Marlins 4, Twins 1: Early Damage Dooms David Festa as Lineup Struggles Continue

[Matthew Taylor]

Image courtesy of © Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Box Score
SP: David Festa 6 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 7 K, 1 BB (87 pitches, 59 strikes (68%))
Home Runs: Matt Wallner (8)
Bottom 3 WPA: Festa -.201, Lee -.093, Buxton -.082
Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs):

The Minnesota Twins’ post-winning-streak slide continued on Thursday afternoon in Miami. A first-inning barrage from the Marlins was enough to sink the Twins in a 4-1 defeat, handing them yet another series loss. They haven’t won a series since taking three of four in West Sacramento in early June, and this one slipped away quickly.

David Festa got the start for the Twins and immediately found himself in trouble. After two singles and an RBI fielder's choice to open the bottom of the first, David Festa gave up a two-run home run to Marlins designated hitter Agusíin Ramírez to put the Marlins up 3-0 early.

To his credit, Festa settled in after the early damage. He allowed just two hits over his final five innings and issued only one walk. His control has been a work in progress this season, so stringing together back-to-back outings with one or zero walks is a sign of real growth. Still, he was tagged for one more run in the third inning when Xavier Edwards singled, stole second, and scored on a Jesús Sánchez single to extend the lead to 4-0. He was working without his best stuff, especially velocity-wise, although his heater did warm up slightly as the game progressed.

For this Twins offense, a four-run hole feels more like a bottomless pit. Minnesota has scored more than four runs just three times in its last 11 games, and this outing followed the familiar pattern. The lone bright spot came in the seventh inning, when Matt Wallner connected on a solo home run to spoil the shutout. Trevor Larnach doubled earlier in the game, but the team managed just four hits total and went a dismal 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position. It marked yet another game where the Twins failed to come through in key spots.

Trailing throughout, the Twins turned to Justin Topa and Kody Funderburk out of the bullpen. Both relievers delivered clean innings, but the damage had long been done. Kudos to Festa, at least, for eating six innings on a day when he wasn't at his best. The loss dropped Minnesota to 41-46 on the season, and once again, they were left wondering what could have been if just a couple hitters had come through in the clutch.

To make matters worse, it was former Twins right-hander Ronny Henriquez who closed out the win for Miami, locking down his second save in three days after being designated for assignment by Minnesota earlier this year.

The Twins have now dropped seven of their last eight series. The only exception was a series split against the Mariners. The team has spiraled out of control since its 13-game winning streak in May and faces another tough test this weekend.

What’s Next
Minnesota returns home to Target Field for a holiday matchup against the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday. Chris Paddack will take the mound for the Twins against Zack Littell, a familiar face from his time in Minnesota. First pitch is scheduled for 3:10 p.m. on the Fourth of July.

Bullpen Usage Report

Postgame Interviews

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[IndyTwinsFan]

Not much more that can be added regarding this miserable failure of a "team".

Just another pathetic hitting performance to add to the long list already compiled for this season.

[USAFChief]

Wallner's 430 foot fly ball would be a HR in "29/30" parks?

Where isn't that a HR?

 

//searching for something to say about this game/season/team/manager

[Vanimal46]

Hope everyone has a great 4th of July weekend! I need a mental break from this team. From top to bottom this organization gives the impression that they don’t care. Batters with poor AB after poor AB. Rocco zoned out in the dugout, and a FO that buries their heads in the sand. 

[chinmusic]

Finally, and yes, it's taken until today.... I no longer have any illusions about making the playoffs.

Guess i've been in denial

C'est la vie.

[chpettit19]

7 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

Wallner's 430 foot fly ball would be a HR in "29/30" parks?

Where isn't that a HR?

 

//searching for something to say about this game/season/team/manager

Coors Field. Obviously.

(This isn't sarcasm or a joke. That is literally the park they say it wouldn't be a homer in.)

[USAFChief]

4 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

Coors Field. Obviously.

(This isn't sarcasm or a joke. That is literally the park they say it wouldn't be a homer in.)

Its 415 to dead center at Coors Field. Balls fly farther. 

How the hell isn't a 430 foot fly ball at sea level a HR at Coors Field?

[Parfigliano]

Only a half game out of 2nd place in the AL Central🤪

[USAFChief]

Today's fun fact: the Twins DFA'd Ronny Henriquez to make room for Harrison Bader on the 40-man this past winter.

https://www.mlb.com/news/harrison-bader-twins-contract

Other pitcher options for removal included Adams, Canterino, Castellano, Headrick, Tonkin, and Topa.

(To be fair, I'm not sure what rules were in effect for Rule 5 pick Castellano. I dont know if he could have been returned early.)

They viewed Henriquez-who they targeted in the Garver trade, had modest success in MLB in 2024, with a big arm and loads of potential-as the least useful for 2025.

Some wounds are self inflicted.

[chpettit19]

2 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

Its 415 to dead center at Coors Field. Balls fly farther. 

How the hell isn't a 430 foot fly ball at sea level a HR at Coors Field?

Very strong winds?

[IndyTwinsFan]

It's going to be a long rest of the summer until the NFL season starts.  At least we have some reason for hope and positive results from the Vikes, which is way more than we have with this pathetic clown show known as the Twins.

[Heiny]

I am an optimistic Twins fan, but,  it's time to break this team of underperformers up.  A complete rebuild.  The core is coreless.  Start over from scratch.  Get rid of everyone that will not be part of a good team in 3 years.  Sell everything for as good of prospects as you can get.  There is no-one on the team now that will be valuable in 3 years.  Sorry folks.  It's time.

[DJL44]

22 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

Today's fun fact: the Twins DFA'd Ronny Henriquez to make room for Harrison Bader on the 40-man this past winter.

https://www.mlb.com/news/harrison-bader-twins-contract

Other pitcher options for removal included Adams, Canterino, Castellano, Headrick, Tonkin, and Topa.

They viewed Henriquez-who they targeted in the Garver trade, had modest success in MLB in 2024, with a big arm and loads of potential-as the least useful for 2025.

Some wounds are self inflicted.

They could have DFA Keirsey or Diego Cartaya as well.

I was listening to the radio on the way home while sitting in the wonderful "going up north" traffic. Apparently the Marlins were able to teach Henriquez how to throw a sweeper. Perkins said the Twins tried "multiple times" to teach him that pitch but were unsuccessful.

[Whitey333]

I agree with a previous poster that this team just doesn't seem to care.  It's been like this for nearly two seasons.  They don't hustle, they play very boring station to station baseball and don't even have players good enough to drive them home.  Poor coaching, poor manager, and a front office that is tuned out.  

[NYCTK]

No denying the 2019-2020 seasons were a big success for the Twins. But since then they've gone 361-374. The big success in that time was a 2 out of 3 series victory at home against another mediocre Blue Jays team that ended up selling big in 2024 and is in a much better position in 2025. 

Sell. Sell. Sell. 

[IndyTwinsFan]

22 minutes ago, Whitey333 said:

I agree with a previous poster that this team just doesn't seem to care.  It's been like this for nearly two seasons.  They don't hustle, they play very boring station to station baseball and don't even have players good enough to drive them home.  Poor coaching, poor manager, and a front office that is tuned out.  

And, as I've harped on before, ownership which clearly doesn't seem to care one way or the other.

[Aggies7]

How young is too young to call up some guys who might have a future with the team? Is AA too young, where it might stunt their development? I see we have a couple possible good players in Wichita. 
 

I just literally cannot continue to watch some of these guys attempt to hit baseballs. It’s horrendous and actually getting worse. This thing is over. Time to move on.

[thelanges5]

The ownership group and sale status makes this whole thing complicated. I do think we should be sellers, but I don’t think I trust this front office to do it. I’d rather have the new owners and new front office build the team they want.
 

That being said, they should at least trade off the expiring contracts so that we can get something for them now instead of nothing in the off-season.

[Doc Lenz]

How does our Hitting Coach still have a job????

[chpettit19]

1 minute ago, Doc Lenz said:

How does our Hitting Coach still have a job????

He just got hired. Pretty hard for his bosses to have just fired the previous guy because they blamed the failure of the offense on that guy and then turn around and blame the failure of the same hitters on this guy. At some point the Pohlads will say "wait a minute, maybe it isn't the hitting coaches. Maybe you've built a bad offense."

[Rhyno006]

Yawn. On to the next dumpster fire of a series...

[Linus]

1 hour ago, USAFChief said:

Today's fun fact: the Twins DFA'd Ronny Henriquez to make room for Harrison Bader on the 40-man this past winter.

https://www.mlb.com/news/harrison-bader-twins-contract

Other pitcher options for removal included Adams, Canterino, Castellano, Headrick, Tonkin, and Topa.

They viewed Henriquez-who they targeted in the Garver trade, had modest success in MLB in 2024, with a big arm and loads of potential-as the least useful for 2025.

Some wounds are self inflicted.

This is a perfect example of why I want a new FO. The bad decisions outweigh the good decision by a margin that says failure. They are not particularly good at developing players and make lots of player evaluation mistakes. Nobody is perfect but they just aren’t good enough in these two areas. 

[USAFChief]

In the Twins defense, I, personally, think it very unfair that MLB let Tarik Skubal pitch against our boys four days in a row.

I mean, come ON.

 

[Doc Lenz]

15 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

He just got hired. Pretty hard for his bosses to have just fired the previous guy because they blamed the failure of the offense on that guy and then turn around and blame the failure of the same hitters on this guy. At some point the Pohlads will say "wait a minute, maybe it isn't the hitting coaches. Maybe you've built a bad offense."

You maybe correct however what he’s teaching isn’t working.  If I made a hire that wasn’t working in my business I wouldn’t hesitate to cut the cord.

[tony&rodney]

A little touchy by me, and meaningless when the Twins can't hit, but that 4th run is totally unearned. Line drive to Brooks Lee who has it dribble off his glove; very catchable. When people look at the box score they miss the plays, often ruled hits, that get should get marked as errors. 

Things are not looking good for the Twins because Tampa Bay is as good a team as there is in MLB. They could totally embarrass the Twins. However baseball is a funny game and the players are all good athletes which means the Twins do have a chance.

[Bodie]

3 games.

3 runs.

3 mediocre (at very best) opposing pitchers.

Zero signs of any Twin giving a fiddler"s fu...

 

Why should we care???

[tony&rodney]

59 minutes ago, Aggies7 said:

How young is too young to call up some guys who might have a future with the team? Is AA too young, where it might stunt their development? I see we have a couple possible good players in Wichita. 
 

I just literally cannot continue to watch some of these guys attempt to hit baseballs. It’s horrendous and actually getting worse. This thing is over. Time to move on.

The Twins have brought up a few guys, but they don't let them play. Maybe they aren't any good but it is hard to know if they never get 5 starts in a week at a minimum. Bench bats and guys who mostly sit should be veterans who know the deal. 

[USAFChief]

4 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

A little touchy by me, and meaningless when the Twins can't hit, but that 4th run is totally unearned. Line drive to Brooks Lee who has it dribble off his glove; very catchable. When people look at the box score they miss the plays, often ruled hits, that get should get marked as errors. 

Things are not looking good for the Twins because Tampa Bay is as good a team as there is in MLB. They could totally embarrass the Twins. However baseball is a funny game and the players are all good athletes which means the Twins do have a chance.

The HR in the first also came after Lee and Castro failed to turn a pretty tailor made DP ball hit directly at Lee. 

 

[shimrod]

35 minutes ago, Doc Lenz said:

How does our Hitting Coach still have a job????

Plenty of criticism that Rocco has little leeway with how the team is run, simply implements the FO philosophy. How likely is it the batting coaches are in the same boat? We've changed the coaches but the players are still playing "guess the pitch". And they guess wrong a lot. 

There are too many at bats where the players only swings are at balls out of the zone, while watching called strikes down the middle. And the booth crew agree "he must have been looking for something else". Rinse and repeat. 

 

[tony&rodney]

5 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

The HR in the first also came after Lee and Castro failed to turn a pretty tailor made DP ball hit directly at Lee. 

 

Forgot about that. I have been a pain in the ass complaining about the Twins foot speed and poor defense but it surprises me every time.