Twins 3, Guardians 1: Taj Bradley Pitches Twins Past Sloppy Guardians in Series Opener

[Steven Trefz]

Image courtesy of © Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

Box Score
SP: Taj Bradley 7.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 10 K (101 pitches, 67 strikes (66%))
Home Runs: N/A
Top 3 WPA: Bradley (0.36), Kody Clemens (0.14), Ryan Kreidler (0.10)

Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs) 

The Twins lost their All-Star, Byron Buxton, to a hip strain on Tuesday, right as their division rivals rolled into Target Field. Minnesota's suddenly swinging merry band of Triple-A players would have to step up to keep the happy music playing against a tough young lefty in Joey Cantillo, who hadn't allowed more than two runs in an outing since early June. The Twins also had a young hurler on a bit of a hot streak in Taj Bradley. The stage was set for a classic low-scoring, one-run ballgame.

Sharp Bradley + Sloppy Guardians = 2-1 Twins Lead
Bradley was in complete command over the first four frames, save for one low fastball that Rhys Hoskins deposited into the bullpen just left of dead center field in the second. The righty racked up seven strikeouts on only 55 pitches through the fourth, setting himself up for a lengthy outing. 

In the bottom of the second inning, the Cleveland infield took turns trying to give the Twins back the lead. The frame started with Kody Clemens reaching on a boot by the All-Star Travis Bazzana, and he moved to second on a poor fielder's choice attempt by usually-elite shortstop Brayan Rocchio on a slow chopper by Ryan Kreidler. Next, Luke Keaschall hit a grounder to first baseman Kyle Manzardo, who promptly didn't throw to second, and then didn't get the out at first because Cantillo wasn't covering. With the bases loaded and nobody out, Kyler Fedko had his hero moment. Fedko continued his 0-for-career with a strikeout, threatening the whole situation in a must-win game. Luckily, Austin Martin connected with a sacrifice fly to tie the game, and Brooks Lee delivered yet again with a seeing-eye single up the middle to snatch the lead back, 2-1.

Rocchio couldn't snag a smash grounder to start the bottom of the third, and then third baseman Daniel Schneemann got into the mix of sloppiness by butchering a hot grounder from Kreidler for a double to put runners at second and third with only one out. Keaschall failed to connect, setting up Fedko for hero moment number two. Cue the 0-16 memes. It was still 2-1 Twins after multiple threats, and it would remain that way as the teams rolled into the middle innings.

Bradley Continues to Deal, Clemens Delivers Insurance
Bradley kept the Guardians off the scoreboard through the seventh inning. That included stranding a leadoff double in that final frame to complete his night with 10 strikeouts and 23 whiffs—and, most importantly, only one run allowed. Meanwhile, the Twins' bats couldn't muster anything of note without Guardians help, until Josh Bell started the bottom of the seventh with a ringing single up the middle. With two outs and a lefty on the mound, Clemens went the other way for a deep fly ball that Steven Kwan couldn't snowcone. As Kwan kicked the ball around for a bit, the young-at-heart Bell scampered home and Clemens celebrated the new 3-1 lead on third base. All-Star Kody Clemens?

Andrew Morris, Taylor Rogers, and Yoendrys Gómez took care of business in the eighth and ninth innings, and a tense, close, important game against the Guardians was never really in doubt for the Twins. That was a sentence I've been waiting my whole life to type. Kudos to Rogers for passing Caleb Thielbar for the most appearances at Target Field by any Twins hurler. Also, kudos to Derek Shelton for pulling Rogers after a two-out walk put the tying run at the plate. This win needed to happen, and the Twins did what they needed to do to secure it.

What’s Next?
The Twins look to win the series on Wednesday night, sending lefty Connor Prielipp (2-5, 4.96 ERA) to the mound in search of some revenge for an earlier loss in Cleveland. The Guardians will counter with righty Slade Cecconi (4-6, 4.44 ERA), who hasn't faced the Twins yet this season. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 pm CDT.

Postgame Interviews

 

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

	FRI	SAT	SUN	MON	TUE	TOT
Morris	0	5	17	0	13	35
Raya	0	35	0	0	0	35
Rogers	0	12	0	0	17	29
Orze	28	0	0	0	0	28
Funderburk	21	0	0	0	0	21
Adams	0	19	0	0	0	19
Gómez	0	0	14	0	3	17
Go	0	0	0	0	0	0

 

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[Bracky]

I may need to found the Church of Clemens as an alternative option to the Church of Kreidler

[AceWrigley]

For a guy who I thought was just famous-name roster fodder when they acquired him, Kody Clemens just keeps doing things that makes the manager write his name on the lineup card every day.

[Church of Kreidler]

11 minutes ago, Bracky said:

I may need to found the Church of Clemens as an alternative option to the Church of Kreidler

I suppose, it is late enough in the season for a schism to happen…

[LastOnePicked]

Since my relentless pessimism about this team seems to be having some sort of weird cosmic effect on their resilience and resurgence, I guess I'll just have to keep it up.

I'm not impressed. This team is going nowhere.

[Church of Kreidler]

So, after consulting with our official Church of Kreidler tea leaf reader a second time, they have let me know that Kreidler is actually due for a homerun at some point during the Guardians series. They mentioned it could even go into the Angels series - but, one is definitely coming up in the home stand!

But, on a serious note, this was a fun game to watch! It seemed like the Guards were really siked out going into this game - so many errors! I'm betting we can keep them on the back foot for the next two games! Let the wins keep coming!

[AlLagoon]

Taj Bradley - this guy has been amazing.

[JADBP]

5 minutes ago, AlLagoon said:

Taj Bradley - this guy has been amazing.

Heck Yeah!!!  

[cheeseheadgophfan]

Not so hot take....Taj Bradley has had a better first half than All-Star Joe Ryan....

That trade looks like a steal.  

[Saxophone Joe]

29 minutes ago, AceWrigley said:

For a guy who I thought was just famous-name roster fodder when they acquired him, Kody Clemens just keeps doing things that makes the manager write his name on the lineup card every day.

Attention, TD crew: there’s still room on the Kody Clemens is an All-Star Bandwagon. Leaving the station soon though. Hop on! 

[Dman]

Well they needed that one.  Now if they can take the series they are on there way to getting back into this thing.  Bradley was amazing.  Only 3 hits allowed through 7.  He came up big when needed.

[Sampson5]

Taj was dominant tonight even that homer wasn't a bad pitch guy hit it out but that was a low out of the zone by a decent amount . When taj is on his game he looks like a top tier starter hopefully the rays will do us a solid in a few years and send us another top of the rotation arm once again lmao curious what twins did to unlock taj is it just development or did they scrap some things he was doing with the rays he looks like a totally different guy this season 

[Permanent Twins Fan]

7 minutes ago, cheeseheadgophfan said:

Not so hot take....Taj Bradley has had a better first half than All-Star Joe Ryan....

That trade looks like a steal.  

Except for Griffin Jax has turned himself into a very good starting pitcher as well. Yesterday (July 6) he had his own 10 strikeout performance against the Yankees. IN his last 5 starts he has pitched 31 innings had an ERA of 2.32 and struck out 36. I think that the Twins did win the trade, but Jax turning into a starting pitcher evened it out a little bit. That said, Taj has been great and the Twins are hot 

[ashbury]

20 minutes ago, Permanent Twins Fan said:

Except for Griffin Jax has turned himself into a very good starting pitcher as well. Yesterday (July 6) he had his own 10 strikeout performance against the Yankees. IN his last 5 starts he has pitched 31 innings had an ERA of 2.32 and struck out 36. I think that the Twins did win the trade, but Jax turning into a starting pitcher evened it out a little bit. That said, Taj has been great and the Twins are hot 

Possibly the most important factor is team control.  Jax can be held onto through next season, Bradley for two additional seasons after that.

[Bracky]

30 minutes ago, Saxophone Joe said:

Attention, TD crew: there’s still room on the Kody Clemens is an All-Star Bandwagon. Leaving the station soon though. Hop on! 

I have been high on Clemens since he started to playing for us last year (Despite literally knowing NOTHING about him before).

But either way, he has become a favorite for me on the team. I just appreciate that he seems to hustle and bring it every day. He plays solid average to above average defense everywhere he gets played. The fact he has been on a hot hitting streak now for a bit doesn't hurt. 

I don't see him as a long term fixture of the team necessarily but I really hope we do keep him for a few years at least. He is a great utility asset and right now you really can't complain about his contribution at 2B in terms of both defense and offense. I don't see a big reason for him to play anywhere but as starting 2B at this point until we have someone  work up through the minors to be able to take over eventually.

[soyouresayingtheresachance]

Great Ace-Like start from Taj. Love to see it. 

Kody Clemens needs to keep playing everyday. Sign him to an extension. 

Really some sloppy play by Cleveland. Cant expect that to happen often. Offense is gonna have to step it up. 10 hits and only 3 runs needs to improve. 

[USAFChief]

Bradley looks really good. 

[ashbury]

16 minutes ago, soyouresayingtheresachance said:

Kody Clemens needs to keep playing everyday. Sign him to an extension. 

He just turned 30 and is under team control already for 3 more seasons.