Twins 5, Guardians 4: Small Ball, Clutch Hits Key Rare Victory in Cleveland

[Hans Birkeland]

Image courtesy of Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Box Score
Starting Pitcher: Jose Urena: 4 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K (69 Pitches, 62.3%)
Home Runs: None
Top 3 WPA: Matt Wallner (.146), Kody Funderburk (.137), Trevor Larnach (.130)
Win Probability Chart (Via Fangraphs):

A new era of Twins baseball has begun, and it has looked pretty similar so far, with two one-run losses to the Guardians on Friday and Saturday. They've been a more interesting watch, however. In my mind, frisky baseball is a lot more watchable than the lawyer ball that represented the Carlos Correa era in Minnesota. With the bullpen arms they have now, I doubt we'll see a lot of winning, but it will hopefully be more fun.

The Guardians are the kings of pesky small ball, so we may have to give the Twins (players, not owners) some grace while they acclimate to putting some actual pressure on an opposing pitcher. Today began promisingly, with Austin Martin getting a leadoff single, Ryan Jeffers dropping in a blooper, and Matt Wallner lining a single up the middle to score Martin. Royce Lewis brought in third baseman Jose Ramirez by showing bunt and then lined a double over his head for the game's second run. Baby steps.

Joey Cantillo was pitching for Cleveland, and after a mound visit following Lewis' double, started emphasizing his curveball and struck out Kody Clemens and Brooks Lee. That felt familiar, but Trevor Larnach then pulverized a hanging curveball into the gap in right center field to score two more runs.

Jose Urena started for the Twins, and if you aren't familiar with his work, you clearly have no appreciation for the 2017-2018 Miami Marlins, where Urena started 59 games with a 3.90 ERA. But his strikeout percentage peaked at 18.3% during that time and hasn't reached that level since. This despite a a fastball that can reach the upper 90's. I remember the Twins facing Urena when he was with the White Sox in 2023 and thinking it must feel rotten to have to watch Urena pitch for your team. Well karma giveth and taketh away, and Urena got absolutely rocked the first few pitches in a Twins uniform.

Steven Kwan barreled up a fastball that would have easily left the yard were the wind not blowing in at Progressive Field. Daniel Schneeman laced a single and Jose Ramirez jumped all over a Urena fastball and launched it 406 feet through the wind to cut the lead in half. Urena settled down from there and actually showed some positive signs as his outing went along.

Meanwhile Cantillo focused on his changeup and curveball while the Twins swung in vain hoping for his very hittable fastball. He has reverse splits and proved why, as he allowed five hits and two walks to the contingent of lefties the Twins trotted out in Wallner, Larnach and Clemens. He would strike out nine over five and two thirds innings.

Urena was done after four innings and 69 pitches, and kept the Twins ahead by inducing some weak contact featuring a ton of sliders and sinkers. As auspicious as the start to his day was, he gave Baldelli what he needed and may have bought himself another week or two on the 40-man roster.

The teams traded zeros, with both lineups taking an aggressive approach early in the count. It wasn't a winning strategy on either side, however.

After twelve straight scoreless half innings, Wallner reached out and poked a triple to right center field off of Jakob Junis to begin the eighth, with the ball deflecting off of center fielder Angel Martinez's glove. Lewis struck out, but Clemens dropped a bunt up the first base line that drew a throw home far too late to retire pinch runner DaShawn Keirsey Jr. as the Twins scored their first insurance run in Cleveland since 2019.

Cole Sands pitched a scoreless eighth inning, and Michael Tonkin was brought in to protect the 5-2 lead. It didn't go that well.

.216 hitter Nolan Jones drew a walk and rookie CJ Kayfus hit his first career hit, just over the outstretched glove of Alan Roden in right field. Bryan Rocchio singled to left and all of a sudden it was a 5-4 game. Tonkin retired Steven Kwan and was then relieved in favor of the legendary Erasmo Ramirez. He retired Schneeman and Ramirez on pop ups like it was nothing.

Stray Observations:

• The back of the Twins bullpen has obviously been eviscerated. However, last year at this time Cole Sands was an ascendant eighth inning guy, while Justin Topa was acquired from Seattle to pitch late in games as he did successfully in 2023. Michael Tonkin quietly has his best season in 2024, throwing 79 1/3 innings with 85 strikeouts. For a team that just traded away its five best relievers that could look a lot worse. Yeah, I'm coping.
• Wallner has shown some life lately, going 7-21 over his past seven games with three homers, a triple and five walks.

What’s Next: The Twins travel to Detroit to take on the division-leading Tigers. Simeon Woods Richardson (5-4, 4.24 ERA) was set to oppose Casey Mize (9-4, 3.43 ERA) to start the three game series. However, SWR has a stomach issue and Monday's starter is TBD. Mize is a former number one overall pick and is having his first real run of sustainable success following some initial struggles and Tommy John surgery that knocked out his 2022 and 2023 seasons. He has been terrible lately though, with a 6.32 ERA over his past four outings, and lasting only an inning and a third his last time out against Arizona.

Postgame Interviews:

Coming soon

Bullpen Usage Chart:

	WED	THU	FRI	SAT	SUN	TOT
Ureña	0	0	0	0	69	69
Sands	13	0	20	0	21	54
Ohl	0	0	0	52	0	52
Topa	22	0	13	0	15	50
Funderburk	0	0	11	0	35	46
Davis	31	0	0	0	0	31
Tonkin	0	0	11	0	14	25
Ramírez	0	0	0	0	9	9
Adams	0	0	0	0	0	0

 

 

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[jorgenswest]

Nice win. Good use of Keirsey. I like the decision to bunt. Perfect execution by Clemens.  Erasmo for the save. Battle on.

[LastOnePicked]

"I remember the Twins facing Urena when he was with the White Sox in 2023 and thinking it must feel rotten to have to watch Urena pitch for your team. Well karma giveth and taketh away,"

FINALLY! WE KNOW WHO TO BLAME FOR ALL OF THIS! Thanks a LOT, Hans!

Great write-up, by the way. The humor peppered in there is appreciated.

[djvang]

You linked to the wrong Erasmo Ramirez.

[Nshore]

The Twins need to do some soul searching as to who's to blame for this win.

[Danchat]

Feels like a miracle that this collection of pitchers only gave up 4 runs!

This team is going to win some random games, I don't think they make it to 100 losses. 

[Aggies7]

Clemens can stay.

[Parfigliano]

34 minutes ago, jorgenswest said:

Nice win. Good use of Keirsey. I like the decision to bunt. Perfect execution by Clemens.  Erasmo for the save. Battle on.

Clemens decided to bunt.  Rocco did not call for it.

[Parfigliano]

19 minutes ago, Aggies7 said:

Clemens can stay.

2026 Player-Manager

[thelanges5]

Positives:

Twins win!

Clemens has been a good addition 

Lewis .842 OPS in his last 30 games

Martin has looked good so far

We found our closer 😄

[thelanges5]

Abel for St Paul today

5.0 IP 1H 2BB 7K

[shimrod]

I enjoy watching this team more than the pre-deadline edition. Amazing how lowered expectations can enhance your viewing pleasure.

[Doctor Gast]

Great rally to start the game that put us ahead 4-0 but it had to take great execution between Clemens & Keirsey to nail it down.

[IndyTwinsFan]

Amen to that Shimrod!

While I don't expect they'll win much the rest of the season, if they can play with some enthusiasm and give some decent teams a legitimate scare on a semi-regular basis, they should be a team at least worth watching the rest of the season.  That's way more than we could say about the previous iteration of the team.

The off-season should be for trying to fill whatever holes are on the roster, plus other areas.  Plus any new ownership prerogatives that may exist (hopefully). 

[AceWrigley]

Kody Clemens is quickly becoming my 3rd fave player after Buxton and Ryan.

[Robert Gauthier]

You know the overall result from this week isn’t a heck of a lot different than it would be with the guys that we traded away. Despite all our hand ringing, Duran Duran blew a lot of leads, and Jack’s definitely blew a lot of set ups. They continue to hit poorly, but with all the people they got rid of, they’re still hitting about the same. It’ll be interesting to see what the lineup looks like With Keachall  and Buxton in it.  I’m not in favor of the trades that were done, and I think what they did to louie Varland is absolutely inexcusable. You take a fan favorite who is a local and you crap all over them and you help make his life a lot more complicated. He did not deserve this. Falvey and Pohlad can burn in hell for that one. Joe Pohlad is the ultimate Nepo baby, a useless appendage on a team drawing $10 million a year because of his last name. He reminds me of a certain secretary of health for our country, who of his last name was Anderson wouldn’t even come close to having that job.  The legacy of the Poland family will be lying to the public, trying to contract the team, trying to dump all their debt onto the team, and then claiming that they can’t make money, and paying themselves big salaries to accelerate the perception of losses. Talk about crapping on your name. Although the old man did that long before these fools. I think Falvy had to do what he was told to do. It doesn’t make his reputation any higher in my estimation. The only thing I can do is not renew my Season Tickets next year, which I intend to do. 

[Robert Gauthier]

Sorry for the spelling errors, let’s just say Siri is not a complete AI product.

[Robert Gauthier]

There is one other thing I wish that the reporters are twins. Daly could do a little bit of research into. It seems like a number of players and reporters are now reporting that there was some sort of tension and discomfort in the twins clubhouse. This is before the trade deadline. What was the cause of that?

[Robert Gauthier]

Siri again.  Damn spellchecker 

[Robert Gauthier]

Urena = Paddack, fifth starter, no more

[Mike Sixel]

15 minutes ago, Robert Gauthier said:

Urena = Paddack, fifth starter, no more

I'd be shocked if he's that good! 

[RpR]

[Dman]

2 hours ago, AceWrigley said:

Kody Clemens is quickly becoming my 3rd fave player after Buxton and Ryan.

Yeah I agree with you.  Kody is just a solid player.  Makes the plays he should make.  Competes at the plate.  Nothing flashy just solid fundamental baseball IMO.  It's nice to see the lunch pail guys do well. I have gained a lot of respect for how he plays the game the more I have watched him.

[AceWrigley]

4 minutes ago, Dman said:

Yeah I agree with you.  Kody is just a solid player.  Makes the plays he should make.  Competes at the plate.  Nothing flashy just solid fundamental baseball IMO.  It's nice to see the lunch pail guys do well. I have gained a lot of respect for how he plays the game the more I have watched him.

Agreed.

[DJL44]

3 hours ago, Aggies7 said:

Clemens can stay.

With Buxton out, Kody Clemens might be the best all-around ballplayer on the team.

[mnfireman]

Urena and Funderbrook combined for a Quality Start (QS) - 6 IP, 2 ER, I doubt it will happen again, but can we recognize!!

[Old Crow]

5 hours ago, djvang said:

You linked to the wrong Erasmo Ramirez.

You mean he really isn't 50 yrs old? 

 

4 hours ago, Robert Gauthier said:

You know the overall result from this week isn’t a heck of a lot different than it would be with the guys that we traded away. Despite all our hand ringing, Duran Duran blew a lot of leads, and Jack’s definitely blew a lot of set ups. They continue to hit poorly, but with all the people they got rid of, they’re still hitting about the same. It’ll be interesting to see what the lineup looks like With Keachall  and Buxton in it.  I’m not in favor of the trades that were done, and I think what they did to louie Varland is absolutely inexcusable. You take a fan favorite who is a local and you crap all over them and you help make his life a lot more complicated. He did not deserve this. Falvey and Pohlad can burn in hell for that one. Joe Pohlad is the ultimate Nepo baby, a useless appendage on a team drawing $10 million a year because of his last name. He reminds me of a certain secretary of health for our country, who of his last name was Anderson wouldn’t even come close to having that job.  The legacy of the Poland family will be lying to the public, trying to contract the team, trying to dump all their debt onto the team, and then claiming that they can’t make money, and paying themselves big salaries to accelerate the perception of losses. Talk about crapping on your name. Although the old man did that long before these fools. I think Falvy had to do what he was told to do. It doesn’t make his reputation any higher in my estimation. The only thing I can do is not renew my Season Tickets next year, which I intend to do. 

Tell that to the Phillies.  Duran already has 2 saves back to back no less.

[mnfireman]

13 minutes ago, Old Crow said:

You mean he really isn't 50 yrs old? 

 

Tell that to the Phillies.  Duran already has 2 saves back to back no less.

He got the save Friday and Sunday, not back to back, no less....

[tarheeltwinsfan]

What is "lawyer ball"?

[RaoulDuke]

6 hours ago, Nshore said:

The Twins need to do some soul searching as to who's to blame for this win.

God damn Baldelli pulling the right bullpen levers!