Twins 6, Guardians 5: Twins Wear Down Guardians, Survive Game of Mistakes, Win Series

[Sherry Cerny]

Image courtesy of © Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

Box Score
SP: Connor Prielipp - 5 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 6 K (83 pitches, 49 strikes (72% strikes)
Home Runs: -0-
Top 3 WPA: Kody Clemens (0.38), Alan Roden (0.32), Luke Keaschall (0.27)
Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)

The Twins and Guardians got off to a slow start on Wednesday, with both pitchers looking locked-in early. It was a much-needed outing for rookie Connor Prielipp. Prielipp has been adjusting to the big leagues well, but he's taken his lumps, too. In June, he logged 28 1/3 innings and completed six frames in four of his five starts, but he still had a 4.76 ERA. Wednesday's outing was a huge test for the rookie.

It would also prove to be an important night for Alan Roden, who appeared in the majors for the first time this year. Roden didn't make the team out of spring training and spent a significant chunk of the early season on the injured list for the Triple-A St. Paul Saints. Then, he had to wait for an opportunity in the majors for some time, even as he hit well in St. Paul. When Byron Buxton went down with a hip strain this weekend, the door was finally opened for Roden's return to the team with whom he played briefly before going down for the season last August.

Prielipp ran into some trouble in the fourth inning, giving up a leadoff single to Chase DeLauter and two subsequent home runs by Brayan Rocchio and Rhys Hoskins. Thereby, the Guardians jumped out to a 3-0 lead. The rookie threw quite a few pitches in the inning, but after a mound visit, he settled down and retired the next three batters in order to limit the damage.

The Twins offense responded aggressively in the bottom of the fourth. Singles from Brooks Lee, Kody Clemens, and Josh Bell loaded the bases with nobody out. Royce Lewis followed with an RBI single to cut the deficit to 3-1. A deep sacrifice fly to center by Luke Keaschall brought Clemens home, making it 3-2 with one out. Roden lined a single into center field to score Bell and tie the game at 3-3. The Twins still had a chance to take the lead, but Cleveland made a pitching change that shut the door on the rally.

Prieplipp kept Cleveland off the board through the fifth. Travis Adams took over in the sixth and delivered a quick, scoreless inning in relief. 

Not bringing Adams back out was an interesting choice, but with limited options available, Eric Orze entered to pitch the seventh. Orze labored through 16 pitches, only recording one out and leaving two runners on base without finishing the inning. Taylor Rogers came in to get the final two outs. But instead, he surrendered two runs, allowing Cleveland to reclaim the lead, 5-3.

Again, though, Minnesota responded, with lots of help from Guardians relievers. Cleveland walked five Twins batters (Keaschall, Ryan Kreidler, pinch-hitter Austin Martin, Lee and Clemens), forcing home the tying runs. It's been an incredibly sloppy series for the usually buttoned-up Guardians. The Twins couldn't blow the game open, but they'd re-tied the game again, thanks to their opponents.

Kody Funderburk worked a scoreless eighth. He surrendered two singles, but stayed in the zone and struck out the other three batters he faced, avoiding giving back the favors the visitors had just done for the hosts.

In what became an impromptu bullpen game for Cleveland, the Twins found lots of opposing hurlers easy to handle. Victor Caratini and Keaschall started the bottom of the eighth with a single and a double, respectively, and it looked like Minnesota would finally break through. But Cleveland turned to their relief ace, Cade Smith, who slammed the door on the rally: strikeout, strikeout, walk, flyout. The teams went to the final frame on level terms.

Yoendrys Gómez worked a relatively stress-free top of the ninth. He did walk a batter, but things didn't get terribly hairy. In the bottom half of the frame, Clemens reached on (officially) a single that was hit right at Rocchio, who inexplicably went to the ground and then threw from the seat of his pants. The result was a throw on an in-between hop to first baseman Rhys Hoskins, who let himself be handcuffed. Josh Bell struck out, though, and Royce Lewis hit what was nearly an inning-ending double play. Happily, he beat it out, setting the stage for Alex Jackson. The team's backup backstop hit a cue shot to the right side, but weird spin off the end of the bat led to a crazy hop that second baseman Travis Bazzana couldn't handle. Keaschall worked a tough at-bat and drew a key walk after that, loading the bases.

Up stepped Roden, who'd missed his last chance to win the game in the bottom of the eighth. He worked a full count and fouled off multiple pitches, but then: BANG. He came through with a gapper to right-center, scoring the winning tally and setting off the celebration.

How can you not be romantic about baseball?

What’s Next?
The Twins finish out the series against the Guardians Thursday at 12:40 pm CST. The Twins will send Mike Paredes to the mound (0-2, 4.60 ERA), facing Cleveland ace Gavin Williams (9-4, 3.89 ERA) during a day game.

Postgame Interviews 

Coming soon.

Bullpen Availability Chart

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[Mike Sixel]

Ugly baseball. But a win!

[bjorks]

My favorite series of the year when it's "all" analysts. That's what sports are about, those guys were acting like kids at times and it's such a great perspective. I wish they'd do it more. 

[ashbury]

Fantastic game-winning at bat by Roden.  He didn't just foul three pitches; he fought off three very tough strike-three pitches to stay alive before the pitcher finally put a pitch where he didn't mean to.

[LastOnePicked]

To continue yesterday's bit ...

Pffft. Not impressed. Not gonna happen.

[RpR]

[USAFChief]

I have no idea how, but who cares? 

Meaningful games heading into the AS break. 

I would have wagered against it. Wait...I did.

Money well poorly-spent.

 

 

[DocBauer]

A few comments:

1] GREAT WIN! The team kept grinding. 

2] I'm still SO IMPRESSED by Prielipp and what he's done after being brought up earlier than expected. You can see the potential. 

3] Man, if Funderburk could ever throw that well daily he'd be a part of a decent bullpen. Do we still have hope?

4] I don't know know how good of a ML ballplayer Roden can be. But I know the skills are there. I've never expected greatness out of him. But he SHOULD have made the opening day roster instead of Outman. And he should have been USED instead of this crazy roster idea of only playing with a 12 1/2 roster idea.

THIS is his opportunity to show that he IS a MLB player, and that he belongs, even as a quality 4th OF. I'm super happy for his contribution tonight, and give him extra kudos for turning around for the 2nd water splash during his interview, lol.

5] While I absolutely love Cory Provus to pieces, I really LOVE the multiple color commentary of multiple former Twins in the booth! I enjoyed it last season, and my only regret is not being able to watch the whole games to enjoy the experience. TV is very different than radio. Radio you need the play by play. When watching the game, the guys still set things up, but they also offer up some great thoughts and moments, coupled with humor. 

I think Cory would only add, but I just love having a 3 and 4 man booth where we get humor and perspective. PLEASE give us more of multiple former Twins in the booth. It really adds a lot of fun and interesting perspectives of the game.

[mnfireman]

27 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Ugly baseball. But a win!

Looking at the balls/called strikes on Baseball Savant Illustrator, the HP umpire had an ugly game behind the dish. Those stats don't include the ABS challenges; MIN 4/6, CLE 1/3...

[1985Fan]

On TwinsTV broadcast they announced Bailey Ober as tomorrow’s SP. is he starting or is Paredes as this article states?
Love the 4 musketeers in announcing the game tonight and last night. Not much on the game, but lots of good stories and humor. 

[Sampson5]

Nice win . Kinda wild seeing the twins win a series vs Cleveland the exact way they usually beat us walks , errors and singles cool to have it in our favor past 2 games be awesome to sweep them tomorrow but either way twins did their job which was win the series. Keep the pressure on the fo to get some damn bullpen help so we aren't counting on so many cooked relievers 

[soyouresayingtheresachance]

Rough start for Prielipp, but he settled nicely after the HRs. Good in game adjustment. Good to see. 

Orze and Rogers were awful again. 

Bases loaded too many times for only 6 runs. Glad we got the W but man too many wasted opportunities. Won't be able to get away with that tomorrow against Clevelands Ace. 

Roden with the great AB to walk off! 

Clemens again with a good night at the plate. 

 

[wesnewy]

I wonder what this team would look like right now if they had invested an extra 5 million into the bullpen in the preseason

[Blyleven2011]

Not a great game , i almost didn't finish watching the game when Orze walked the second and third batters of the inning and rogers allowed 2 runs to score  , we need pitchers in close games that doesn't walk batters  ...

Lee getting picked off third was a blunder ...

Both teams played poorly but twins managed to match the score everytime Cleveland scored and prevailed in a walk off win ...

Cleveland pitchers walked a bunch of twins hitters  , walks will haunt ...

Nice game winning hit by roden  , sure wish fedko could get a hit before he is demoted ...

Last years deadline :

to bad Falvey and company couldn't see into the future and not traded off all that pitching , it wasn't the players that was lacking talent , it was the manager ( baldelli ) that was lacking talent  , he couldn't unlock the talent of his players at the major league level  ...

the team is fun to watch and grinding away and finding ways to win ...

It is possible that the manager is responsible for the wins and losses , I'll take shelton any day of the week over baldelli  ...

[knothole61]

"El Raton" comes through as baseball proves again why it can be the greatest show on Earth. Keep the pedal down until the All-Star Break and we'll have a very exciting second half.

I hate to harsh the buzz of those enjoying the endless banter and too-knowing frivolity in the booth right now, but I'm not a fan. A little is okay, especially for that group of folks who call their friends "dude" but if forced to listen to it on a constant basis I'd have to seek professional help! To each his or her own I guess...    

[JBK]

Again, another game where our bullpen implodes and the hitters have to bail them out.  Enough's enough.  Still regretting the Varland trade?

Glad Rhoden is being given a shot.  

[Peter]

Let me apologize about getting down and negative on twins and saying they were done after being down 3-0/5-3! My emotions always get the best of me when I watch our twins!!! I won’t do that anymore! Love the 4 former twins!!! They are goofballs but made the game fun with their stories!! Need to do this more often! What a game and huge comeback win!!! As I’ve said before twins are must watch/listen every single game!!! Let’s get the sweep today!!! Go Twins!!!