Reds 5, Twins 4: Twins Lose Another Winnable Game Against the Reds

[Steven Trefz]

Image courtesy of Matt Blewett-Imagn Images

Box Score
SP: Taj Bradley 6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K (99 pitches, 62 strikes (63%))
Home Runs: N/A
Bottom 3 WPA (via FanGraphs): Cole Sands (-0.30), Eric Orze (-0.14), Byron Buxton (-0.10)

Win Probability Chart (via BaseballSavant)

The Twins dropped the series opener against Cincinnati Friday night because of missed opportunities at the plate. As they looked to face yet another left-handed starter in Andrew Abbott on yet another chilly Saturday, manager Derek Shelton looked to regain some heat in the lineup by shifting around both positions and batting order. Josh Bell moved up into the three-hole and Luke Keaschall dropped down to fifth. Ryan Kreidler got his first Twins start in center field, while Trevor Larnach got left and Austin Martin got right. Would the manager's moves provide the necessary spark to right the ship after a brief two-game losing skid? Or would the fact that Taj Bradley was on the mound mean that one run would be enough to get the Twins back into the win column?

Starting Strategically Strong
In the top of the first inning, the first Reds swing of course found its way into center field, but Kreidler looked like a natural in making the grab. The lineup changes also played early dividends, as Bell followed a Martin walk with a strategic push swing for a single through an empty right-side of the diamond. With runners at first and second, Ryan Jeffers saved his at-bat by fouling off a fastball at the very last second. On the next pitch, Jeffers timed the Abbott fastball perfectly and tripled his way into a 2-0 Twins lead.

A Challenging Third
The Twins' lead got cut in half in the top of the second inning when Bradley walked lead-off man Sal Stewart, and a Nathaniel Lowe double with one out put both men in scoring position. Taj escaped with only allowing a sacrifice fly to Tyler Stephenson, and the Twins built the lead back to 3-1 in the bottom of the third inning after three consecutive challenges went their way. First, Martin reached first base on an overturned call after an Elly De La Cruz bobble. Then Martin was ruled safe trying to reach second base on a Bell groundout, and even though the video seemed to show that he was out, the Reds challenge was unsuccessful in overturning the call on the field. Then, with two outs, the demoted Keaschall snuck a single into right field to plate Martin. Keaschall got picked off trying to steal second, but the Twins challenged and Luke was ruled safe. All in all, the longest one-run inning of my life came to a mericful end.

More Defensive Issues Bite the Infield
In the top of the fourth, Bradley got Eugenio Suarez to hit a grounder to the hole in short. Brooks Lee had two options: 1) Allow the ball to go through for a one out single. 2) Try to slide and snag the ball for no apparent reason. Lee chose option two, and booted the ball into no-man's land in short left field, allowing Suarez to reach second base on a gift double. Therefore, a Lowe inning-ending groundball double-play turned into a advance the runner to third groundout. On an 0-2 count, Stephenson struck again and plated a Suarez who should have never been there with a single. 3-2 Twins.

RISP for the Win?
After establishing the first Sam Caulder jinx of the season by flailing with runners in scoring position on Friday night, the Twins knew that winning a close game was going to require re-discovering their scoring ways in the middle innings. Through the first four frames on Saturday, the Twins left FIVE men on in scoring position as they nursed a one run lead. After a Bell single and a Larnach walk in the bottom of the fifth, Lee came up with a chance at redemption and he finally delivered with a single that plated Bell and pushed the lead back up to 4-2. Unfortunately, the RISP success stopped there, as Tristan Gray struck out with the bases loaded to push the "left behind" total to SEVEN after five innings.

Bradley Continues to Deal, Bullpen Loses a Winning Hand
With his pitch count climbing towards the magic 100 mark in the top of the sixth inning, Bradley saved his best for last. Taj struck out the last three men he faced with a mixture of 96 mph heat and buckling curve balls. Though the bullpen got brought into play a bit sooner than last time, Bradley kept the Reds mostly quiet throughout his start and gave the constant and steady performance that Twins fans have grown to appreciate this season. 

Justin Topa was first man out of the pen in the top of the seventh, and after surrendering a leadoff single to Rece Hinds, he settled down and got the next two Reds. Kody Funderburk entered the game to face lefty Will Benson, and Terry Francona countered by pinch-hitting righty Dane Myers. Funderburk got ahead and then plunked Myers which brought up De La Cruz again. This this, the Twins weren't so lucky and Elly finally stung the Twins with a run-scoring single to tighten the game at 4-3, but still advantage Twins.

After Shelton got tossed for arguing in general during the De La Cruz bat, the pitching decisions were up to bench coach Mark Hallberg, and he went with Eric Orze in the top of the eighth, Two batters later, the Reds had runners at the corners with nobody out. Orze notched a strike out, but then allowed a sac fly to Hines to tie the game and to rob Bradley of another win. 

No Defense for This Loss
Cole Sands took the top of the ninth, and another ground ball found its way past Lee and into left field, this time under his backhand attempt. While ruled a single by Spencer Steer, it was a makeable play for an average shortstop. After a sacrifice bunt, Myers blooped a heart-breaker over Keaschall's head to score Steer and to give the Reds their first lead of the day at 5-4.

Could the Twins bats overcome their lack of clutch throughout the day, and deliver their first walk-off win of the season? Nope. Not even close, as the Reds slammed the door shut 1-2-3 to take the series in a second consecutive one-run victory.

What’s Next?
The Twins look to salvage the series finale at home against the visiting Reds on Sunday afternoon. Twins send "crafty" righty Bailey Ober (2-0, 5.49 ERA) to the mound in search of more steady progress on his 2026 campaign. The Reds will send the former Royal RHP Brady Singer (1-1, 5.60 ERA) who is starting his second year of service in the Reds organization but has a 9.15 ERA at Target Field over his career. First pitch is scheduled for 1:10pm CDT.

Postgame Interviews

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

	TUE	WED	THUR	FRI	SAT	TOT
Topa	0	13	0	11	10	36
Orze	0	12	0	0	15	35
Sands	15	0	0	20	12	35
Banda	0	24	0	0	0	24
Funderburk	0	14	0	8	10	22
Rogers	22	0	0	0	0	22
Morris	0	0	0	0	0	0
Acton	0	0	0	0	0	0

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[thelanges5]

Painful to watch the good vibes evaporate the last three games. But the defense, bullpen, and un-RISPy hitting is all heading back to what we saw during the 3-6 start. Too bad because they were fun to watch for about 10 games there.

[Peter]

Unacceptable loss!!! Can’t blow leads 🤬😡😤🤮💩👎

[Baumer67]

With this bullpen configuration, it is sad to say but we are going to have alot more games like this.  We fo not strike many people out so they are putting it in play for our pitiful defense.  The Reds bullpen had lots of K's.

[D.C Twins]

By my 2026 Twins success criteria based on future hope, this game was a 'win.'  

Taj pitched great and Keaschall did well. 

We've known that this bullpen would not be ready for prime time this season for a long time. 

[h2oface]

This team is no longer painful, because failure is expected. Funderburk won’t have any control and if he succeeds it will be luck. The bullpen is going to give up runs. Lee just doesn’t have range, Wallner will strikeout. If you expect them to lose, the pain goes away. 

All bats striking out looking horrible in the bottom of the eighth - that was still painful. 

[Patzky]

'winnable' needs to be clarified.

[chinmusic]

Now 0-3 in 1 run games. Too bad about the 'pen, but the writing's been on the wall since the last trade deadline.🙁

[soyouresayingtheresachance]

What an irritating loss. 

Ugly bullpen performance. 

And Lee. That defense is unacceptable. Only 21 games into the season and his "defense" has allowed way too many baserunners to reach or advance. If he's going to be a SS, he needs to clean it up a lot. Get him some more practice in St Paul and send Culpepper over to Target Field and see what he can do. 

[jkcarew]

Bradley had very good results considering he faced much more adversity than in his previous starts. Very encouraging.

[DJL44]

46 minutes ago, soyouresayingtheresachance said:

And Lee. That defense is unacceptable. Only 21 games into the season and his "defense" has allowed way too many baserunners to reach or advance. If he's going to be a SS, he needs to clean it up a lot. Get him some more practice in St Paul and send Culpepper over to Target Field and see what he can do. 

No amount of practice will turn Brooks Lee into a good shortstop. He has maxed out his athletic ability.

[Linus]

Taj did his job. I e never understood the love for Funderburk- the guy has no control. It’s sheer luck if he puts up an inning without allowing base runners. 

[JADBP]

We are never going to be a consistently competitive team until we clean up the roster.  The frustrating part is that several of the answers seem to be ready to go in StP. 
 

Here is my anxiety: we are going to lose so many of these games already.  So why keep throwing the likes of Larnach, Lee, Topa, Wallner (especially Wallner!) and Fubderberk out there just to lose and lose again?  Wallner is who he is and jamming him out there a gazillion times is not going to suddenly make him a .275 hitter with 35 HRs.  He is never-ever gone be that guy.  
 

So swap out Wallner for Emma. Topa for Prielipp.  Lee for Culpepper.   Give them a chance and let guys like Wallner refind their groove in AAA.
 

Here is my question:  would you rather [pay to] watch the team we have or the rookies?  

[IndyTwinsFan]

As they say, it's hard to be let down when you have no expectations of anything positive happening. 

That's pretty much the pool I'm swimming in this season. 

Sigh!

[Parfigliano]

1 hour ago, jkcarew said:

Bradley had very good results considering he faced much more adversity than in his previous starts. Very encouraging.

Good trade.

[mnfireman]

Unacceptable to be up 2 after 6 and lose. A teams best BP arms are supposed to cover 7, 8, and 9 with the lead; maybe they give up 1 run, but should not give up 3 runs, especially when it breaks down to 1 run in each of the 7th, 8th and 9th innings. If the team thought these were their best BP options, its time to blow things up and bring the kids up, even if some of them have to do the BP thing for a year. Let's see if they can show any reason to keep them before the team needs to count on them,,,

[mikelink45]

I'm having a real hard time making comments this year. I didn't expect much so when they have a street flight they just finished is fun but I don't expect it to continue. Then when they get a streak like they're on right now it fits right in with expectations. Individuals go up and down. Jeffers is the best looking batter we have so far this year. Bradley is looking great and Ryan is maintaining his excellence. 

[bean5302]

That's 4 starts in a row from Bradley of at least 5.0 innings and an ERA of less than 4.00. Probably would have been 5 in a row including his first game if not for the ridiculously quick hook from Shelton.

That's not a common accomplishment. Pablo Lopez has managed more than 4 GS started in a row that way just once in his Twins career. Same for Joe Ryan and both ended at 5.

[Vanimal46]

If Kriedler is playing CF over Outman on days when Buxton is DH or taking the day off, then Outman is worthless on the 26 man roster. I don't have much of an interest until this team starts the youth movement. 

[Parfigliano]

19 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

If Kriedler is playing CF over Outman on days when Buxton is DH or taking the day off, then Outman is worthless on the 26 man roster. I don't have much of an interest until this team starts the youth movement. 

In MLB terms Outman is worthless no matter the situation.

[tony&rodney]

34 minutes ago, mikelink45 said:

I'm having a real hard time making comments this year.

The Twins are going to have struggles. Looking for instant help isn't happening. That will need to wait until a few plants push up, get green, and flower. Hope people can wait.

In the meantime we are getting some good starting pitching. If guys like Ryan, Bradley, Abel, and others continue on the right path, there will be gloves coming aboard at some point. Keep the faith.

[Twinsrtheworst]

1 hour ago, JADBP said:

We are never going to be a consistently competitive team until we clean up the roster.  The frustrating part is that several of the answers seem to be ready to go in StP. 
 

Here is my anxiety: we are going to lose so many of these games already.  So why keep throwing the likes of Larnach, Lee, Topa, Wallner (especially Wallner!) and Fubderberk out there just to lose and lose again?  Wallner is who he is and jamming him out there a gazillion times is not going to suddenly make him a .275 hitter with 35 HRs.  He is never-ever gone be that guy.  
 

So swap out Wallner for Emma. Topa for Prielipp.  Lee for Culpepper.   Give them a chance and let guys like Wallner refind their groove in AAA.
 

Here is my question:  would you rather [pay to] watch the team we have or the rookies?  

If you pay for TwinsTV you can watch the minor league teams as well. Thats what I do anyways 

[Hubie29]

You can put this heading on repeat i think

[adjacent]

1 hour ago, mnfireman said:

Unacceptable to be up 2 after 6 and lose. A teams best BP arms are supposed to cover 7, 8, and 9 with the lead; maybe they give up 1 run, but should not give up 3 runs, especially when it breaks down to 1 run in each of the 7th, 8th and 9th innings. If the team thought these were their best BP options, its time to blow things up and bring the kids up, even if some of them have to do the BP thing for a year. Let's see if they can show any reason to keep them before the team needs to count on them,,,

To tell the truth "the best of our bullpen" are the same guys that pitched in the games out of hand when we had a good bullpen. So they are not really good, and we know it. But they are who we have. 

[Blyleven2011]

It was a good game and then it wasn't  ...

Bradley pitched well , we scored some runs early but some later clutch hitting never materialized  ...

I can't believe the score keeper didn't rule the twins any errors , cause some of the plays were easy enough to warrant an error  ...

 

Wallner striking out to end the game says it all  , sorry Matt  , get your head out of the clouds  , it's unacceptable  , he not the only one either that needs to ride the shuttle ...

[Jack Pine]

1 hour ago, Twinsrtheworst said:

If you pay for TwinsTV you can watch the minor league teams as well. Thats what I do anyways 

You can do the same thing if your a T-mobil customer.

[DJL44]

3 hours ago, mnfireman said:

Unacceptable to be up 2 after 6 and lose. A teams best BP arms are supposed to cover 7, 8, and 9 with the lead; maybe they give up 1 run, but should not give up 3 runs, especially when it breaks down to 1 run in each of the 7th, 8th and 9th innings. If the team thought these were their best BP options, its time to blow things up and bring the kids up, even if some of them have to do the BP thing for a year. Let's see if they can show any reason to keep them before the team needs to count on them,,,

The prospects will have to pitch in front of the same lousy Twins defense as the current bullpen.

[Jacksson]

Bullpen snatches DEFEAT from the jaws of Victory.

With all due respect, Funderburk needs to be in AAA as his family issues are no doubt taking his focus away from executing at the MLB level

With a man on 3rd and 1 out both Keaschall, foul popup to 1B and Larnach, strikeout CHOKE and leave the runner stranded.

With a man on2nd and 1 out both Gray, strikeout and Buxton, groundout to 3B, CHOKE and leave the runner stranded.

With a man on 2nd an 1 out both Jeffers, groundout to 3B and Larnach, line out to SS, CHOKE and leave the runner stranded.

With runners on 1st and 2nd and 1 out, Buxton CHOKES and grounds out to 3B.  THEN with runners on 3B and 2B and 2 outs, Martin CHOKES and flys out to CF leaving both runners, who were in scoring position stranded.

With the bases loaded and 2 outs, Gray CHOKES and strikes out leaving all 3 runners stranded.

With a man on 2b and NO OUTS, Larnach CHOKES and grounds out to the PITCHER, failing to advance the runner. THEN with runners on 1st and 2nd and 1 out BOTH Kreidler, pop out to 2B and Gray, strikeout, CHOKE and leave the runners stranded.  It never occurred to Shelton to bunt the runner over to 3B with ZERO outs??

Game NOW tied in the bottom of the 8th and Buxton, Martin and Clemens ALL STRIKE OUT.

Bottom of the 9th, trailing by a run 1 out , bases empty and Keaschall and Wallner both CHOKE and strikeout - END OF GAME.

Batter #1, Buxton, 2K, #2, Martin 2K, #9, Gray 3K.  Total team Strikeouts = 12

All Funderburk has to do is to get 1 OUT.  Twins up 4-2 with a runner on 2B with 2 outs.  Funderburk HITS THE FIRST BATTER HE FACES and then GIVES UP AN RBI SINGLE TO THE SECOND BATTER.  The damage done, he gets the 3rd batter out, stranding 2 baserunners but the score is now 4-3.

All Orze has to do is get 3 outs and not give up a run.  First Batter singles, Second batter singles = runners at the corners with ZERO OUTS.  Third batter strikes out and the fourth batter hits a sacrifice fly tying the game.

All Sands has to do is get 3 outs and not give up a run.  First batter singles, is bunted over to 2B by batter #2 then batter #3 singles to CF and drives in the go ahead run.  With the game securely LOST, Sands gets the next two batters out, stranding a potential insurance runner at 1B.

Congratulations: Bullpen, Shelton, Hawkins, CHOKE ARTIST Twins batters. 

[knothole61]

26 minutes ago, Jacksson said:

Bullpen snatches DEFEAT from the jaws of Victory.

With all due respect, Funderburk needs to be in AAA as his family issues are no doubt taking his focus away from executing at the MLB level

With a man on 3rd and 1 out both Keaschall, foul popup to 1B and Larnach, strikeout CHOKE and leave the runner stranded.

With a man on2nd and 1 out both Gray, strikeout and Buxton, groundout to 3B, CHOKE and leave the runner stranded.

With a man on 2nd an 1 out both Jeffers, groundout to 3B and Larnach, line out to SS, CHOKE and leave the runner stranded.

With runners on 1st and 2nd and 1 out, Buxton CHOKES and grounds out to 3B.  THEN with runners on 3B and 2B and 2 outs, Martin CHOKES and flys out to CF leaving both runners, who were in scoring position stranded.

With the bases loaded and 2 outs, Gray CHOKES and strikes out leaving all 3 runners stranded.

With a man on 2b and NO OUTS, Larnach CHOKES and grounds out to the PITCHER, failing to advance the runner. THEN with runners on 1st and 2nd and 1 out BOTH Kreidler, pop out to 2B and Gray, strikeout, CHOKE and leave the runners stranded.  It never occurred to Shelton to bunt the runner over to 3B with ZERO outs??

Game NOW tied in the bottom of the 8th and Buxton, Martin and Clemens ALL STRIKE OUT.

Bottom of the 9th, trailing by a run 1 out , bases empty and Keaschall and Wallner both CHOKE and strikeout - END OF GAME.

Batter #1, Buxton, 2K, #2, Martin 2K, #9, Gray 3K.  Total team Strikeouts = 12

All Funderburk has to do is to get 1 OUT.  Twins up 4-2 with a runner on 2B with 2 outs.  Funderburk HITS THE FIRST BATTER HE FACES and then GIVES UP AN RBI SINGLE TO THE SECOND BATTER.  The damage done, he gets the 3rd batter out, stranding 2 baserunners but the score is now 4-3.

All Orze has to do is get 3 outs and not give up a run.  First Batter singles, Second batter singles = runners at the corners with ZERO OUTS.  Third batter strikes out and the fourth batter hits a sacrifice fly tying the game.

All Sands has to do is get 3 outs and not give up a run.  First batter singles, is bunted over to 2B by batter #2 then batter #3 singles to CF and drives in the go ahead run.  With the game securely LOST, Sands gets the next two batters out, stranding a potential insurance runner at 1B.

Congratulations: Bullpen, Shelton, Hawkins, CHOKE ARTIST Twins batters. 

Whew...at least the Wild won! Yeah, the bullpen is ridiculous--a train of ineptitude each giving up his own run in his own special way. It's an interesting team with some unexpected potential cropping up, but the pen must be addressed as soon as possible. Trade a prospect plus Larnach and Wallner for a couple of decent arms. Maybe the Yankees would take a shot at those two lefties with occasional power to complement their short porch in right?  

[Bangkok Twins Fan]

11 hours ago, jkcarew said:

Bradley had very good results considering he faced much more adversity than in his previous starts. Very encouraging.

Yes, it seems like Bradley certainly has faced more adversity in the past two starts, and throwing 90-plus pitches each time. That many pitches can tire out a pitcher, but he seems to be more poised this season and less easily rattled, at least that's my very unscientific feeling.