Twins 1, Orioles 2: Minnesota Bats Go Cold in 80-Degree Baltimore

[Sam Caulder]

Image courtesy of © Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images

Box score
SP: Joe Ryan: 5 1/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K. 85 pitches, 58 strikes (68.2%)
Home Runs: None
Bottom 3 WPA: Justin Topa (-.023), Ryan Jeffers (-.015), Royce Lewis (-.014)

We’re back.

Opening Day has arrived, and within a few innings, it already felt familiar. Not just because baseball was back — but because of how the game actually unfolded.

For the Minnesota Twins, it looked a lot like a version of last season: good pitching, missed opportunities, and a game that felt like it was waiting to be taken. But it never was.

RYAN LOOK ACE-LIKE
Joe Ryan got the ball to open the season, and there wasn’t much more the Twins could have asked from him. He went 5 1/3 innings, allowing just one hit and two walks, and didn’t give up a run while striking out seven. More importantly, he controlled the game. From the first inning on, the Orioles never really looked comfortable.

His fastball was working, he got ahead consistently, and he piled up 16 whiffs, keeping Baltimore’s hitters off balance the entire way. This wasn’t one of those outings where the line looks good after the fact — it looked good the whole way through.

And it should have been enough, but it wasn’t. On the other side, Trevor Rogers matched Ryan pitch-for-pitch through seven innings, allowing just three hits and four walks while striking out five. Minnesota’s hitters made some contact, but nothing came of their baserunners until later.

RISP-Y BUSINESS
The Twins finished the afternoon 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position, and that doesn’t even fully capture how the game felt in real time. There were chances early, including a bases-loaded opportunity in the second inning that went nowhere. Traffic in the middle innings never turned into anything.

And then there were the double plays; all three of them. It wasn’t just frustrating, it was historic. The Twins tied a franchise Opening Day record that had stood since 1963. It wasn’t one rally that died, it was multiple. Every time something started to build, it disappeared just as quickly. That’s just baseball sometimes.

Once Ryan exited, the Twins turned to the bullpen. Kody Funderburk came in and recorded two outs while allowing one hit, one walk, and the go-ahead run. Justin Topa followed with one inning, giving up two hits and one earned run. Between them, both Orioles runs were scored, putting Baltimore ahead 2‑0 but keeping Minnesota within striking distance. 

 

     

The Twins got one back in the eighth. After a Byron Buxton triple, Luke Keaschall hit a sac fly, cutting the deficit to 2‑1 and giving them a glimmer of life late in the game.

There were a few moments that stood out as the game unfolded. Kody Clemens pinch-hit for Austin Martin as soon as a right-handed pitcher entered and stayed in left field. Early in the season, getting players into games matters, but it was still a noticeable move given the other options available.

Then in the ninth, Royce Lewis was lifted for Trevor Larnach with two outs, and Larnach ended the game with a strikeout on a slider that caught the plate. That sequence will get talked about, and on Opening Day, every decision feels a little louder.

But it’s worth remembering what this actually is: Game 1 of 162. Early in the season, part of the process is getting guys into games, seeing what things look like, and figuring out what might work over time. Not every decision is about maximizing that one moment, even if it feels that way when it doesn’t work.

Byron Buxton tripled and scored for the first time in a season opener in his career, providing Minnesota’s only run.  

 

Opening Day  

 

 

• Eight Twins players enjoyed their first Opening Day in the big leagues. 
• Kody Clemens made his first career Opening Day appearance. He entered the game as a pinch hitter in the eighth and stayed in left field.

• Kody Funderburk made his first career Opening Day appearance on the mound for the Twins.

What’s Next?
The Twins and Orioles will enjoy a day off on Friday before returning to the diamond Saturday. Taj Bradley will take the hill for Minnesota, with Kyle Bradish on the mound for Baltimore. First pitch is set for 3:05 PM.

Postgame Interviews 

 

Twins manager Derek Shelton - "Yeah, Rogers did a good job. I mean, we were 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position, we have to be better than that. When he needed to put the ball on the ground, he did, and then we had two innings where [Coby] Mayo made a really nice play and Gunnar [Henderson] made a really nice play. You know, those two balls and then the fact that, give them credit; they hit two balls where we were not standing and it ended up being the determining factor in the game."

Bullpen Availability Chart

	SUN	MON	TUE	WED	THU	TOT
Topa	0	0	0	0	18	18
Funderburk	0	0	0	0	17	17
Rogers	0	0	0	0	10	10
Orze	0	0	0	0	0	0
Sands	0	0	0	0	0	0
Laweryson	0	0	0	0	0	0
Kent	0	0	0	0	0	0
Banda	0	0	0	0	0	0

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[Permanent Twins Fan]

Hopefully this won't be predictive of the Twins offense in games to come. It is nice to see Ryan have a good start, and Buck and Keaschall have good offensive games. The Twins will likely struggle with lefties such as Rogers this season with how lefty loaded our lineup is. Great to see Taylor Rogers back in a Twins uniform. 

[terrydactyls]

I thought I was watching a video of the 2025 season.

[h2oface]

Ryan “deGrom-ed” by his bats and Topa.  Team USA could have used that performance in the WBC Final. 

[Vanimal46]

What I really want to know is who decided to pinch hit Trevor Larnach in the 9th inning for Royce Lewis? Are we still being ruled by a spreadsheet created by Derek Falvey?

[TheLeviathan]

2 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

What I really want to know is who decided to pinch hit Trevor Larnach in the 9th inning for Royce Lewis? Are we still being ruled by a spreadsheet created by Derek Falvey?

Wait...you mean changing virtually nothing other than the manager didn't cause wild changes to the way the organization operates?

I'm shocked sir.  Shocked I say!

Also...the answer is obviously Rocco.  You should follow along better.

[Vanimal46]

3 minutes ago, TheLeviathan said:

Wait...you mean changing virtually nothing other than the manager didn't cause wild changes to the way the organization operates?

I'm shocked sir.  Shocked I say!

Also...the answer is obviously Rocco.  You should follow along better.

Well, Derek Falvey is gone too... But that's what I was setting up by asking the question. If Jeremy Zoll is now influencing late game decisions based on L/R matchups on the spreadsheet, we are doomed as an organization. Zoll is bottom 5 in qualifications for the role he's currently in. Shelton is just happy to have a manager job at this stage of his career. Yikes.

[TheLeviathan]

1 minute ago, Vanimal46 said:

Well, Derek Falvey is gone too... But that's what I was setting up by asking the question. If Jeremy Zoll is now influencing late game decisions based on L/R matchups on the spreadsheet, we are doomed as an organization. Zoll is bottom 5 in qualifications for the role he's currently in. Shelton is just happy to have a manager job at this stage of his career. Yikes.

Even then Falvey didn't leave until January 30th.  You're getting ready for ST at that point.

The franchise is completey rudderless at this point.

[Vanimal46]

3 minutes ago, TheLeviathan said:

Even then Falvey didn't leave until January 30th.  You're getting ready for ST at that point.

The franchise is completey rudderless at this point.

I'm a sucker for opening day so they got me hook, line, and sinker today. By May 1st, I really can't imagine this current team keeping my interest. 

It's the first time in many years I went into opening day cold without watching a single second of spring training ball. 

[Danchat]

21 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

Well, Derek Falvey is gone too... But that's what I was setting up by asking the question. If Jeremy Zoll is now influencing late game decisions based on L/R matchups on the spreadsheet, we are doomed as an organization. Zoll is bottom 5 in qualifications for the role he's currently in. Shelton is just happy to have a manager job at this stage of his career. Yikes.

Yup, this is what I've been expecting after Rocco was canned... we'd find out that most of the things people complained about him are going to continue with this regime's next manager. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

[USAFChief]

1 hour ago, Permanent Twins Fan said:

The Twins will likely struggle with lefties such as Rogers this season with how lefty loaded our lineup is. Great to see Taylor Rogers back in a Twins uniform. 

The Twins had one LH hitter in the lineup against Rogers today. 

[Blyleven2011]

1 hour ago, terrydactyls said:

I thought I was watching a video of the 2025 season.

But the difference is we are putting a competitive team on the field according to Tom P ...

We just aren't good enough ...

[Patzky]

4 hours ago, Blyleven2011 said:

But the difference is we are putting a competitive team on the field according to Tom P ...

We just aren't good enough ...

Both can be true 😁

[Peter]

Tough loss-hope this isn’t going to be indication of season. Can’t go 1-12 and expect to win! Had sooo many chances but double plays ruined it. Let’s not turn this into toxic facebook where everyone there hates the twins!!! Support our twins no matter what!!! Looking forward to action packed competitive season!!!

[Hunter4848]

6 hours ago, TheLeviathan said:

Even then Falvey didn't leave until January 30th.  You're getting ready for ST at that point.

The franchise is completey rudderless at this point.

The franchise isn't rudderless, it has a very specific direction, and that is to cut costs across the board while pretending to be competing 

[CRF]

A few different guys...same result. There's gonna be a lot of these. 

[FlyingFinn]

Not mentioned is Austin Martin throwing to the wrong base and allowing the eventual 2nd run to go to 2nd base.

It was what most of us expected - great starting pitching, a bullpen that will blow a lead and not a lot of hitting.

[jmlease1]

At least there was a Byron Buxton triple to watch. That's always fun.

[Linus]

14 minutes ago, FlyingFinn said:

Not mentioned is Austin Martin throwing to the wrong base and allowing the eventual 2nd run to go to 2nd base.

It was what most of us expected - great starting pitching, a bullpen that will blow a lead and not a lot of hitting.

Yep. This was a huge play in the game. Unfortunately, the Twins make these types of mistakes a lot. 

[Linus]

1 minute ago, jmlease1 said:

At least there was a Byron Buxton triple to watch. That's always fun.

Buck is one of the few players I have ever seen that can get an essentially stand up triple on a ball hit to left. 

[Riverbrian]

8 hours ago, Permanent Twins Fan said:

The Twins will likely struggle with lefties such as Rogers this season with how lefty loaded our lineup is.

13 position players. 

5 Right handed Hitters

5 Left Handed Hitters

3 Switch Hitters

 

[rv78]

8 hours ago, Permanent Twins Fan said:

The Twins will likely struggle with lefties such as Rogers this season with how lefty loaded our lineup is.

I think it is more likely that the Twins will struggle against ALL pitchers this season.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

"Every time something started to build, it disappeared just as quickly. That's just baseball sometimes."  I disagree the conclusion of these two statements in this article article. I would change the conclusion to "That's just baseball ALWAYS, when batters fail to advance the runners by hitting behind the runners or by bunting the runners over or by grounding into 3 rally-killing double plays."  

[mluebker]

Meet the new boss(es). Same as the old boss(es). 

Ryan’s only given up one hit and thrown 85 pitches, but he gets the hook so the Baltimore line-up won’t see him a third time? With a stitched-together bullpen where no one even has a fixed role? It’s gonna be a loooooong season.

[Old Twins Hat]

No panic.

Baltimore got a couple seeing eye hits; the Twins swung early with runners on base and hit it right at 'em.  No one wins a game by going 1 for 12 with runners in scoring position, and usually they are massacred.

Twins need a RH bat, one that is hitterish and can put the ball into gaps.  That means Gabby Gonzalez needs to play, even if mainly DH.  

We got to hope an outfielder in MLB gets hurt and the team and will take Larnach or Outman for a single A pitching prospect.

Also, and obviously, Twins need someone who can throw hard in the Pen, preferably Right Handed.

The bullpen will be a season long project to rebuild, and while that's doable, it will mean incurring some losses on the way.

But, it's a lot more exciting to be rooting for young guys on their way up, like Keaschall, Martin and Wallner, plus guys who should be better, like Lewis and Lee. 

Come on guys, put on your big-boy pants and prove you belong.

 

[Jacksson]

Report Card:

F = Austin Martin threw to the wrong base, allowing the eventual 2nd run to go to 2B.

F = Josh Bell, with 0-3 with all 3 being K's.

F = Royce Lewis, 0-2, GIDP

F = Brooks Lee, 0-3

C = Caratini, GIDP, Couple nice plays at 1B, Single in the 9th with team trailing

C = Jeffers, GIDP, At least he GOT a hit.

F = Matt Wallner, weak ground out to P & out on a foul tip with the game on the line.

F = Trevor Larnach, Game winning opportunity in the bottom of the 9th was a K.

F = Justin Topa, Blowing the game, Saddling Kody with the undeserved loss.

F = LaTroy Hawkins, Letting Shelton bring in Topa with the score 0-0 - 1 Runner on base.

F = Derek Shelton, = Bringing in Topa in a 0-0 game after the Spring Topa had

F = Hitting Coaches, = Total lack of team situational hitting

F = Twins  Management = New Year - SOS

F = Twins Ownership = SOS - Pull your head out from the orifice it is in. 

 

[The Great Hambino]

12 minutes ago, mluebker said:

Meet the new boss(es). Same as the old boss(es). 

Ryan’s only given up one hit and thrown 85 pitches, but he gets the hook so the Baltimore line-up won’t see him a third time? With a stitched-together bullpen where no one even has a fixed role? It’s gonna be a loooooong season.

It's the first start of the season and Ryan is coming off a pretty disjointed spring training ramp-up ... I'm giving Shelton the benefit of the doubt for now.  If the same thing happens to a healthy Ryan on May 1, then I'll start getting annoyed.

Plus, the bullpen's exposure is going to be limited by never having to pitch the ninth inning on the road

No matter how bad things get, Ryan starts will remain must-see TV.  His curve was especially nasty

 

[Dan Engebretson]

If I recall correctly, the ESPN folks give the Orioles about a 50% chance of making the postseason.  That tells me the Orioles are a good team.  The Twins lost to a good team at home 2-1.  While you never want to lose, losses happen and this was not a terrible loss, the wheels did not fall off any stage of the game.  Ryan pitched wonderfully, and it would have been great if Funderburk and Topa had pitched as well, but they did not.  It is entirely unreasonable to demand pitchers be perfect.  They did ok.  More (most?) troubling to me is the 1-12 RISP.  The upside, of course, is the 12 opportunities, the downside, is they failed in all of them.  If my memory is correct, the one hit was with a runner on second base and the hit was a dribbler that could not advance the runner.  As already mentioned, this is a trend carrying over for several years.  What I saw as an upside and definitely different from the beginning of last year, but carrying over from where last year finished is better base-stealing.  Martin’s aggressive theft of second, prevented a double-play that almost certainly would have resulted when Buxton dribbled an easy double-play.  I am looking forward to more baseball, and frankly hope that the Twins continue to play like they did yesterday (though, I suspect they will not).

[Danchat]

32 minutes ago, mluebker said:

Meet the new boss(es). Same as the old boss(es). 

Ryan’s only given up one hit and thrown 85 pitches, but he gets the hook so the Baltimore line-up won’t see him a third time? With a stitched-together bullpen where no one even has a fixed role? It’s gonna be a loooooong season.

To be fair, this is something most teams do with their starters at the beginning of the year, Ryan will be allowed to go to 100 pitches within a few weeks' time. But yeah, short starts are gonna be devastating with how weak this bullpen is. 

[beterday]

I think it is very predictive that one of the guys who needs to have a breakout season is pinch hit for with the game on the line.  I am still able to remember getting excited when Royce Lewis came up to bat and then he did not disappoint.  The Twins season depends on Royce having a good year and then Derek pinch hits for him in the 9th and the tying run on base?  Tell us you have no faith on the first game of the year?  How many teams pinch hit for their lead off hitter based on righty-lefty matchup?