Nationals 7, Twins 5: Mental Mistakes, Missed Chances Cost Twins in Series Finale

[Sam Caulder]

Image courtesy of © Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Box Score
SP: Simeon Woods Richardson - 4 1/3 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 2 BB, 2 K (61 pitches, 34 strikes (56% strikes))
Home Runs: Ryan Jeffers
Bottom 3 WPA: Simeon Woods Richardson (-0.36), Austin Martin (-0.19), Byron Buxton (-0.18)

Win Probability Chart

The Twins entered Thursday’s rubber match against Washington with a chance to secure the series and build some momentum after a rocky start to the season. Instead, they let another winnable game slip away. Despite multiple offensive contributions and several chances to swing the game in their favor, the Twins couldn’t overcome another uneven pitching performance and a handful of costly mistakes in a 7-5 loss.

Minnesota battled back more than once and briefly erased a late deficit, but every answer they had was quickly matched by Washington. In the end, the Nationals took the series, while the Twins fell to 16-22 on the year.

BROOKS LEE BREAKS THROUGH EARLY
The Twins wasted little time putting pressure on the Nationals’ starting pitcher, Bloomington, Minn. native Jake Irvin. After Irvin cruised through a quick first inning, Minnesota broke through in the second. Ryan Jeffers opened the frame with an eight-pitch walk, Luke Keaschall followed with an infield single, and Kody Clemens was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

That brought up Brooks Lee, who continued what’s becoming a trend this season in big spots. Behind in the count with two strikes, Lee ripped a ground ball through the left side to score Jeffers and Keaschall, giving the Twins an early 2-0 lead. Heads-up baserunning from Clemens allowed him to move to third on the play, though the inning eventually ended with him getting tagged out at the plate trying to score on a shallow fly ball.

Lee wasn’t done. After Washington tied the game in the third, Lee delivered again in the fifth with a leadoff double, smoked 105 MPH off the bat. Moments later, Tristan Gray punched a single into shallow center, allowing Lee to score from second and briefly restore Minnesota’s lead.

By the middle innings, Lee had accounted for all three Twins runs, continuing a hot stretch at the plate and once again coming through in clutch situations.

WOODS RICHARDSON CAN’T ESCAPE THE FIFTH
For four innings, Simeon Woods Richardson looked like he might finally be settling in. Despite some shaky command early, he worked efficiently throughout the afternoon. Through four innings, Woods Richardson had thrown just 46 pitches and allowed only two runs. Aided by a pair of double plays and some solid defensive moments behind him, including a diving catch from Austin Martin in left field that robbed James Wood of extra bases, it was looking like the outing he desperately needed.

But the fifth inning unraveled quickly. José Tena drew a leadoff walk, Jacob Young was hit by a pitch, and Keibert Ruiz came through with a two-run double to put Washington ahead 4-3. After a sacrifice bunt moved Ruiz to third, Woods Richardson’s day came to an end after just 4 1/3 innings. It marked his sixth straight start allowing at least three earned runs, and once again, he failed to make it through five innings. Things only got worse after Anthony Banda entered the game.

Banda walked James Wood and hit Daylen Lile to load the bases, and a miscommunication between Matt Wallner and Keaschall on a routine pop-up allowed another run to score. Washington pushed its lead to 5-3 before the inning finally came to an end. The ugly fifth inning erased what had been a relatively encouraging outing up to that point.

THE TWINS KEEP FIGHTING BACK
To their credit, the Twins didn’t go away quietly. Ryan Jeffers immediately answered in the sixth inning, hammering a leadoff homer 432 feet to left field off an elevated sinker from Irvin. It was his fifth homer of the season and trimmed the deficit to one.

Minnesota had a golden opportunity to do even more damage after Wallner reached via hit-by-pitch and Keaschall worked a walk. Clemens moved both runners over with a sacrifice bunt, putting the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position with one out.

But after the Nationals intentionally walked Lee, Tristan Gray struck out, and Byron Buxton came up empty in a huge spot, striking out on a full count to end the threat.

An inning later, the Twins clawed back again. Jeffers picked up his third extra-base hit of the game with a cheap double down the right-field line, and Josh Bell, facing his former team, delivered off the bench with a game-tying RBI double off the wall in left field.

Suddenly, the game was tied at 5-5, and the momentum had swung back toward Minnesota. Unfortunately for the Twins, it didn’t last long.

WASHINGTON RESPONDS IMMEDIATELY
The Nationals answered right away in the bottom of the seventh. Keibert Ruiz, who tormented Twins pitching all afternoon, launched a leadoff homer off John Klein to put Washington back in front. It was the first run allowed in Klein’s big-league career.

Moments later, James Wood ripped a ground-rule double, Daylen Lile reached on a swinging bunt that appeared to beat, and Curtis Mead added an RBI single to extend the lead to 7-5. That proved to be enough.

The Twins managed just one baserunner over the final two innings. Byron Buxton singled in the eighth to bring the tying run to the plate, but Trevor Larnach popped out to end the inning, and the top of the ninth went down quietly against Gus Varland (brother of Louie).

It was another frustrating loss for a Twins team that had opportunities throughout the afternoon but couldn’t capitalize enough when it mattered most. They battled back multiple times, but defensive mistakes, missed chances, and another short outing from the starting rotation ultimately proved too much to overcome.

What’s Next?
The Twins will travel to Cleveland to start a three-game weekend series tomorrow against the AL Central-leading Guardians. We’ve got a battle of young, talented left-handers tomorrow with Connor Prielipp on the hill for the Twins and Parker Messick throwing for Cleveland. First pitch is set for 6:15 PM.

Postgame Interviews
Coming Soon!

Bullpen Usage Chart

	SUN	MON	TUE	WED	THU	TOT
Orze	24	0	16	0	0	40
Morris	57	0	0	14	0	71
Rogers	32	0	0	0	26	58
Garcia	0	0	13	14	0	27
Banda	0	0	19	0	20	39
Topa	17	0	0	32	0	49
Funderburk	3	0	0	17	0	20
Klein	0	0	0	0	31	31

 

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[Parfigliano]

SWR cant escape the 5th inning is a sad very familiar story.

[Mike Sixel]

No idea what happened to SWR, he needs to go to the bullpen if Ryan is healthy. 

I understand "any given Sunday" , but losing two of three to the Nationals is awful. Do people still think the former manager was actually the problem? It's the GM, owners, and players....

[CRF]

We got the usual from SWR. Seems like he ends up with about the same line every time he starts. 

[Sjoski]

I missed the series finale due to a 'Mental Mistake.'

I fit right in with the roster.... 😀 

 

[Peter]

Terrible loss!!! Dropped pop fly and Martin/clemns getting out at home cost us win!!! With Cleveland upcoming twins will have their hands full! Need to sweep them!!!

[Parfigliano]

52 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

No idea what happened to SWR, he needs to go to the bullpen if Ryan is healthy. 

I understand "any given Sunday" , but losing two of three to the Nationals is awful. Do people still think the former manager was actually the problem? It's the GM, owners, and players....

It can be/was all 4.

[USAFChief]

54 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Do people still think the former manager was actually the problem? 

The problem? No.

A problem. Definitely. 

[Vanimal46]

Klein optioned over Luis Garcia? Come on man. 

[Aggies7]

I wait for the day when we’re competitive again. That’s going to be fun. 

[thelanges5]

14 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

Klein optioned over Luis Garcia? Come on man. 

Makes no sense. 

[h2oface]

Last place in division, 1 game out of American League cellar, 1 1/2 out of MLB cellar. 11-7/5-15. Shelton likes the ‘tone’ of this team, though. 
 

Will Buxton ever be the guy that actually steps up in the big spots? Just what your “best player” would be expected to do, at least sometimes? Another strikeout with 2 outs and the bases loaded. Who would have thunk it?

[thelanges5]

30 minutes ago, Peter said:

Terrible loss!!! Dropped pop fly and Martin/clemns getting out at home cost us win!!! With Cleveland upcoming twins will have their hands full! Need to sweep them!!!

There is no chance that this group sweeps the Guardos. 

[thelanges5]

First Nationals home series win, and only six wins at home. Two of them courtesy of the #MNTwins