.

 The White Sox played with the same ump. Not an excuse 

[mikelink45]

Alcala has consistently teased the team and they keep putting them in and he keeps failing. I think it's time he went somewhere else. Put paddock in the pen and Matthews in the rotation. Something has to change. 

[USAFChief]

18 minutes ago, Linus said:

 

Alcala .... Does he have options left?  

//to repeat myself from the gamethread//

There IS the option to NOT SUCK

 

[NYCTK]

18 minutes ago, Linus said:

Announced attendance of 12,414. There couldn’t have been more 3000 people there. Paddack, like Festa, just lost it in the fifth. 
 

Alcala with 41 pitches. Does he have options left?  I’m done with the guy. 

I don't have any hope this team turns it around, so my only rooting interest is now the attendance and seeing how low it can go.

Side Note: Twins have already lost more games to the White Sox this season than last. 

[Blyleven2011]

31 minutes ago, Woof Bronzer said:

I can safely say the last 3 games comprised the worst MLB series I have ever seen.  Two evenly matched teams doing everything in their power to lose.  Sox would issue free baserunners, we'd respond by handing them free outs.  Defense so sloppy it looked intentional.  Embarrassing hitting (watching hittable pitches, swinging at balls).  Professional athletes unable to muster up the self respect to run the bases hard.  And the strikeouts. Sweet jeebus the strikeouts.  

Whatever this is, it aint baseball and it aint entertainment.  

Professional athletes  , ha ...

Webster dictionary is thinking about removing that word from the dictionary because there is no more Professionalism  or adding an asterisk with no more professionalism in baseball  , ha ...

[IndyTwinsFan]

34 minutes ago, The Great Hambino said:

This makes me sad

Also sounds about par for the course for this outfit. 

[D.C Twins]

Good Lord.... That Correa contract is gonna be the craptacular gift that keeps on giving and giving and giving. 

What. An. Unadulterated. Mess.  

[D.C Twins]

Rocco's post-game interviews:

 

[Patzky]

21 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

//to repeat myself from the gamethread//

There IS the option to NOT SUCK

 

OOOOOOWENNNNN! DONT PITCH ALCALA!! HE MAKES ME CHOKE!

[Patzky]

18 minutes ago, NYCTK said:

I don't have any hope this team turns it around, so my only rooting interest is now the attendance and seeing how low it can go.

Side Note: Twins have already lost more games to the White Sox this season than last. 

Good thing they're consistent v Atlanta

[Nashvilletwin]

1 hour ago, Woof Bronzer said:

I can safely say the last 3 games comprised the worst MLB series I have ever seen.  Two evenly matched teams doing everything in their power to lose.  Sox would issue free baserunners, we'd respond by handing them free outs.  Defense so sloppy it looked intentional.  Embarrassing hitting (watching hittable pitches, swinging at balls).  Professional athletes unable to muster up the self respect to run the bases hard.  And the strikeouts. Sweet jeebus the strikeouts.  

Whatever this is, it aint baseball and it aint entertainment.  

Seriously, I’ve seen two little league teams play better fundamental baseball.  

[Nashvilletwin]

Two of three - it’s a start and, unless they get swept this weekend,  probably enough for Rocco to keep his job for the time being. Thank god for Buxton’s amazing catch in game one.

I’m actually starting to like this roster a bit more if they can get it healthy and start hitting.  If our 13 position players are Correa, Buxton, France, Bader, Lewis, Castro, Wallner, Julien, Lee, Larnach, Jeffers, Vasquez, and Keaschall, that team should be pretty good on paper at least.  Now, if they only could start performing  to their potential.

[Parfigliano]

2 hours ago, William K Johnson said:

How many times did they swing at ball four?

As usual damn near every chance they got

[Dawgzilla]

I don't know what is worse, the weather there today or their pathetic offense!  What a snoozefest of an offense!!! How many guys are hitting around .200, let alone have very few rbis??!!!!  I don't know if they have a game plan when coming to the plate, which is part of their job!  Yes, I do know that hitting a 4+ inch ball, coming in fast (and at different angles) with a fairly thin "stick" is fairly tough, but these are "pros" and get paid a lot.  Striking out 35%+ is unreal....c'mon man!!!!!!

[Rufus]

What happened to protecting the plate when you have two strikes on you?  If the pitch is close swing and foul it off... at least swing and miss make an impression that you are trying.  Don't stand there and look at it.  Isn't that a fundamental rule of hitting?

[Althebum82]

Sadly, this was actually an above average performance for each pitcher considering how the rest of the season has gone for them.......but give credit to the White Sox, they sure know how to do their part to make our team's horrible season pitching stats improve.

If Correa is hurt, let's please stop pretending he is OK and give someone else a chance to make a positive contribution at short.

God bless Luke Keaschall.

 

[Doc Lenz]

Paddocks ERA last three starts is 2.4.