Twins 11, Yankees 4: Six Twins' Rockets Leave Yankees Glaring Red

[Steven Trefz]

Image courtesy of © Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Box Score
SP: Zebby Matthews 4.2 IP, 3 H, 4 ER, 4 BB, 5 K (79 pitches, 45 strikes (57%))
Home Runs: Kody Clemens (16), Luke Keaschall (4), Alex Jackson (1), Trevor Larnach (6), Josh Bell 2 (12, 13)
Top 3 WPA: Larnach (0.11), Taylor Rogers (0.11), Byron Buxton, Kody Clemens, Luke Keaschall (0.10)

Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs) 

The Twins entered Saturday afternoon's game at Yankee Stadium in need of a quality start and some offensive fireworks. Friday's loss afforded them neither, and simultaneously woke up the stumbling giants in the Bronx. The Yankees called up young righty Brendan Beck to replace an injured Carlos Rodon for the Independence Day start, while Zebby Matthews took the hill for the Twins in hopes of evening up the series. The Twins started off with what they needed, but the script unraveled in the fifth. In the 104 degree heat, the Twins kept lighting up the scoreboard and managed to win an otherwise losable game.

Early Explosions for the Twinkies
The Twins sure enjoyed spending their holiday with Beck. Trevor Larnach worked a leadoff walk to start things off, and the newly returned and soon to be minted All-Star Byron Buxton smoked a non-sliding Beck slider off of the wall in left to plate Larnach for an early 1-0 lead. The Rocket's kid, Kody Clemens, came up next. His patriotic blast made it 3-0.

Staked to a 3-0 lead before he even threw a pitch, Matthews started out on cruise control and took down the Yankees in order in the bottom of the first. In the top of the second, Minnesota continued to feast on Beck's efforts, this time with Luke Keaschall and Alex Jackson launching back-to-back blasts to push the lead up to 5-0!

Matthews continued to scatter a runner here and there, while continuing to keep the scoreboard clean until the Twins launched yet another bomb in the top of the fourth. Lefty Tim Hill had been brought into the game to face Larnach, and Trevor hit a rope missile into the second row to put his team up 6-0.

The Perfect Script Unravels
Zebby continued to roll in the fourth, but the Martian, Jasson Dominguez, hit a moon shot of his own to get the Yankees on the board. The Twins didn't respond in the top of the fifth, and the game completely fell apart for Matthews in the bottom of the fifth. After walking the light-hitting Ryan Matthews on four pitches with one out, Zebby left a center-cut sinker in Max Schuemann's red-zone, and it was suddenly a 6-3 ballgame. Ali Sanchez grounded out, but Matthew's lost Grisham to a walk and then lost himself to an injury during the Ben Rice at bat. Rice eventually walked, and that was enough to have Derek Shelton reach for his explosive bullpen. Zebby couldn't finish five innings in a game during which he was given a six run lead, and now his status for his next start is also at risk with a "right foot laceration" injury at play.

Travis Adams was the first man up out of the powder keg that is Twins relief pitching, and he threw a changeup down the plate for his first pitch to Cody Bellinger. Thank the Founding Fathers that Bellinger's launch angle was only 22 degrees, because his three-run homer became a one-run double instead. Dominguez came up with a chance to tie the game, but Adams threw a cutter this time for his first pitch which induced the inning-ending ground out. The Twins headed into the sixth inning with a 6-4 lead, but the tide in the battle had significantly switched back to the Yankees.

The Implosion Continues...Right?
After the Twins failed to capitalize on a hit batter and a walk in the top of the sixth, New York went single, bunt single, walk to load the bases with one out. The Yankees went to their bench for Amed Rosario because they are the Yankees, you've gotta give it to Adams. He stood up there and gave it his best and managed to get Rosario to go fishing for a fastball out of the zone for the second out. With the bases still loaded and the Twins still ahead by two, Shelton then brought in Taylor Rogers to face Grisham. Because the Yankees are the Yankees, their bench move was All-Star Paul Goldschmidt. Twins' fans of all generations knew what would happen next, Rogers told those fans to just calm down, pour a drink, and watch Goldschmidt's pop-up land harmlessly in Larnach's glove for out number three!

Implosion Yes...We Just Got the Team Wrong!
After barely surviving the Yankees in the sixth, Josh Bell stepped into the box against Yankee reliever Ryan Yarbrough. Bell brought his top-shelf fireworks, and this rocket made it 7-4!

What ensued was Yankee blasts with warning track payloads. The launches caused initial excitement around the stadium and angst within the hearts of Twins Territory, but ultimately Rogers and Andrew Morris did their job while the Twins exploited the New York gloves for an insurance run in the seventh, and four more runs in the eighth. Some highlights included a Jazz Chisholm boot at second, a Clemens RBI chopper that neither Chisholm nor Rice made any effort to catch, and another Bell top-shelf missile to make it 11-4.

How much did this game change between the sixth and eighth innings? The Twins went from "on the ropes" to "utilizing Marco Raya" in just two innings. Turns out the Independence Day laugher was indeed still in order, and Twins fans everywhere could celebrate a day of fireworks worth celebrating for once.

What’s Next?
The Twins look to steal yet another series win on the road versus an annually frustrating opponent. Twins ace Joe Ryan (5-5, 3.61 ERA) looks to rebound from his poor outing against the Astros earlier in the week, while Yankees lefty Ryan Weathers (3-6, 4.08 ERA) looks to overcome the inertia of a 1-3 June. The weather should bring some light rain and cooler temps, but the Twins' need to keep climbing back towards the .500 mark remains red hot. First pitch is scheduled for 12:35pm CDT.

Postgame Interviews

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

	TUE	WED	THUR	FRI	SAT	P
Raya	25	0	0	0	35	60
Orze	23	0	0	28	0	51
Rogers	0	15	0	0	12	27
Laweryson	0	23	0	0	0	23
Morris	0	17	0	0	5	22
Funderburk	0	0	0	21	0	21
Adams	0	0	0	0	19	19
Gómez	0	18	0	0	0	18

 

 

 

 

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[Aggies7]

Every day we beat the Yankees is a good day. Details don’t matter,

[Peter]

Props to our bullpen!!! They came through especially in 6th inning!!! Adams and rogers came through clutch!!!💪💪💪💪 6 home runs 2 with bell!!! Most important win of season!!! Let’s with this series tomorrow!!! Go twins!!!

[Saxophone Joe]

So, a couple weeks back, I was scoffed at by a TD member for suggesting Kody Clemens was playing at an All-Star level. 

Identify yourself!!🤣

[Jacksson]

"Buxton SPARKS Twins' Fireworks In Return From a 4-Game Absence" (From MLB.com).

The Tin Man Returns!!  And how many games was he the DH because he was unable to play in the field?  I wouldn't call going 1 - 3 with 2 strikeouts as SPARKING - just because he hit ONE Double and a Sacrifice Fly.  Also of note and concern = 14 strikeouts 7/03 (4 batters accounted for 10 = Bell = 2, Lewis = 2, Kreidler = 3, Gray = 3) and 10 strikeouts on 7/04 ( Lee = 3 & Buxton = 2 for HALF of the 10 strikeouts.  Just what are the hitting coaches doing to earn their pay?  Two Games = 54 outs and 24 outs were due to strikeouts. 

[Jacksson]

7/04 = Clemens goes 3-4 with a homerun and drives in 3.  Bell goes 3-5 with TWO homeruns and drives in 3,  And yet the Tin Man is given the HEADLINE & GLORY !!

[Possumlad]

4 minutes ago, Jacksson said:

"Buxton SPARKS Twins' Fireworks In Return From a 4-Game Absence" (From MLB.com).

The Tin Man Returns!!  And how many games was he the DH because he was unable to play in the field?  I wouldn't call going 1 - 3 with 2 strikeouts as SPARKING - just because he hit ONE Double and a Sacrifice Fly.  Also of note and concern = 14 strikeouts 7/03 (4 batters accounted for 10 = Bell = 2, Lewis = 2, Kreidler = 3, Gray = 3) and 10 strikeouts on 7/04 ( Lee = 3 & Buxton = 2 for HALF of the 10 strikeouts.  Just what are the hitting coaches doing to earn their pay?  Two Games = 54 outs and 24 outs were due to strikeouts. 

What on earth are you on about? The boys won in Yankee stadium. Buck is back and looked pretty good. Go have a hot dog and enjoy the 4th!

[Mike Sixel]

I was told they were too scared to win, or even try?

[DJL44]

34 minutes ago, Saxophone Joe said:

So, a couple weeks back, I was scoffed at by a TD member for suggesting Kody Clemens was playing at an All-Star level. 

Identify yourself!!🤣

He’s ranked 98th in Fangraphs WAR.

[Saxophone Joe]

2 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

He’s ranked 98th in Fangraphs WAR.

Eh, I'm not getting bogged down in analytics. Dude is an All-Star!

[bean5302]

5 minutes ago, Saxophone Joe said:

Eh, I'm not getting bogged down in analytics. Dude is an All-Star!

YEAH!!!! Keep your facts and logic to yourself, @DJL44!

[RpR]

13 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

He’s ranked 98th in Fangraphs WAR.

So what?  It is just some one/s opinion on their subjective measures.

On September 18, 2009, Fangraphs Inc. launched an iPhone app in partnership with Hawk Ridge Consulting,^[3] which was discontinued before returning in 2022.^[4] Fangraphs has a number of content partners including ESPN, SB Nation and Fanhouse.

[RpR]

[DJL44]

Watching the Saints game. Jeffers has hit a home run and threw a runner out at 2B. He looks ready to join the team on Tuesday. I hope he comes up for Fedko.

Alex Jackson can be the 13th guy. He’s fast enough to pinch run and he’s already ahead of Fedko on the pinch hitting depth chart. He’s even played 160 games in the outfield in the minors.

[Church of Kreidler]

I'm just so glad I got to spend the fourth the way the Founding Fathers intended - watching my favorite team win a sport that wouldn't be invented for 80 years.

Edited 4 hours ago by Church of Kreidler
Changed the gif; feared the wrong message was sent

[jkcarew]

[jorgenswest]

1 hour ago, DJL44 said:

He’s ranked 98th in Fangraphs WAR.

What would he be ranked if he played 2B all year and didn’t have the huge negative because the Twins chose to play him at 1B? Positional flexibility adds value to a team but in Clemens case it is reflected in a negative direction by WAR. How does he rank among qualified AL second basemen in wRC+?

[RpR]

1 hour ago, DJL44 said:

Watching the Saints game. Jeffers has hit a home run and threw a runner out at 2B. He looks ready to join the team on Tuesday. I hope he comes up for Fedko.

Alex Jackson can be the 13th guy. He’s fast enough to pinch run and he’s already ahead of Fedko on the pinch hitting depth chart. He’s even played 160 games in the outfield in the minors.

You did not say he also had a throwing error on a base steal and the runner ended up at third.

[Church of Kreidler]

1 hour ago, DJL44 said:

He’s ranked 98th in Fangraphs WAR.

Definitely one of those players where the stats can only tell you so much! If you watch this guy, it tells a different story.

And, even if we’re going by WAR - he’s third on the team from the fielders. He’s only being beaten by Buck (Tinman?!) and Jeffers! If you add pitchers, you just add Ryan and Bradley ahead of him…

[DJL44]

52 minutes ago, jorgenswest said:

What would he be ranked if he played 2B all year and didn’t have the huge negative because the Twins chose to play him at 1B? Positional flexibility adds value to a team but in Clemens case it is reflected in a negative direction by WAR. How does he rank among qualified AL second basemen in wRC+?

He would rank roughly 8th among 2B. They just named the All Star Game roster. I only counted four second basemen.

[Mike Sixel]

31 minutes ago, Church of Kreidler said:

Definitely one of those players where the stats can only tell you so much! If you watch this guy, it tells a different story.

And, even if we’re going by WAR - he’s third on the team from the fielders. He’s only being beaten by Buck (Tinman?!) and Jeffers! If you add pitchers, you just add Ryan and Bradley ahead of him…

I'm a big fan, but I'm not sure saying he's better than a bunch of guys not playing well is all that convincing...

I agree with the post above, playing first hurts his fwar for sure, and we should think about that ...

[DJL44]

34 minutes ago, RpR said:

You did not say he also had a throwing error on a base steal and the runner ended up at third.

His infielder Morissette whiffed on the throw.

[Church of Kreidler]

2 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

I'm a big fan, but I'm not sure saying he's better than a bunch of guys not playing well is all that convincing...

I agree with the post above, playing first hurts his fwar for sure, and we should think about that ...

I don't think we have a bunch of guys not playing well... I think considering how poorly we were expected to do?

We've only got two fielders with a WAR below 0 - Fedko, because they never play him, and Tristan Grey because we play him to much.

[Saxophone Joe]

39 minutes ago, Church of Kreidler said:

Definitely one of those players where the stats can only tell you so much! If you watch this guy, it tells a different story.

💯. Kody has been clutch time & time again since we acquired him. We’ve all seen him take it to the next level this season.

Look those numbers up🙌🏼

[Parfigliano]

2 minutes ago, Saxophone Joe said:

💯. Kody has been clutch time & time again since we acquired him. We’ve all seen him take it to the next level this season.

Look those numbers up🙌🏼

They definitely unlocked something in Clemens

[RpR]

33 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

His infielder Morissette whiffed on the throw.

They gave Jeffers the error, so it is his fault.

[jorgenswest]

53 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

He would rank roughly 8th among 2B. They just named the All Star Game roster. I only counted four second basemen.

The NL must be loaded. Ernie Clement leads qualified AL 2Bs at 107 and is the All Star 2B. Clemens has a wRC+ of 122. Bazzana has a wRC+ of 113 as the reserve 2B.

[DJL44]

28 minutes ago, jorgenswest said:

The NL must be loaded. Ernie Clement leads qualified AL 2Bs at 107 and is the All Star 2B. Clemens has a wRC+ of 122. Bazzana has a wRC+ of 113 as the reserve 2B.

They are. Arraez, Turang, Wetherholt, Edwards, Marte, Lowe, Albies 

[DJL44]

46 minutes ago, RpR said:

They gave Jeffers the error, so it is his fault.

Did you know if a catcher throws to second base on a steal and nobody covers the base, that is scored as a throwing error on the catcher?

[amjgt]

4 hours ago, Jacksson said:

"Buxton SPARKS Twins' Fireworks In Return From a 4-Game Absence" (From MLB.com).

The Tin Man Returns!!  And how many games was he the DH because he was unable to play in the field?  I wouldn't call going 1 - 3 with 2 strikeouts as SPARKING - just because he hit ONE Double and a Sacrifice Fly.  Also of note and concern = 14 strikeouts 7/03 (4 batters accounted for 10 = Bell = 2, Lewis = 2, Kreidler = 3, Gray = 3) and 10 strikeouts on 7/04 ( Lee = 3 & Buxton = 2 for HALF of the 10 strikeouts.  Just what are the hitting coaches doing to earn their pay?  Two Games = 54 outs and 24 outs were due to strikeouts. 

We just came off a month where we had the 2nd best K% in baseball