Twins 4, Orioles 0: Twins Push Win Streak to 11, But Lose Buxton and Correa to Injury in Shutout of Orioles

[Matthew Taylor]

Image courtesy of © Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images

Box Score
SP: Chris Paddack 7 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K (89 pitches, 61 strikes (69%)
Home Runs: DaShawn Keirsey Jr. (1), Byron Buxton (10)
Top 3 WPA: Paddack (.320), Keirsey Jr. (.178), Buxton (.067)

Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs):

The Minnesota Twins came into Thursday’s matchup riding high on a 10-game winning streak, fresh off a doubleheader sweep of the Orioles the day before. They were 5-0 against Baltimore on the season and looked to cap off the season series with a perfect sweep.

Chris Paddack took the mound, coming off his best outing of the season against San Francisco. With every arm in the bullpen used during Wednesday’s twin bill, Minnesota was counting on a deep start, and Paddack delivered.

For much of the first quarter of the season, the Twins’ offense was sluggish out of the gate, but that wasn’t the case today. In the top of the 3rd, DaShawn Keirsey Jr. (who came into the game with an .086 slugging percentage) launched a two-run homer to right to open the scoring. Moments later, Byron Buxton followed with a solo shot of his own, continuing his hot streak and putting the Twins up 3-0.

But the mood shifted dramatically in the bottom of the 3rd.

As a shallow fly ball looped just beyond second base, Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa collided violently in pursuit of the catch (Byron incredibly held onto the ball). Both players were down for an extended period. Trainers came out immediately. While Buxton initially stayed in the game, he did not return to the field for the bottom of the 4th inning. It was later reported that both Buxton and Correa are now in MLB’s concussion protocol. We’ll certainly learn more in the coming days, but it’s a gut punch to lose two of the team’s highest-paid and most crucial players in the same freak accident.

Still, the game had to continue. In the bottom of the 4th, Baltimore looked poised to start a rally when Ryan Mountcastle laced a ball down the right-field line. It rebounded hard off the high wall and got past Kody Clemens, inspiring Mountcastle to try for a triple. Clemens picked it up on the run and fired a strike to third, though, thwarting the slow-footed Mountcastle and forestalling a rally.

The injury woes didn’t end there for the Twins. In the top of the 7th, Willi Castro hit a double and immediately stayed down in visible pain after a headfirst slide into second base. Unlike Correa and Buxton, though, Castro was able to remain in the game, and he scored on the very next pitch, when Royce Lewis singled him home.

While the day featured plenty of drama, the Twins got exactly what they needed on the mound. Paddack threw 7 brilliant innings, allowing just 3 hits and no runs. On a day when the bullpen was taxed, Paddack’s performance was both timely and crucial. Since surrendering 9 earned runs in his season debut, Paddack has not allowed more than 3 earned runs in any of his last eight starts. His ERA now sits at 4.05, a testament to his consistency and resilience in the fifth spot of the rotation.

The bullpen slammed the door once again. Louis Varland and Jhoan Duran each tossed a scoreless frame to secure Minnesota’s third shutout of the season. It also extended the winning streak to 11 games, just one shy of their 12-game streak from a year ago—around this same time.

The Twins improve to 24-20 and gained ground in the suddenly stacked AL Central, as the Royals, Guardians, and Tigers were all idle.

What’s Next

The Twins take their 11-game winning streak on the road to Milwaukee this weekend to face the 21-23 Brewers. The series kicks off Friday night at 7:10 p.m. with Joe Ryan getting the start for Minnesota. He’ll be opposed by Brewers right-hander Chad Patrick.

Postgame Interviews

 

 

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

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[USAFChief]

What in the wide wide world of sports is a-goin' on here??

 

[DocBauer]

Great game!

Great streak!

Awful collision! (Hope are A-OK!)

Hmm....I thought Paddack was supposed to stink and have no upside?

[Galen]

I'm not sure who this new pitcher is...this Chris Padduck guy...but I sure like him.

[DJL44]

Perhaps the best back-to-back starts of Paddack's career.

[Peter]

Huge sweep!!! 11 in a row!!! Whats the La tests updates on corea/buxton playing tomorrow? We need them!!!

[mnfireman]

Duran throwing 27 pitches in a non-save situation pretty much takes him out for tomorrow, but only he and Varland look to be unavailable.

[UK Twin]

8 minutes ago, Peter said:

Huge sweep!!! 11 in a row!!! Whats the La tests updates on corea/buxton playing tomorrow? We need them!!!

We'll know more tomorrow. Obviously if they are diagnosed with a concussion they're both going on the IL. Even in a best case scenario I can't see them playing tomorrow.

[Mike Sixel]

15 minutes ago, Peter said:

Huge sweep!!! 11 in a row!!! Whats the La tests updates on corea/buxton playing tomorrow? We need them!!!

As I said in teh game thread, I read they died in the clubhouse.....*

*not actually. 

[SD happy]

Paddock gave the Twins exactly what they needed today…..and then some! After a tough start to the season, he’s been great! Kudos to Paddock!

[jorgenswest]

27 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Perhaps the best back-to-back starts of Paddack's career.

I would think so. It is the first time in his career he has consecutive starts with game scores in the 70s. He did have three game scores in the 80s in 2019 but they were not back to back. Is it possible he finally is back from his long stretch of injuries?

There were so many players this series that stepped up. How many played multiple positions? A few played at least three positions. That positional flexibility the Twins seem to value was needed in this series.

[Aggies7]

This reversal of fortunes/outcomes must be studied by science. Looked like a bottom 5 team in baseball. Maybe bottom 3. Unfortunate having the injuries, would love to see a 20 gamer like the A’s did years ago 

[Vanimal46]

1 minute ago, Aggies7 said:

This reversal of fortunes/outcomes must be studied by science. Looked like a bottom 5 team in baseball. Maybe bottom 3. Unfortunate having the injuries, would love to see a 20 gamer like the A’s did years ago 

It would help my blood pressure if the Twins can even out these extreme highs and lows 

[Aggies7]

6 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

It would help my blood pressure if the Twins can even out these extreme highs and lows 

Yeah but what fun is that if you can’t get irrationally angry and also foolishly hopeful 😂

[Dman]

Man am I gonna have to eat crow tonight for my Paddack comments?  I thought his last time out was a little bit of luck, but seven innings of no run ball? Maybe he is better than I thought he was? Naaw I need him to do it one more time before getting that crow dinner.

Nice to see him pitching well.  Hope it stays that way the rest of the year.

 

[Aggies7]

10 minutes ago, Dman said:

Man am I gonna have to eat crow tonight for my Paddack comments?  I thought his last time out was a little bit of luck, but seven innings of no run ball? Maybe he is better than I thought he was? Naaw I need him to do it one more time before getting that crow dinner.

Nice to see him pitching well.  Hope it stays that way the rest of the year.

 

I thought he’d be released by now after his rough start

[tony&rodney]

Twins are getting great pitching. Buxton is playing well and the team receives timely contributions from an assortment of guys.

If Correa and Buxton need to be sat down for a week on the Concussion Il, both McCusker and Fitzgerald will provide more help than any other players from the Saints. 

[Parfigliano]

1 hour ago, mnfireman said:

Duran throwing 27 pitches in a non-save situation pretty much takes him out for tomorrow, but only he and Varland look to be unavailable.

I didn't like using him today when it wasn't necessary.

[Parfigliano]

1 hour ago, Mike Sixel said:

As I said in teh game thread, I read they died in the clubhouse.....*

*not actually. 

I heard it was murder

[hitterscount]

I have been steady all season, calling for the dismissal of Rocco (which I now  retract), believing we have a top 1/3 rotation and above average closer and weren’t going to be able to muster any consistent offense to win series and get back to.500. Finally was able to watch most of this series and they are a different team. Not sure what has changed, Lewis , non-factor, Castro solid utility guy… Rocco a more traditional approach. Im back and ready to enjoy the season regardless of results… except yankees, we need to compete against them.

[Parfigliano]

43 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

It would help my blood pressure if the Twins can even out these extreme highs and lows 

Maybe try starting the seasons first 20-30 games playing .500 ball instead of .370

[TheLeviathan]

First off - kudos to all the leadership on the team and the players, they are grinding.  This is a team playing a style TK would be proud of.

With Correa and Buck likely to be out for a week who are we calling up?  

I imagine we'll see Bader take over CF full time and is it finally time to see McCusker come up?  

Gaspar back up as a utility with Lee taking over SS and Castro at 2B?

[Mike Sixel]

8 minutes ago, TheLeviathan said:

First off - kudos to all the leadership on the team and the players, they are grinding.  This is a team playing a style TK would be proud of.

With Correa and Buck likely to be out for a week who are we calling up?  

I imagine we'll see Bader take over CF full time and is it finally time to see McCusker come up?  

Gaspar back up as a utility with Lee taking over 3B and Castro at 2B?

Isn't Lee the SS if CC is out?

[mnfireman]

10 minutes ago, TheLeviathan said:

First off - kudos to all the leadership on the team and the players, they are grinding.  This is a team playing a style TK would be proud of.

With Correa and Buck likely to be out for a week who are we calling up?  

I imagine we'll see Bader take over CF full time and is it finally time to see McCusker come up?  

Gaspar back up as a utility with Lee taking over 3B and Castro at 2B?

Bader is dealing with a possible IL stay himself...

[Mrs. Baseball]

53 minutes ago, Dman said:

Man am I gonna have to eat crow tonight for my Paddack comments?  I thought his last time out was a little bit of luck, but seven innings of no run ball? Maybe he is better than I thought he was? Naaw I need him to do it one more time before getting that crow dinner.

Nice to see him pitching well.  Hope it stays that way the rest of the year.

 

In my experience crow is best served with al fredo sauce and a couple of sprigs of asparagus. Had a giant helping last season predicting 93 wins before the epic collapse.

[cammos10]

16 minutes ago, TheLeviathan said:

With Correa and Buck likely to be out for a week who are we calling up?  

I imagine we'll see Bader take over CF full time and is it finally time to see McCusker come up?  

Gaspar back up as a utility with Lee taking over 3B and Castro at 2B?

If Correa is out, I imagine Lee will slide to SS, Royce and Bride at 3B, and a combo of Castro and others at 2B. Do they call up Julien? Sure would be nice to have Keaschall available 

[jkcarew]

[Patzky]

45 minutes ago, Parfigliano said:

I heard it was murder

Murders are crows not O's

[Patzky]

28 minutes ago, mnfireman said:

Bader is dealing with a possible IL stay himself...

France made some plays but he's dinged up too. 

[Doc Lenz]

1 hour ago, Dman said:

Man am I gonna have to eat crow tonight for my Paddack comments?  I thought his last time out was a little bit of luck, but seven innings of no run ball? Maybe he is better than I thought he was? Naaw I need him to do it one more time before getting that crow dinner.

Nice to see him pitching well.  Hope it stays that way the rest of the year.

 

The sign up sheet for those to apologize for wanting Paddock traded or sent to the bullpen in March and April is in the Principals office. Plenty of space for all.