Twins 10, Athletics 4: Buck Truck Hauling Offense in Sacramento

[Nate Palmer]

Image courtesy of Joe Ryan © Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Box Score
SP: Joe Ryan 5.0 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 4 K (97 pitches, 62 strikes (63.9%)
Home Runs: N/A
Top 3 WPA: Byron Buxton (0.233), Ty France (0.163), Kody Clemens (0.044)

Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)

The Minnesota Twins have had one flaw in their blueprint for winning games the entire 2025 season. That flaw is that they have not been able to score runs consistently. The pitching has often put the Twins in position to win games, but the bats have not picked up their end of the tab. Monday evening in Sacramento demonstrated just how important those runs are for the Twins to achieve sustained success.  

Joe Ryan has been on a tear since the start of May. Over that stretch, Ryan started five games, and the Twins went 4-1 in his starts. He held opponents to a low six earned runs and a 1.86 ERA over 29 innings while stringing out 33 and only walking five. Ryan had a test Monday night to continue that sort of output in a ballpark that has showcased plenty of good offense. 

Second-Inning Explosion
The Twins exploded for six runs in the second inning—a number that would prove to be needed to be competitive in the game. Carlos Correa got the hits going with a pulled double down the third-base line that he created with his legs as much as his bat. Willi Castro followed up with a hustle infield single to put runners on the corners. 

Kody Clemens was next to reach base, by wearing a pitch and loading the bases with one out for the Twins. As it has been so often this season, Ty France stepped into the batter's box with runners in scoring position and delivered once again. France laced another RBI single to bring home Correa and Castro to make it 2-0 Twins. 

Byron Buxton skied a deep fly ball to left field that was misplayed. That gave Buxton a 2-RBI double to extend the Twins lead to 4-0. Trevor Larnach then singled to bring Buxton home, and Brooks Lee doubled to score Larnach, building that 6-0 lead. 

Ryan Tested
Ryan finally ran into some turbulence beginning in the third inning. The A’s first took Ryan through a long and grinding third inning that resulted in a run. It was the fourth inning that led to the A’s pulling the Twins closer courtesy of a 3-run Lawrence Butler home run and maybe a missed strike call in the previous at-bat, with Denzel Clarke up to bat. 

With the lead 6-4 for the Twins, Ryan got tested once again. Ryan had to figure out how to get out of a no-outs, bases-loaded jam. Somehow, he figured out how to do that in a place where it seemed sure that more of that six-run buffer that was built up would slip away. Instead, two infield flies and a ground out later, Ryan could make his way back to the dugout with the score still 6-4. 

Twins continue scoring
A frustrating trait of recent Twins teams has been their tendency to score runs early and then fail to score again for the rest of the game. Monday night, the Twins offense found a way to extend their lead after the A’s got to Ryan. Buxton again brought two more runs in to extend their lead to 8-4 in the sixth inning. 

Brooks Lee spent Monday night rewarding his manager for his confidence in the young infielder. Lee's appearance as the number three hitter came with plenty of scrutiny, but he came through with two hits and two RBIs to keep the Twins rolling. The second of those RBIs came in the 8th inning to give the Twins some more insurance and a 9-4 lead. 

Buxton would drive one more run in on a sacrifice fly to give himself a five-RBI night and the Twins a 10-4 lead. 

Kody Clemens continues to contribute
Kody Clemens made his way as a mainstay in the Twins lineup, with his bat sitting north of a 1.000 OPS for several games. While his bat has cooled off and that number has settled to the south again, Clemens continues to come up in big spots and significant ways. While Clemens did come through with a hit and a run in the sixth inning Monday night, it was his glove at second that proved to be key in the Twins efforts. 

Clemens first saved a run in the first when he threw out Lawrence Butler at home off of a Brent Rooker ground ball. Then in the fourth inning, Clemens saved a run by keeping a grounder up the middle from reaching the outfield. It didn’t produce an out, but it caused Drew Avans to stay at third. Avans would ultimately score on Butler’s home run, but the play shows how Clemens has continued to find ways to succeed with a Twins uniform on. 

What’s Next?
Tuesday is Pablo Day. Pablo Lopez will look to bounce back after giving up four runs against the Rays last time out. Jacob Lopez (while unofficial currently) appears to be in line for the A's start Tuesday which will be his fourth of the season. The Twins offense will look to continue to roll against the left-hander and put some more crooked numbers on the board. 

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

	THU	FRI	SAT	SUN	MON	TOT
Stewart	0	17	11	0	12	40
Jax	0	0	18	15	0	33
Varland	0	0	18	0	15	33
Alcalá	0	0	28	0	0	28
Sands	0	21	6	0	0	27
Durán	0	13	14	0	0	27
Topa	0	0	10	0	11	21
Funderburk	0	0	0	0	17	17

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[JD-TWINS]

Stewart - Varland - Topa ……..these guys are waaay underrated by Twin’s fandom. Stewart pitched well in 3 of last 4 games and Varland is nearly flawless! Topa doesn’t have any flash but just gets outs.

Ryan seemed to have wandering mind - wandering emotions - wandering command after Team took the 6-0 lead. Remember he got out of a no outs, bases loaded jam and still gave up 4 runs in 5 innings as well. Team lucky to have a bunch of offense tonight.

Clemens is hard not to like - has been a very valuable pick-up! He should be fined for not scoring on France’s double with 2 outs. Cluelessly watching the ball and jogging to 2B with ball hit in the gap. He and France got picked up but that was really poor awareness! 1B coach has some blame as well, he’s gotta keep the runners focused and sharp in that situation.

Nice win - they need 2 more on this trip & Pablo needs to bounce back after last outing.

[Bracky]

I continue to appreciate France this year and his pretty consistent batting.

 

[Blyleven2011]

The starting lineup  ...

Each batter got a hit or more , I'm not sure that has happened this year  ...

Don't need homeruns to score double digit runs , singles and doubles are just fine ...

Ryan wasn't on his game tonight , in the month of May he only allowed 6 earned runs in his starts  , he almost matched that in 1 start in June  ...

Nice start to the 4 game series , glad the bats came alive ...

[Parfigliano]

6 minutes ago, Bracky said:

I continue to appreciate France this year and his pretty consistent batting.

 

Hasn't been bad on D either

[jmlease1]

Ryan was just a bit off last night, and it did look like he might have taken his foot off the gas a little when the Twins gave him a big cushion. You'd hope that with that kind of offense your starter might be able to get you 6-7 innings. But it was still enough. A's are a solid offensive team. Fortunately for us, their pitching stinks on ice.

Was very happy to see the Twins tack on additional runs after the explosion; the 3rd-5th innings got a little frustrating as you wondered if they were taking the rest of the night off, but they added the insurance. plenty of hits and walks last night, and Buxton showed why he's such a difference-maker.

A's are not a good team. Let's go beat up on them all series after a mildly disappointing result in Seattle.

[Whitey333]

N Ice win Twins against a AAA type A's team.  A's have now lost 18 of last 19 games and you can see why.  But Twins responded well.  Twins really should sweep this series.  At least take 3 of 4 with Tigers playing white Sox this week. Go Twins!!

[MinnInPa]

7 hours ago, Blyleven2011 said:

The starting lineup  ...

Each batter got a hit or more , I'm not sure that has happened this year  ...

Don't need homeruns to score double digit runs , singles and doubles are just fine ...

Ryan wasn't on his game tonight , in the month of May he only allowed 6 earned runs in his starts  , he almost matched that in 1 start in June  ...

Nice start to the 4 game series , glad the bats came alive ...

also, cant remember the last time they went thru the order to start the game w/o a K..thats very uncommon

[Doctor Gast]

A's are in a big slump. I'd be very disappointed if the Twins didn't at least win 3 out of 4. Twins are now in the win big against the poorer teams & lose close games mode. 

[Parfigliano]

1 hour ago, Whitey333 said:

N Ice win Twins against a AAA type A's team.  A's have now lost 18 of last 19 games and you can see why.  But Twins responded well.  Twins really should sweep this series.  At least take 3 of 4 with Tigers playing white Sox this week. Go Twins!!

Gotta beat the weak teams

[AceWrigley]

Good to see Buxton getting the French Single (going oppo a la Ty France) to score runs.

[DJL44]

The A's outfield defense is not good. Makes me appreciate having Buxton and Bader on the Twins.

[PDX Twin]

Quote

Tuesday is Pablo Day. Pablo Lopez will look to bounce back after giving up four runs against the Rays last time out. Jacob Lopez (while unofficial currently) appears to be in line for the A's start Tuesday which will be his fourth of the season. 

Sounds more like Lopez Day ...

[Linus]

Clemens throw on the contact play was outstanding. He did several non hitting things to contribute. 
I really like the way Varland goes after the hitters. He’s gonna get burned sometimes but his aggressive style is so refreshing. Alcala and Funderburk should pay attention. 

[LambchoP]

Nice to see the offense come alive. Still think Lewis should go down to the minors for a bit. If he can find his swing and get even close to where he was early on last year, he could be the big bat pickup that we need at the deadline. You add a productive Lewis and Keaschal to this lineup and we might just be ok. I really like what Clemens has been doing, both defensively and at the plate. Rocco has got to keep putting him in the lineup. I think I'd have someone else batting in the 3 spot rather than Lee though. He has gotten some big hits lately, but it seems everything he hits is on the ground and just gets lucky they find holes. I'd move him down the order and France moves up. Guy has been an RBI machine for us so far.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I am not predicting a sweep, but last night was probably the A’s best chance at a win this series. (I am assuming the good Pablo shows up tonight.)

[MMMordabito]

Best "That's Baseball" stat was Matt Wallner accumulating 797 feet of air with his two connections in one inning (a major league high for the season) with nothing to show for it ... well, other than a team win. 

[MMMordabito]

"maybe a missed strike call in the previous at-bat, with Denzel Clarke up to bat. "

[tony&rodney]

12 hours ago, JD-TWINS said:

Ryan seemed to have wandering mind - wandering emotions - wandering command after Team took the 6-0 lead. Remember he got out of a no outs, bases loaded jam and still gave up 4 runs in 5 innings as well.

Sure seemed like Ryan let his brain go for a walk to me too. I have watched the Athletics a couple of times and they have some really good bats. So Ryan looked like he toyed with the A's the first time through the order and then he started getting off of his plan. The result was too many pitches and good hitters can cause chaos. Ryan was a little lucky there wasn't more damage. The bullpen was fabulous picking up the last four innings.

[h2oface]

5 hours ago, PDX Twin said:

Sounds more like Lopez Day ...

And Pablo Day at a visiting ballpark? Give it a break. Trying too hard on that one. 

[Althebum82]

over 29 innings while stringing out 33

I am hoping that you meant striking out 33.  If not, what word did you intend to use after 33?  Popcorn balls?  Christmas lights?  Maybe northerns or some other variety of fish?