Brewers 2, Twins 1: No Strike Back, Only Strike Outs for Twins

[Steven Trefz]

Image courtesy of © Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images

Box Score
SP: Connor Prielipp 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K (86 pitches, 55 strikes (64%))
Home Runs: Trevor Larnach (2)
Bottom 3 WPA: Austin Martin (-0.28), Brooks Lee (-0.15), Tristan Gray (-0.15)

 

Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs) 

The Twins looked to re-establish their home field after a rowdy Brewer crowd watched Milwaukee take the first game of the series. Minnesota had the right starter on the mound in young lefty Connor Prielipp, but would they have the right bats in the lineup with Byron Buxton sitting yet again and Luke Keaschall taking the night off against the equally young righty Logan Henderson?

Ducks Left on the Pond
The Twins had a golden opportunity to make a statement in the bottom of the second. After Prielipp dominated his way through his first two frames with three strikeouts, Josh Bell found his way on with a leadoff excuse-me single. Kody Clemens ripped a Henderson changeup into the corner for a double to put runners at second and third with nobody out. What happened next was a dreadful reminder of how things have been going, and how the Twins bats would continue to function on Saturday. The only way the Twins would fail to score would be strikeouts. Royce Lewis, strikeout. James Outman, strikeout. Austin Martin...strikeout. 

Trevor Larnach was back in the lineup after missing the past three games. He solved the "runners left in scoring position" dilemma in the bottom of the third inning by skipping a few steps and hitting the ball over the overhang in right to put his team up 1-0.

Whiffing in the Field and at the Plate
The Twins' lead didn't last very long, as the Brewers scraped a single and a walk on the base paths to start the fourth. After a rough call on a good play last night, Lewis got the gift of a double play grounder from Luis Rengifo. Unfortunately Royce forgot to get the ball before he tried to turn two, and by the time the ball got collected in left field Brice Turang had scampered all the way home from second base to knot the game at one apiece. 

In the bottom of the fourth, more Twins in scoring position with nobody out, and more whiffs. The Twins eventually went 0-8 with RISP and the strikeouts proved to be the most frustrating component. On three separate occasions the Brewers were either playing to surrender the run, or any ground ball or flyball could have done the deed. 

Prielipp got the chance to pitch into the sixth, and he tried to sneak a changeup past young phenom Jackson Chourio. That pitch got accelerated by 17 mph and found the seats for a 2-1 Brewer lead.

Comeback Special?
The Twins came into the ninth inning having gone 0-18 when trailing after seven innings in 2026. Righty Chad Patrick had entered the game in the bottom of the sixth, and was still pitching into the bottom of the ninth. The Twins mounted no threat, and Patrick got his four-inning save.

What’s Next?
The Twins look to salvage the final game of the series on Sunday. Twins righty Bailey Ober (4-2, 3.46 ERA) will look to match his shutout performance earlier this week, while the Brewers have yet to name their starter for the mid-day tilt. First pitch is scheduled for 1:10pm CDT.

Postgame Interviews

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

	TUE	WED	THU	FRI	SAT	TOT
Rojas	0	0	0	41	0	41
Topa	0	35	0	0	0	35
Adams	0	29	0	0	0	29
Orze	0	0	0	0	26	26
Morris	0	0	0	24	0	24
Rogers	0	0	0	23	0	23
Garcia	0	18	0	0	0	18
Gómez	0	0	0	7	11	18
Banda	0	0	0	8	0	8

 

 

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[USAFChief]

Nerds: "strikeouts are just like any other out."

USAFChief: "false."

Nerds: "RBI are meaningless."

USAFChief: "false."

Edited May 17 by USAFChief

[jkcarew]

4 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

Nerds: "RBI are meaningless."

USAFChief: "false."

Well, sure…to the score of the game they’re meaningful…but other than that??

[thelanges5]

Feel bad for Shelty but he knew what he was getting himself into. Same core lineup and the same results for the past three season. Zoll has some tough decisions to make. 

[Nshore]

Bottom half of the order: Clemens, Lewis, Gray, Outman - and they don't win???  My world doesn't make sense anymore!

It's amazing there were that many fans at the game.  Hope is eternal!

 

 

[jkcarew]

Prielipp seems to be throwing more strikes with the Twins than he was in AAA. Maybe it’s just me. I swear, if he can figure out where his changeup is going, he might be even better than he’s looked so far, which would be……exciting. Again, maybe I’m getting way ahead of things.

[Parfigliano]

10 minutes ago, Nshore said:

Bottom half of the order: Clemens, Lewis, Gray, Outman - and they don't win???  My world doesn't make sense anymore!

It's amazing there were that many fans at the game.  Hope is eternal!

 

 

30,000+ attendance.  Guessing 21,000 MILW fans.

[mikelink45]

 Didn't Ryan and Prielipp get Ober's memo - if you are going to win with this team it has to be a shutout.

[Road trip]

It seems inconceivable when watching games like this, but the Twins rank......

 

 

..... 2nd in the American League in both runs and rbi's.

I know, I can't believe it either.  Could be the AL is just really awful this year relative to the NL.

[thelanges5]

Fun little stat - Prielipp is the first starter in Twins history to give up 2 or fewer earned runs in each of his first 5 career outings. 

[soyouresayingtheresachance]

Prielipp looked good again. Same with Clemens. Outman with another hit? 

Defense is still bad.

Is Lewis currently the worst position player on the team? I had really hoped he'd come around but he is swinging at pitches so far off the plate. 

Hopefully we can avoid the sweep tomorrow. 

[DJL44]

1 hour ago, Nshore said:

It's amazing there were that many fans at the game.  Hope is eternal!

People still like Star Wars

[Aggies7]

You wonder if Royce could go somewhere else and be better? And where? Not like the MN fans or media are notoriously difficult, but something has zapped any real confidence he had. Or was it opposing pitchers 😂 he looks desperately in need of another organization where maybe the expectations for him aren’t as high 

[Permanent Twins Fan]

1 hour ago, mikelink45 said:

 Didn't Ryan and Prielipp get Ober's memo - if you are going to win with this team it has to be a shutout.

Bailey says he is throwing about 10 mph too to shut out anyone regardless

[howeda7]

It's time for Royce to join Wallner on the AAA reset. Either call up Culpper or Arcia. And PLEASE bench Josh Bell unless they're facing a lefty. 

[ashbury]

No offense, but this team has no offense.

[howeda7]

They could really call up Culpepper and Arcia. Gray is completely worthless and will not be on the team in 2027. Play Culpper at 3rd and let Arcia take the bench roll and play 2B some. 

[DJL44]

28 minutes ago, ashbury said:

No offense, but this team has no offense.

8th in MLB in runs per game and 2nd to the Yankees in the American League.

[knothole61]

Royce has to go now...the Grand Slam Prodigy who "doesn't do slumps" is nowhere to be found. He began the game by striking out with runners on second and third and no outs--just a little contact and it's likely a run. He managed somehow to completely miss a double-play grounder hit right at him that let in the eventual winning run--and in the end he failed to come through again. Enough is enough for this fan. Send him down: if he has sufficient skill and desire he'll come back from a demotion to St. Paul and become a contributing member of the team again, and if not, well then we will be freed once and for all of the enigmatic Mr. Lewis. It is doubtful that management will send him down before the Royce Lewis jersey giveaway day on June 6 (how embarrassing if he's in the minors at the time) but I fervently hope that he's gone by June 7! 

[Parfigliano]

22 minutes ago, knothole61 said:

Royce has to go now...the Grand Slam Prodigy who "doesn't do slumps" is nowhere to be found. He began the game by striking out with runners on second and third and no outs--just a little contact and it's likely a run. He managed somehow to completely miss a double-play grounder hit right at him that let in the eventual winning run--and in the end he failed to come through again. Enough is enough for this fan. Send him down: if he has sufficient skill and desire he'll come back from a demotion to St. Paul and become a contributing member of the team again, and if not, well then we will be freed once and for all of the enigmatic Mr. Lewis. It is doubtful that management will send him down before the Royce Lewis jersey giveaway day on June 6 (how embarrassing if he's in the minors at the time) but I fervently hope that he's gone by June 7! 

Didn't they Bobblehead him last year under eerily similar circumstances

[ashbury]

1 hour ago, DJL44 said:

8th in MLB in runs per game and 2nd to the Yankees in the American League.

Get your nose out of the spreadsheets and watch a game.  😀

[Mike Sixel]

6 hours ago, USAFChief said:

Nerds: "strikeouts are just like any other out."

USAFChief: "false."

Nerds: "RBI are meaningless."

USAFChief: "false."

Find me one quote where anyone said RBI are meaningless. 

[jmlease1]

Prielipp is doing a fine job in the rotation. Hard luck outing with the offense not giving him any help, but it's starting to look like we may have something here. If we can get Taj back soon and send SWR to the 'pen then the rotation will be in pretty good hands.

Sad to see Lewis struggling so much. Got a hit, but the error was a tough one. I wouldn't be surprised if he gets a few more weeks to try and sort himself, but he's making it too easy to send him down to AAA right now. 

So used to Martin doing well at the plate this season that it seems strange to see him have an ofer. Tough luck for him on that broken bat flare to RF; almost got it down for a hit and Outman was caught a little trying to figure out what to do. I think he could have scored on the tag up (tough to make a good, accurate throw off a sliding catch even with it being shallow) but I understand the hesitation with it being so shallow. Bummer to waste a triple like that.

Missed having Buxton in the lineup. Not much room for error right now. Henderson did a nice job with that change, though.

[Major League Ready]

8 hours ago, Nshore said:

Bottom half of the order: Clemens, Lewis, Gray, Outman - and they don't win???  My world doesn't make sense anymore!

It's amazing there were that many fans at the game.  Hope is eternal!

 

 

Clemens has a wRC+ of 116.  He should not be lumped in with the other three.

[Major League Ready]

8 hours ago, USAFChief said:

Nerds: "strikeouts are just like any other out."

USAFChief: "false."

Nerds: "RBI are meaningless."

USAFChief: "false."

Certainly not meaningless but far from perfect.  IMO RE24 us the best measure followed by wOBA.

[Bangkok Twins Fan]

7 hours ago, thelanges5 said:

Fun little stat - Prielipp is the first starter in Twins history to give up 2 or fewer earned runs in each of his first 5 career outings. 

That's more than a fun stat, that's a VERY impressive one!

[Bangkok Twins Fan]

5 hours ago, knothole61 said:

Royce has to go now...the Grand Slam Prodigy who "doesn't do slumps" is nowhere to be found. He began the game by striking out with runners on second and third and no outs--just a little contact and it's likely a run. He managed somehow to completely miss a double-play grounder hit right at him that let in the eventual winning run--and in the end he failed to come through again. Enough is enough for this fan. Send him down: if he has sufficient skill and desire he'll come back from a demotion to St. Paul and become a contributing member of the team again, and if not, well then we will be freed once and for all of the enigmatic Mr. Lewis. It is doubtful that management will send him down before the Royce Lewis jersey giveaway day on June 6 (how embarrassing if he's in the minors at the time) but I fervently hope that he's gone by June 7! 

Honestly, I don't know what the answer is, but something needs to happen. Royce seems to be healthy, so we can't blame injuries on his lack of production. It's so frustrating from a fan's viewpoint, because he certainly DID show us moments of high-quality play over the past couple of years. But he seems a shell of that player this season. 

[HarmonK03]

Outman, should have sat on 3B until the ball was either caught or dropped in.  By taking a few steps off he had no chance to tag and could have easily scored if the ball dropped in front of the fielder.

Right now Lewis is the favorite whipping boy, but there are bad AB's being taken throughout the lineup on a daily basis.  He is hard to defend but he is not the only problem.  And Arcia or Kreidler are not the answer, if you make a change call up Culpepper.  We are not a true wild card team with this roster, they are fooling themselves if they think are.  Lewis was not a pull hitter when he first came up, this organization tried to change everyone into a let it rip and pull the ball type of hitter.  Martin and Lee went back to who they are, hopefully Lewis figures it out too, but I am starting to think it will be with another team if it happens.

This organization needs a review from the top down and Zoll needs to go to let a fresh perspective give this insight into what is working and what isn't in the organization.  And at this point I wouldn't wait for the end of the season.  What they are doing isn't working.

[Bangkok Twins Fan]

37 minutes ago, karcherd said:

Right now Lewis is the favorite whipping boy, but there are bad AB's being taken throughout the lineup on a daily basis.  He is hard to defend but he is not the only problem. 

Yes indeed, the Twins have mucho problemos. 

[Blyleven2011]

We lost a game we should have won in front of a large crowd of Milwaukee fans ...

Bad defense  , bad offense and bad mental mistakes  ...

Prielipp has pitched solidly in his starts since his debut , going to like watching the lefthander pitch as he refines his command ...

Pitching is definitely our strength  , offense sucks and chokes with runners on base , even the homeruns come mostly with no one on base ...

Just not a clutch hitting team , the team should be pissed and show some emotions today , ( a killer instinct would be nice ) ...