Rockies 10, Twins 6: Humiliating Defeat Leaves Twins on Ropes with Deadline Looming

[Eric Blonigen]

Image courtesy of Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Box Score
Zebby Matthews: 4.0 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
Home Runs: None by the Twins. Too many by the Rockies.
Bottom 3 WPA: Brock Stewart (-0.157), Matthews (-0.154), Brooks Lee (-0.094)
Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs):

The match was set; a pitching duel for the ages. In one corner, Antonio Senzatela, the nine-year veteran with a career 5.10 ERA and a strikeout rate that would make the Terry Ryan era pitching staff look filthy. In the other corner, the not-quite-rookie making his first start since hitting the shelf six weeks ago with a shoulder strain, fresh off of a single rehab game.

The Twins, not quite realizing that yesterday’s game wasn’t a scrimmage, showed up to the ballpark ready to resume their quest for October. The weather didn’t get the memo, and a 38-minute rain delay set in.

Unfortunately, the exact scenario you would expect happened: the bad pitcher looked decent against a Twins lineup that generally looked ineffectual at the plate, the Twins failed to execute routine plays on multiple occasions, and the Twins failed to close out innings. Another tough loss, in a game that started so promisingly. How did we get here?

T-1

The home team, vying for the title of worst team of all time and hoping to relieve the hapless White Sox of the dubious honor after just one season, took the field. Senzatela retired the Twins in order on 11 pitches. This would prove to be one of the themes of the evening.

B-1

The visiting Twins, hoping to convince the front office to add rather than subtract 12 days from now, were undeterred. In the bottom of the first, Zebby quickly got two outs on a flyout and strikeout, then found himself in a bit of trouble. Hunter Goodman singled, Jordan Beck walked, then a wild pitch allowed runners to advance to second and third. Zebby reached back for the gas and struck out Ryan McMahon on four pitches, coaxing a swing on a 98 MPH heater up out of the zone.

T-2

The Twins remembered they should probably put up some offense against a bad pitcher and did just that. Ryan Jeffers doubled on a 95 MPH fastball that was a little too close to middle-middle. Kody Clemens did Kody Clemens things, hitting a screaming triple 105 MPH to center on another fastball.

Three pitches later, Carlos Correa made it 2-0 as he hit a liner to right. After Brooks Lee hit a weak grounder into the ground towards second, Matt Wallner singled to right, scoring Correa. On a fastball. You know? It’s possible that Senzatela’s fastball just…isn’t good. Harrison Bader struck out, then Byron Buxton hit a liner that McMahon needed to leap for — inning over, Twins up 3-0.

B-2

Matthews, loving a challenge, allowed some traffic and an early run. After Ezequiel Tovar hit a leadoff single, Zebby struck out the next two hitters swinging, before Ryan Ritter clubbed a meatball off the left-center wall. Twins up 3-1.

B-3

After quickly retiring Mickey Moniak on a strikeout, then getting a long warning-track out that required some Byron Buxton gymnastics, the Twins quickly had two outs.

Jordan Beck bunted up the third baseline. The ball was rolling foul, but Ryan Jeffers inexplicably fielded it fair when he had no chance and throwing out the runner. Three pitches later, McMahon hit a slider left over the heart of the plate for a two-run homer. Tie game.

B-5

Matthews allowed the first two Rockies batters to reach, before being lifted for Brock Stewart. The Beef quickly retired Beck and McMahon, before giving up a first-pitch blast to Tovar that traveled 433 feet deep to center field. Just like that, the Twins were down 3-6.

B-6

Justin Topa came in for the bottom of the 6th inning, and it went like this: single, stolen base, sac bunt, double, single, sac groundout, strikeout. Twins losing 3-8.

T-8

The Twins did some damage in the bottom of the 8th, loading the bases with one out on a Harrison Bader hit by pitch, a wild pitch by Juan Mejia, and a pair of walks to Willi Castro and Trevor Larnach. After Jeffers struck out swinging, continuing his rough night, Kody Clemens hit a line drive double to center, plating two runs. Carlos Correa struck out to end the inning. Twins down 5-8. 

B-8

Anthony Misiewicz came in for the bottom of the 8th. He left an 87 MPH changeup right over the heart of the plate,  and undeterred by the Twins pretending a comeback was possible, Hunter Goodman blasted a two-run shot to right, plating Moniak who singled in the previous at-bat. Twins losing 5-10, which is the number of players they might trade away at the deadline.

T-9

Not content to quietly go into the good night, the Twins attempted to mount one final comeback. After Brooks Lee took a walk against Zach Agnos, Harrison Bader doubled him in. In short order, Buxton grounded out, Castro flew out, and the game was over, 6-10 Rockies.

Notes

• Ryan Jeffers had a rough game in the field. Between his bad call fielding the bunt, airmailing a throw in the 4th inning trying to throw out Ryan Ritter, and striking out with the bases loaded and the game on the line…well, tomorrow is a new day.
• Zebby was not at his best locating pitches, as he left a few too many in very crushable locations. His stuff, however, was filthy. He got 16 whiffs on his first 60 pitches before running out of gas in the fifth.
• The Twins, twice, had leadoff hits immediately wiped out by a double play ball. This is a little emblematic of a team struggling to make much happen at the plate for what feels like the 834th consecutive game.
• Senzatela had consecutive six-pitch frames in the 5th and 6th innings, and his pitch count was at just 77 when he was pulled after seven innings. That should have allowed him to go complete game, if not for Rockies Manager “Quick Hook” Warren Schaeffer remembering that Senzatela isn’t actually a horse, or even a good pitcher, and making the correct decision to preserve the game.
• Coming into today's game, the Rockies had not won consecutive home games this season. In the past 25 hours, the Rockies achieved fully 14% of their total season wins. Facing the Twins: good for what ails you.

Post-Game Interview:

 

What’s Next?
The Twins and Rockies will conclude their series, with Joe Ryan facing off against Germán Márquez. The Twins look to avoid being swept against the worst team in baseball, before heading to Los Angeles for a tough series against one of the best teams in baseball. First pitch is at 2:10 PM. 

 

 

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[RpR]

[thelanges5]

20-30 in their last 50 games. They might get swept by the Rockies after winning three straight series. High highs and low lows. Such a frustrating club and have been this way since last August. 

[jkcarew]

Horrible luck that the Rockies finally started playing great baseball right when the Twins had to play them.

[USAFChief]

World: "The Rockies have not won a home series THIS SEASON!"

Twins: "Hold my beer."

[TheLeviathan]

Man I hope this gets the FO rolling on a selloff.

[RpR]

I fear greatly , the Twins will go 0-3 against the Dodgers which would bother me far, far more than being swept by Colorado.

[IndyTwinsFan]

1 minute ago, TheLeviathan said:

Man I hope this gets the FO rolling on a selloff.

I agree, but I have a sneaking suspicion that Falvey and company will just sit on their hands and then make lame statements that they tried.

[cmoss84]

For the love of God, tear it completely down. 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

good show, good show 

[Dman]

Well so much for that fairly easy schedule heading into the deadline where they could sweep the Rockies and the Nats and gain some ground in the wild card.  Things look pretty tough right now heading into LA. This team is really crazy though so you never know.  They played so well against the Rays and the Cubs who were pretty hot at the time.

Anyway this might be a good thing that they see they need to sell and hopefully bring back some future difference making talent.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

44 minutes ago, Eric Blonigen said:

Brock Stewart. The Beef quickly retired Beck and McMahon, before giving up a first-pitch blast to Tovar that traveled 433 feet deep to center field. Just like that, the Twins were down 3-6.

People are talking about Jeffers bad game. Well they can add the 6 straight fastballs Jeffers called for Brock Stewart to throw in that 5th, and Stewart threw every single one of them middle-middle or middle up at 96-97 mph.

I thought Stewart would wiggle out of that inning but Tovar was sitting on that first pitch fastball and crushed it. . 

[Baumer67]

The Twins are bad, we know that!  Look at development from 1st round picks alone.  Has Royce Lewis, Trevor Larnach, Matt Walner, Brooks Lee really gotten better once they've gotten to the majors.  It seems once the league figured these guy's out they have not been able to make the correct adjustments.  To me it's kind of a total system failure by everybody player, coaches, and upper management to not find a way to get through this.

[RpR]

10 minutes ago, Baumer67 said:

The Twins are bad, we know that!  Look at development from 1st round picks alone.  Has Royce Lewis, Trevor Larnach, Matt Walner, Brooks Lee really gotten better once they've gotten to the majors.  It seems once the league figured these guy's out they have not been able to make the correct adjustments.  To me it's kind of a total system failure by everybody player, coaches, and upper management to not find a way to get through this.

That can just as easily, and more likely, be, simply not enough talent to do in the Bigs what they did in the Minor League.

Not being able to adjust to pitchers adjust to them, separates, those with a good, or average career from the flash in the pan gents.

[FlyingFinn]

Mejia couldn't find the strike zone on but one of his first 18 pitches (called strike on Larnach was way low) and yet we are swinging, when we are down 5. I just don't like what I call 'baseball sense' sometimes. 

[Vanimal46]

0-2 in the Securian Financial patch era. How many days until football begins?

[Hubie29]

40 minutes ago, RpR said:

I fear greatly , the Twins will go 0-3 against the Dodgers which would bother me far, far more than being swept by Colorado.

We can only hope

[D.C Twins]

Sell Baby Sell!

[knothole61]

47 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

0-2 in the Securian Financial patch era. How many days until football begins?

50 days until the rookie QB starts his first regular season NFL game in Chicago, on Monday night, against a likely resurgent Bears squad...what could go wrong? Love the Vikes, but I fear that my sports agony may not end soon. Timberwolves, maybe? 

[D.C Twins]

Thank God we picked up Rocco's option for next year so we could avoid what was sure to be an intense bidding war for his managerial services during the offseason! 

[DocBauer]

I was doing the family thing and didn't get to watch. That's probably a good thing. I will say that with so much time missed, and oy 1 rehab start, 7 K's by Zebby and 16 whiffs is at least a small positive to take from the game.

Also, Clemens isn't great, and sure isn't consistent, but he has still found a way to make a difference at times, even in a loss. I think he's back next season, at least for ST.

TWO games right out of the break as losses doesn't change the course of the regular season. But against the worst team in baseball? And even if they win Sunday, they then go face the Dodgers in LA for 3 games that could be tough to win 1.

I don't like giving up on a season and not trying to turn it around with 2 1/2 months to go. Especially with Buxton having the best year of his career. But I think reality is staring the Twins in the face. 

And that reality says to keep trying. Hope Lewis, Correa, and Wallner turn it around. Keep giving starts to the young arms to help get ready for 2026, as well as some other young bats. But it's time to sell off the impending FA and try to make a couple shrewd trades for future help.

I think Paddack, Bader, Castro, and Coulombe have some decent value. Not so much Vazquez, unless someone is in desperate need for a veteran #2 catcher. MAYBE we can get a 1B that's blocked, as was recently proposed here on TD. MAYBE there's a couple of arms...possibly former top arms that need to move to the pen...that could help next year. MAYBE a solid 4th OF that's blocked and needing an opportunity to replace Bader. Maybe not, but it's time to see if the decent, solid FA you have can bring something back. Doesn't mean you have to quit trying to play better ball and try to finish the season strong. But this is not their year.

[DocBauer]

A quick PS:

I'd make Coulombe a priority for 2026 in the offseason despite his age. He's had good success as a Twin, is still very effective, shouldn't be expensive, and fits a certain role that he has filled very successfully for the Twins. I'd also try like crazy to find a younger, even better LHRP option who would hopefully fill more of a late inning role, but Coulombe on another 1yr deal should be at the top of the 2026 list, IMO.

Nothing says you can't try to re-sign Castro or Bader. There's room for both to come back. But I suspect both will get a 2yr deal somewhere for $ and length the Twins don't want to match. 

[MMMordabito]

Geezsh, glad I missed that sh-- show.

[knothole61]

We lost to a pitcher who entered the game with a 3-13 record and something in the neighborhood of a 6.50 ERA; and he had a quality start. WTF?

"To whom do lions cast their gentle looks? Not to the beast that would usurp their den. The smallest worm will turn being trodden on, and doves will peck in safeguard of their brood."

I am waiting for the Twins to "peck" or even "turn" these days...waiting in vain.

[Ghost of Kirby Puckett]

6 hours ago, TheLeviathan said:

Man I hope this gets the FO rolling on a selloff.

I couldn't agree more. This group is going nowhere. Clear the books, load up the system and hold your breath the next owner has pockets he'll dig into and pull out some cash instead of a Pohlad lint ball. 

[CRF]

Sell, sell, SELL! This mess needs to be burned to the ground, from top to bottom. There HAS to be a new ownership group in here before next season, 

[David HK]

Massive typhoon rolling through HK, and lost my wifi, so I couldn't watch.  

But I did get out and rescue a kitten from a storm drain, so I had a better day than Zebby, Beef, and the rest.

Oh, but then, when I pulled the kitten out, she bit the sh*t out of my thumb, so 3 hours at the hospital, and the 2-week rabies shot regimen.  Horse-pill sized antibiotics, too.  And i STILL had a better day.

[David HK]

Coming out of the gate like this-- bye-bye, Joe Ryan.  See ya later, Grif.  Hasta luego, Jhoan. 😥

[Doctor Wu]

6 hours ago, knothole61 said:

Timberwolves, maybe? 

That's your best bet!

[Doctor Wu]

21 minutes ago, David HK said:

Massive typhoon rolling through HK, and lost my wifi, so I couldn't watch.  

But I did get out and rescue a kitten from a storm drain, so I had a better day than Zebby, Beef, and the rest.

Oh, but then, when I pulled the kitten out, she bit the sh*t out of my thumb, so 3 hours at the hospital, and the 2-week rabies shot regimen.  Horse-pill sized antibiotics, too.  And i STILL had a better day.

That sounds like a nasty storm. Stay safe!