Guardians 4, Twins 2: Too Little, Too Late, Too Naylor

[Sherry Cerny]

Image courtesy of © David Richard-Imagn Images

Box Score
SP: Pablo López 6.1 P, 4H, 2ER, 0BB, 6K (90 pitches, 60 strikes (67%))
Home Runs:  Brooks Lee (5)
Top 3 WPA: Trevor Larnach (.461), Pablo Lopez (.110), Brooks Lee (.047)
Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)

Mickey Gasper got his first-ever turn in the leadoff spot Wednesday night against the Guardians, as Rocco Baldelli tried again to jumpstart his sleepy offense. It didn't work in the first frame, though, as the visitors went down in order.

Pitcher Pablo López is back for his second start since returning from the IL. His first start back on April 25, López went five innings, giving up 5 runs (2 earned) and striking out six, with 101 pitches. He doesn’t have a strict pitch limit, but the team certainly wanted to keep him under that number Wednesday. The top of the order for the Guardians didn’t work López too hard, even with a hard-hit line drive down the first base line by José Ramírez. López worked his way out of the inning with 21 pitches. 

The game was lackluster through six frames. Neither the Twins nor the Guardians could really get anyone on base, outside two walks and a Ramírez double. Both pitchers did their jobs. It felt like every batted ball was a routine, unthreatening out—something the Twins are all too familiar with, and seemed to slip back into during the game Tuesday night. That not-real-rain delayed game was bound to be a disaster, though. When you make a player go through their routine, only to sit for three hours for rain that never happened, it was no wonder it was a low-scoring game. Wednesday night's game was just poor hitting and routine defense on both sides. 

Kody Clemens made his first Twins start at second base, and looked good there. He's a versatile defender, but if he's going to be needed for any significant amount of playing time, he's best cast at second.

López’s pitch count was well under control through five frames. At the end of the fifth, he had five strikeouts, had retired 13 batters straight, and had enjoyed four 1-2-3 innings; he'd fired only 64 pitches. Good starting pitching continues to be the strength of the club. The Twins have given the bullpen a lot of work early on, but that's begun to change. (Unfortunately, it didn't change fast enough Wednesday night.)

In the sixth, Byron Buxton reached on a two-out infield single. After Luis L. Ortiz knocked Carlos Correa down with a pitch high and tight, on the next pitch, Buxton took off for second base. He made it to third on an error by Bo Naylor, his seventh steal on the season and the 100th in his career. In the process, he joined Torii Hunter and Kirby Puckett as the only Twins to have 100 stolen bases. Sadly, the effort was wasted, with Correa striking out to end the inning.

The seventh inning, sadly, was nothing but trouble. In a still-scoreless game, Ramírez cracked a leadoff double. A great catch by DaShawn Keirsey Jr. held the rally at bay momentarily, but on a dribbler back to the mound, López then committed a pivotal throwing error, overthrowing first base on what should have been a routine second out.

Brock Stewart came out to relieve López, but offered no relief at all. A stolen base, a wild pitch, a walk and another steal put two more runners in scoring position. Then, the threat turned into an outright disaster with a three-run right-field homer off the bat of Bo Naylor. In a blink, the Guardians led 4-0.

López should have stayed in. The argument that his error indicated fatigue or that he was at 89 pitches holds no water; he should have had the chance to stay in and work his way out of the jam. There were certainly poor calls that made the situation worse. Ultimately, though, the offense has to do their job. They didn't do it Wednesday night.

Hunter Gaddis came in to relieve Cade Smith, and Brooks Lee ripped a home run just over the fence to give the Twins their first run. However, it stayed 4-1, as the eighth inning ended with two strikeouts on Gasper and Edouard Julien.

The Twins got a reprieve in the ninth. The Guardians brought in Emmanuel Clase. Clase has been struggling this season, and he was off again Wednesday—but not enough for the offense to fully catch up. Larnach singled and eventually came home on a wild pitch to bring up the score 4-2, but Clemens struck out to end the game. 

What’s Next? 
The Twins finish out the series with a getaway game on their way to Boston to face the Red Sox. Simeon Woods-Richardson (2-2; 4.07 ERA) will be taking the mound against Ben Lively (1-2; 4.40 ERA) at 12:10PM CST. 

Postgame Interviews

 

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

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[Parfigliano]

Absent a shutout this game was 85% lost when Rocco submitted his lineup card.

[thelanges5]

1 step forward, 2 steps back. The hitting doesn’t leave any margin of error for the pitching or fielding. A lot of talent on this club but they aren’t playing well. 

[thelanges5]

4 minutes ago, Parfigliano said:

Absent a shutout this game was 85% lost when Rocco submitted his lineup card.

Agreed. He doesn’t have much to work with due to the injuries. 

[Nashvilletwin]

So I’m watching the game and Stewart starts out Naylor with four straight 4 seam FBs.  Then he throws a change up.  Our brilliant tv analyst smartly says, that by throwing the change up, Stewart has now set up Naylor to not sit on the four seam. I literally yelled out “OMG - no, he’s sitting dead red for sure!”  Here comes the 4 seamer and goodbye Mr. Rawlings.  lol. 

[h2oface]

Baldelli Ball. A DH that hits under .200 leading off. LEADING OFF! Now we have Gasper AND Kody Clemens (hitting under .100) getting starts, and an AAA Keirsey who is hitting way under .100. Remember when bench players were actually bench players, and not 1/3 of the lineup starting?

Lopez. Pitchers continue to throw the ball away to one of the bases, and then Stewart couldn't have been more middle middle middle - throw meat right down the middle late in the game we have a good chance to win for a crushing 3 run homer in the 7th. 3 SB against Jeffers, Santana one of them. Who knows how it would have come out because Jeffers' throw is so horrible that it hits a squatting Stewart in the back of the glove elbow. And Correa is back to 2025 normal and goes O'fer and Ks 3 times. So hard to watch.

[mikelink45]

I was criticized yesterday for saying that I did not think Julien was doing his job as lead-off.  Evidently Rocco agreed, but that does not make me feel better when Gasper is the solution.

I feel like I should just have a paste option for why pull the SP.  But old Rocco and I really diverge here.  Is our BP so great that we don't want to have our SP face the next rotation of the lineup?  I thought SP was a strength.

19% of the season done - fans looking at Wild and Wolves, talking about drafts and United and Lynx.  

Are the Twins number six in the professional pecking order now or am I missing some other teams and leagues?  

[FlyingFinn]

14 minutes ago, Nashvilletwin said:

So I’m watching the game and Stewart starts out Naylor with four straight 4 seam FBs.

Exactly. The change up wasn't close to being a strike so he didn't need to look for that. Great pitching and pitch selection the last two games except for the inexplicable need to throw almost nothing but fastballs to Naylor until he gets the timing down and wins the game for them.

[FlyingFinn]

Larnach could have caught that ball instead of letting it hit halfway up the wall. The home plate ump was terrible that inning as well. But the real problem is the hitting, batting 3 guys who seem like automatic outs, Gasper, Clemens and Kiersey. Kiersey needs to become a great bunter. Do that and combine it with his good defense and baserunning and he could last as a 4th/5th outfielder.

[1985Fan]

11 minutes ago, Nashvilletwin said:

So I’m watching the game and Stewart starts out Naylor with four straight 4 seam FBs.  Then he throws a change up.  Our brilliant tv analyst smartly says, that by throwing the change up, Stewart has now set up Naylor to not sit on the four seam. I literally yelled out “OMG - no, he’s sitting dead red for sure!”  Here comes the 4 seamer and goodbye Mr. Rawlings.  lol. 

My thoughts exactly. You could see Naylor was sitting dead red when he pulled a FB sharply to right side. Same scenario as night before when Naylor hit home run off Paddack. Paddack was pounding FB and Naylor was pulling foul. More obvious because the fouls were in the right field seats.

Makes me wonder what the Twins scouting report is on Naylor. They obviously believe he can’t catch up on FB middle in. Two games, two critical HRs by Naylor on FB. I hope the Twins learn and adjust and throw breaking pitches to Naylor next game. 
Once  again, sticking to a pre-game script. Make adjustments during the AB and game. 

[Peter]

Getting tired seeing twins lose especially when umpires did them in today!!! It’s time to get rid of scum bag umpires and get ABS!!! Why bother watching if umpires/referess are going to F—k all of our Minnesota teams 

[1985Fan]

What’s up with Jeffers? Doesn’t look like his head is in the game. He couldn’t get the ball out of his glove on a FB down the middle without a swing. Fumbled the ball between glove and hand. No throw. 
Next stolen base he hits Stewart in the elbow while Stewart was knelling on the mound! What the heck. Looks like a little league team out there. 
Now we know why Vazquez is on the roster. He’s the only catcher on the roster. 

 

[DJL44]

"he joined Torii Hunter and Kirby Puckett as the only Twins to have 100 stolen bases"

Not quite. Carew has over 200 steals. I think it's the 100 HR / 100 SB club.

[DJL44]

Twins Stolen Base Leaders

1. Chuck Knoblauch: 276
2. Rod Carew: 271
3. Cesar Tovar: 186
4. Kirby Puckett: 134
5. Torii Hunter: 126
6. Dan Gladden: 116
7. Cristian Guzman: 102
8. Byron Buxton 100
9. Matt Lawton: 96
10. Larry Hisle: 92
11. Nick Punto: 89

Buxton could catch Puckett on the list but Tovar is unlikely.

[DJL44]

I didn't realize Stewart was so bad at holding runners. He doesn't have a slide-step. Those steals aren't on Jeffers, they're on the pitcher.

[thelanges5]

4-12 on the road, 3-7 in the division (took out the White Sox) Woof, I think we’re in for a long season. Probably too early right now but at some point we need to start looking forward to 2026 and see what we’ve got on the farm. 

[DJL44]

Worth noting that Rickey had 300 steals by age 23. We will never see another like him.

[DJL44]

13 minutes ago, thelanges5 said:

4-12 on the road, 3-7 in the division (took out the White Sox) Woof, I think we’re in for a long season. Probably too early right now but at some point we need to start looking forward to 2026 and see what we’ve got on the farm. 

It's a 68 win pace with almost 20% of the season in the books. I hope they don't wait until the deadline to make some moves. I think Rocco needs 12 wins in May to keep his job.

The only thing interesting on the farm in the near-term is starting pitching (Festa, Matthews, Morris). I doubt they move enough starters to get all 3 of them into the MLB rotation.

[Mike Sixel]

1 minute ago, DJL44 said:

It's a 68 win pace with almost 20% of the season in the books. I hope they don't wait until the deadline to make some moves. I think Rocco needs 12 wins in May to keep his job.

The only thing interesting on the farm in the near-term is starting pitching (Festa, Matthews, Morris). I doubt they move enough starters to get all 3 of them into the MLB rotation.

I'd also like an early trade, but they are very rare. 

[USAFChief]

49 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

I didn't realize Stewart was so bad at holding runners. He doesn't have a slide-step. Those steals aren't on Jeffers, they're on the pitcher.

I don't know how many times this needs to be said:

The Twins do not believe in slide steps. They don't ask any pitcher to use one.

They regularly ignore runners. 

Catchers are on one knee regardless the baserunner situation. 

The Twins, as an organization, do not put much weight on controlling the running game.

 

Decide for yourself whether that's good or bad, important or trivial. 

But it's factual. 

[Parfigliano]

1 hour ago, DJL44 said:

Twins Stolen Base Leaders

1. Chuck Knoblauch: 276
2. Rod Carew: 271
3. Cesar Tovar: 186
4. Kirby Puckett: 134
5. Torii Hunter: 126
6. Dan Gladden: 116
7. Cristian Guzman: 102
8. Byron Buxton 100
9. Matt Lawton: 96
10. Larry Hisle: 92
11. Nick Punto: 89

Buxton could catch Puckett on the list but Tovar is unlikely.

Hunter is unlikely

[knothole61]

So disappointing--but really, what can we expect with one-third of the lineup averaging .116. I think the over/under bet on hits per week for the trio of Keirsey, Jr., Gaspar, and Clemens would be two and one-half, and Gasper is by far the class of the group. Mr. Keirsey has done what I would once have considered impossible, made me long for Gasper whenever he is in the box...seriously. Is Miranda injured? If not, wouldn't it be a good idea to have him replace a member of .116 Club? After all, he shares an all-time MLB record for most consecutive hits...all-time! 12 hits in a row for Miranda--how long (months) do you think it might take Keirsey to collect 12 hits? Maybe half a season?

Let's win tomorrow for a split, and Go Wolves!     

[JADBP]

Here is the most inane decision possible....letting Kody Clemmons hit.  it was 9th inning, two outs but runners on 2nd and 3rd.  And you expect Clemmons to get a hit here?  He's batting 091 for the season, and hit a whopping 0.000 for the Phils before they dumped him.  A little extra history on Clemmons...he has TWO DWIs!  Last one he threw up while being arrested, after crashing into another car.  Obviously he must think he's as good as his [roid poster boy] father.  He has a brother named Koby...so it is Koby and Kody Clemmons, what was Roger thinking there?  The sooner we dump him, the better!  And, yeah, after Rocco walks him out the door,  lock the door behind Rocco!

[Karbo]

9 hours ago, Parfigliano said:

Absent a shutout this game was 85% lost when Rocco submitted his lineup card.

I can't believe he decided this was a throw away game. Starting not 1 but 3 AAAA guys. Rocco has got to go!

[Doctor Wu]

8 hours ago, DJL44 said:

Twins Stolen Base Leaders

1. Chuck Knoblauch: 276
2. Rod Carew: 271
3. Cesar Tovar: 186
4. Kirby Puckett: 134
5. Torii Hunter: 126
6. Dan Gladden: 116
7. Cristian Guzman: 102
8. Byron Buxton 100
9. Matt Lawton: 96
10. Larry Hisle: 92
11. Nick Punto: 89

Buxton could catch Puckett on the list but Tovar is unlikely.

Good list. I had forgotten that Knoblauch was such a good base stealer. Or even Gladden, for that matter. 

[Patzky]

9 hours ago, thelanges5 said:

Agreed. He doesn’t have much to work with due to the injuries. 

Royce is hardly hitting at St Paul, an 0/5 last night. Not inspiring confidence that he's ready to help. 

[Patzky]

40 minutes ago, Karbo said:

I can't believe he decided this was a throw away game. Starting not 1 but 3 AAAA guys. Rocco has got to go!

The cupboard is bare. 

[Patzky]

5 hours ago, knothole61 said:

So disappointing--but really, what can we expect with one-third of the lineup averaging .116. I think the over/under bet on hits per week for the trio of Keirsey, Jr., Gaspar, and Clemens would be two and one-half, and Gasper is by far the class of the group. Mr. Keirsey has done what I would once have considered impossible, made me long for Gasper whenever he is in the box...seriously. Is Miranda injured? If not, wouldn't it be a good idea to have him replace a member of .116 Club? After all, he shares an all-time MLB record for most consecutive hits...all-time! 12 hits in a row for Miranda--how long (months) do you think it might take Keirsey to collect 12 hits? Maybe half a season?

Let's win tomorrow for a split, and Go Wolves!     

Miranda is in St Paul but has yet to play. Truly McCusker is the only guy there I'd trust to help as May arrives.

[Mark G]

42 minutes ago, Karbo said:

I can't believe he decided this was a throw away game. Starting not 1 but 3 AAAA guys. Rocco has got to go!

In basketball they run a rotation of players each game, with the starters getting the most minutes, but the reserves spelling them for a certain number of minutes a game to keep them as fresh as possible.    Rocco does the same type of thing; our "starters" play more games than the others, but he runs a rotation of sorts using the bench guys to spell the starters a certain number of games a season.  Everyone plays and everyone rests.  Games like yesterday are simply an outcome of that overall plan.  It is simply who he is and how he believes players should be used.  Yes, it will keep players rested; and it will result in games like yesterday.  He simply believes the former is more important than the latter.  Actually, he uses the pitching staff in a similar manner, but that is a subject I get grief for pointing out, so..........😉

[DJL44]

7 hours ago, Parfigliano said:

Hunter is unlikely

He's averaged 10 steals a year throughout his career. He has 3 more years on the contract. He's having a career year for SB this season. I'd say it's equally likely as not (even odds) that he catches Hunter.