Twins 6, Yankees 1: In Joe Ryan's Pablo López Moment, Twins Win First Series at Yankee Stadium in 12 Years

[Hans Birkeland]

Image courtesy of © John Jones-Imagn Images

Box Score:
Starting Pitcher: Joe Ryan: 7 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 9 K (106 Pitches, 73 Strikes, 68.8%)
Home Runs: None
Top 3 WPA: Ryan (0.29), Royce Lewis (0.16), Brooks Lee (0.13)
Win Probability Chart (Via BaseballSavant):

Following a couple of series wins against less intimidating opponents, the top offense in the American League (yeah, it's still the Twins) looked for another series win against the struggling Yankees in the Bronx. The Yankees happen to have the league's best run-prevention and turned to lefty Ryan Weathers in the rubber match.

Weathers struggled early, falling behind in counts and allowing a double to Austin Martin followed by an infield single to Byron Buxton. Things were looking dicey for Weathers, but he got a strikeout on Kody Clemens with Buxton taking off for second. The throw was wide, but shortstop Anthony Volpe tagged Buxton on the foot to complete the strike-em-out-throw-em-out. Worse still, Buxton exited the game after his caught stealing, slamming his helmet in the dugout in frustration. It would later be revealed that Buxton aggravated his sore hip.

Josh Bell picked up his team with a laser to right field that tipped over Max Schuemann's glove for a long run-scoring single. Weathers would hold the Twins there, but Joe Ryan was on the mound for the Twins looking for redemption after his clunker against the Astros to begin the week.

Ryan was sharp early, using his off-speed and breaking pitches effectively while striking out Trent Grisham and Ben Rice in dominating fashion. As the outing went along, he did leave a few sweepers in the middle of the zone that he knew he got away with (and loudly emoted about), but he stayed near the edges of the zone for the most part.

After a few more baserunners were stranded in the second, Weathers seemed to settle in, focusing more on his non-fastballs to get ahead and keep Twins hitters off balance. However, after going down 1-2-3 in the third, Royce Lewis led off the fourth with a walk and stole second on a ball in the dirt. Brooks Lee then worked a long at-bat that ended in a line-drive single to left that scored Lewis to extend the lead to two runs.

The first two hitters reached in the fifth against Weathers, prompting the Yankees to turn to their long man, Paul Blackburn. He retired Kyler Fedko and Kody Clemens before walking Josh Bell. That brought up Lewis, who shot a single right up the middle (off quite the fat pitch) to double the lead—key against a Yankees team that has struggled to score of late.

Perhaps channeling some Guardians-ball in anticipation of their upcoming series, the Twins began the sixth with a hustle double from Lee off Camilo Doval, followed by a chopper by Kreidler that Volpe couldn't handle. Keaschall then bunted over Doval's head for a bunt single to load the bases with no outs. Martin then worked a walk, prompting boos from the Yankee faithful. After Fedko struck out, Clemens lined a ball to deep right field for a sacrifice fly, pushing the lead to 6-0.

Meanwhile, Ryan seemed to get stronger with so many long innings put together by the offense, at least for a while. He seemed to run out of gas in the seventh, however, as Cody Bellinger reached on a grounder between Kreidler and Clemens up the middle on which Clemens dove, despite Kreidler having a better shot at converting the out. Ryan then walked Volpe after a successful challenge of strike three by the shortstop, but recovered to strike out Amed Rosario on a devastating sweeper to finish his outing.

Andrew Morris pitched a dominant eighth, but Yoendrys Gómez ran into trouble in the ninth. Grisham doubled over Keaschall's head in right, and Rice singled sharply to put runners on the corners with no outs. Jasson Dominguez then grounded to Kreidler, who completed an unassisted double play that allowed the Yankees' first run to score.

Stuff I'm Tracking:

• It's amazing how many Yankees hitters are in extended slumps right now. It's almost like Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton's absence has an effect on the rest of the lineup beyond just their individual contributions. Oh wait, lineup protection isn't a real phenomenon. I forgot.
• Luke Keaschall played two balls off the right field wall well enough to hold Austin Wells and Jazz Chisholm to singles, showing good footwork and anticipation for someone so new to the position.
• Fedko really doesn't look terrible, but is clearly pressing for his first hit. My boy needs a bloop double or infield single like a desert wanderer needs water. (Then the Twins can actually evaluate whether he can contribute or not.)
• Ryan was good, but facing a lineup that wasn't slumping throughout and pressing in front of their home crowd, I imagine he would have allowed a home run or two. He also may have been saved a bit by a breeze blowing in from right field.
• Martin looks a little better lately, after bottoming out in June. He's just frequently non-competitive in his at-bats against righties, so he is overexposed as an everyday player. But spotted against lefties or as a pinch-hitter, his patience and contact ability can help this team.

What’s Next: The Twins welcome the Cleveland Guardians to Target Field as Taj Bradley (7-3, 3.86 ERA) opposes Joey Cantillo (7-3, 3.86 ERA—yes, the exact same pitching line). The matchup affords the Twins the possibility of making up some ground on Cleveland, who currently hold second place in the AL Central. The Guardians can't score, especially without José Ramírez, so the series will be a test for the Twins' defense and emotional fortitude. 

Postgame Interviews:

Bullpen Usage Chart:

	WED	THUR	FRI	SAT	SUN	TOT
Morris	17	0	0	5	17	39
Raya	0	0	0	35	0	35
Gómez	18	0	0	0	14	32
Orze	0	0	28	0	0	28
Rogers	15	0	0	12	0	27
Laweryson	23	0	0	0	0	23
Funderburk	0	0	21	0	0	21
Adams	0	0	0	19	0	19

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[Jacksson]

Don't look now - the Twins' Tin Man is out again after re-injuring himself on an ill conceived, ill advised, careless, risky, failed stolen base attempt.  If he tried this on his own, he should be fined.  If Shelton orchestrated it, he's an idiot.  This merely points out the poor decision making which led to the team's failure to put The Twins' Tin Man on the IL a week or so ago as he should have been.

Thanks Joe, your trade value went up.

[ashbury]

Is it the case that someone on the Injured List becomes ineligible to play in the All-Star Game?   Asking for a friend.

[Saxophone Joe]

Team 4.3%ers feeling pretty good right now! Hats off to Shelty’s Grinders.

9-3 in our last two road trips, all against potential playoff teams, is super impressive. Huge homestand coming up, likely without Buck. 

[Linus]

Just now, ashbury said:

Is it the case that someone on the Injured List becomes ineligible to play in the All-Star Game?

I was wondering the same thing. 

[Saxophone Joe]

Also, I was tough on Joe after his last start, He showed me. A masterclass in getting ahead in the count. Bravo 👏 

[Nshore]

BUY! BUY! BUY!

 

Ryan with his antics is turning into Mark "The Bird" Fydrich.

[HarmonK03]

5 minutes ago, Jacksson said:

Don't look now - the Twins' Tin Man is out again after re-injuring himself on an ill conceived, ill advised, careless, risky, failed stolen base attempt.  If he tried this on his own, he should be fined.  If Shelton orchestrated it, he's an idiot.  This merely points out the poor decision making which led to the team's failure to put The Twins' Tin Man on the IL a week or so ago as he should have been.

Thanks Joe, your trade value went up.

So if he plays you tell him to jog around the bases and after every fly ball.  It was the first inning, you are trying to score runs, I am not sure why this shouldn't have been done or why it is so careless.  If a player plays they have to play at 100% effort.

[Saxophone Joe]

11 minutes ago, Jacksson said:

Don't look now - the Twins' Tin Man is out again after re-injuring himself on an ill conceived, ill advised, careless, risky, failed stolen base attempt.  If he tried this on his own, he should be fined.  If Shelton orchestrated it, .

Did he try to steal earlier in Kody’s at-bat? I forget…but the fact that Austin didn’t try going from third made me wonder if Buxton went on his own. 

[LA Vikes Fan]

5 minutes ago, Saxophone Joe said:

Also, I was tough on Joe after his last start, He showed me. A masterclass in getting ahead in the count. Bravo 👏 

As was I. Today was impressive. I still see Ryan as a very good #2 starter, not a #1, but he looked great today.  

[HarmonK03]

3 minutes ago, Saxophone Joe said:

Did he try to steal earlier in Kody’s at-bat? I forget…but the fact that Austin didn’t try going from third made me wonder if Buxton went on his own. 

There were no outs, the runner on third doesn't typically go in that situation.

[Saxophone Joe]

4 minutes ago, HarmonK03 said:

There were no outs, the runner on third doesn't typically go in that situation.

Gotcha, yeah, makes sense. That whole sequence was weird, followed by Bell’s oppo single that was almost a homer/robbed. 

[Mike Sixel]

30 minutes ago, ashbury said:

Is it the case that someone on the Injured List becomes ineligible to play in the All-Star Game?   Asking for a friend.

Why would you let him at this point? Should have been on the list days ago.

[LA Vikes Fan]

By the way, the Twins just acquired a relief pitcher from the Tigers. His name is . . . wait for it .. Woo-Suk Go. I am not making that up. Pronounced ooh, suk go. Again, I am not making that up.

Go is a 27 year old RH who came over in 2024 and struggled with the Padres and Marlins. He has rediscovered his form this year in the minors after the Tigers signed him and pitched well in AA and AAA. He has an assignment clause so the Twins have to put him on the 40 man, not sure if they have to keep him on the 26 man roster. We have an open 40 man spot so no corresponding move required. 95 MPH fastball, touches 98, with a good curve at 78-83 MPH. Late inning power stuff, dominant reliver in the KBO. His weakness? In a huge surprise, sometimes has control issues. Likely to replace Lawyerson or Funderburk. I say Lawyerson. Funderburk is LH so he stays until Rojas is ready to take his place.    

[DJL44]

37 minutes ago, ashbury said:

Is it the case that someone on the Injured List becomes ineligible to play in the All-Star Game?   Asking for a friend.

If you’re injured it is a terrible idea to play in an exhibition game.

[USAFChief]

49 minutes ago, Jacksson said:

Don't look now - the Twins' Tin Man is out again after re-injuring himself on an ill conceived, ill advised, careless, risky, failed stolen base attempt.  If he tried this on his own, he should be fined.  If Shelton orchestrated it, he's an idiot.  This merely points out the poor decision making which led to the team's failure to put The Twins' Tin Man on the IL a week or so ago as he should have been.

Thanks Joe, your trade value went up.

This post is...not well thought out.

[Linus]

1 minute ago, USAFChief said:

This post is...not well thought out.

You are very kind Chief. 

[USAFChief]

2 of 3 in New York. Like 12 year old scotch. 

...

You, uh, have to wait 12 years for it.

[SD happy]

52 minutes ago, Jacksson said:

Don't look now - the Twins' Tin Man is out again after re-injuring himself on an ill conceived, ill advised, careless, risky, failed stolen base attempt.  If he tried this on his own, he should be fined.  If Shelton orchestrated it, he's an idiot.  This merely points out the poor decision making which led to the team's failure to put The Twins' Tin Man on the IL a week or so ago as he should have been.

Thanks Joe, your trade value went up.

The count on Clemons was 3-2. Can you imagine the howling if Buck didn’t run and Kody hit into a double play.

[bryceboylehoban]

Josh Bell is good at hitting a baseball

[Nshore]

Buxton's hip needs a nice rest.  Is it Jenkins time yet?  Still too soon?  Even if he promises not to run into a wall?  Free Walker Jenkins!

[mnfireman]

1 hour ago, Jacksson said:

Don't look now - the Twins' Tin Man is out again after re-injuring himself on an ill conceived, ill advised, careless, risky, failed stolen base attempt.  If he tried this on his own, he should be fined.  If Shelton orchestrated it, he's an idiot.  This merely points out the poor decision making which led to the team's failure to put The Twins' Tin Man on the IL a week or so ago as he should have been.

Thanks Joe, your trade value went up.

 

[Coach]

1 hour ago, Jacksson said:

Don't look now - the Twins' Tin Man is out again after re-injuring himself on an ill conceived, ill advised, careless, risky, failed stolen base attempt.  If he tried this on his own, he should be fined.  If Shelton orchestrated it, he's an idiot.  This merely points out the poor decision making which led to the team's failure to put The Twins' Tin Man on the IL a week or so ago as he should have been.

Thanks Joe, your trade value went up.

A few years ago, they had Buck trying to steal.  The batter fouled off three pitches on every steal attempt.  Buck came up lame the next day.  It happened today.  Aren't the coaches communicating with the hitters when a steal might take place?  A lot of hitters hate it when baserunners are dancing back forth.  

[Eris]

1 hour ago, Jacksson said:

the Twins' Tin Man

I would prefer that contributors on this site not use demeaning terms to describe any players. Referring to Byron Buxton as anything other than his name does not add value to the dialogue. 

[mnfireman]

2 minutes ago, Coach said:

A few years ago, they had Buck trying to steal.  The batter fouled off three pitches on every steal attempt.  Buck came up lame the next day.  It happened today.  Aren't the coaches communicating with the hitters when a steal might take place?  A lot of hitters hate it when baserunners are dancing back forth.  

It was a 3-2 count and the pitch was a strike.....

[Western SD Fan]

1 minute ago, mnfireman said:

It was a 3-2 count and the pitch was a strike.....

Add to that Clemens has been a hitter has been making contact this year.  His K% is below ML average.  A long time ago, this was the exact situation to hit-and-run.

[Mike Sixel]

Just now, Western SD Fan said:

Add to that Clemens has been a hitter has been making contact this year.  His K% is below ML average.  A long time ago, this was the exact situation to hit-and-run.

With a guy that probably should have been on the injured list? I think that context is important. 

Nice win! I'm hoping for two roster moves later today....

[Aggies7]

Great day to be a Twins fan 

[Coach]

Good call, but my point was that anyone with hamstring, hip issues should not be going at full speed, stopping, and returning to first base.

It has taken a few of our players out.

[h2oface]

1 hour ago, Saxophone Joe said:

Also, I was tough on Joe after his last start, He showed me. A masterclass in getting ahead in the count. Bravo 👏 

I guess the weather was more fair, today……