Twins 10, Guardians 6: Twins Bats Heat Up and Snap Four-Game Losing Streak

[Sherry Cerny]

Image courtesy of © David Richard-Imagn Images

Box Score
SP: Bailey Ober - 4 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 K (89 pitches, 57 strikes (64% strikes)
Home Runs: Trevor Larnach (8); Brooks Lee (15)
Top 3 WPA: Brooks Lee (0.32); Trevor Larnach (0.12); Travis Adams (0.11)
Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)

The Twins and Guardians met Wednesday night for Game 3 of 4, with Minnesota looking to keep alive their chance to split the series and to snap a four-game losing streak. The game started with promise as Trevor Larnach crushed a 404-foot leadoff home run to right-center, giving the Twins an early 1-0 lead.

Making just his third start since returning from the injured list, Bailey Ober wasn't getting shelled, but Cleveland did what it does best. The Guardians sat on his 80-mph changeup, blooping soft singles into the outfield and manufacturing runs. Singles from José Ramírez and Brayan Rocchio tied the game, before Cleveland small-balled its way to a 3-1 lead in the second.

The Twins, however, answered with big ball. Alex Jackson doubled, Larnach worked a walk, and Brooks Lee drove in a run with a single. Josh Bell tied the game with an RBI groundout. Ober battled through a messy third without allowing a run, despite his pitch count continuing to climb.

Minnesota took control in the fourth, and stayed there the rest of the game. Three straight singles put the Twins back in front by one, before Lee launched his 18th home run of the season to extend the lead to 7-3. That cushion would prove to be significant later in the game. Cleveland answered with one run in the bottom half, but Ober limited the damage.

The fifth inning brought a scare, when Victor Caratini fouled a pitch off his right knee and was helped off the field. Ryan Kreidler replaced him, while Luke Keaschall worked an 11-pitch walk, but the Twins stranded the runners. (Caratini was later diagnosed with a right knee contusion, needing further testing.)

The bullpen took over from Ober in the fifth inning. Usually an early visit to the bullpen is a recipe for disaster for the Twins, but Kody Funderburk tossed a scoreless inning before Travis Adams retired the side on just six pitches in the sixth and put up another goose egg in the seventh. The yeoman's work from those middle relievers gave the offense a much-needed opportunity to keep the pressure on.

Minnesota added insurance in the late innings. After Ramírez committed an error, Matt Festa hit Keaschall with a pitch, and Trevor Larnach delivered a two-run single to put the game further out of reach at 9-4. The Guardians made a pitching change, but that didn’t save them. The Twins got one more in from Bell for a 10-4 lead.

Andrew Morris came out in the eighth inning and immediately broke his 18-inning scoreless streak with a solo home run from Kyle Manzardo. Not as sharp as he might have been if the game were a little tighter, Morris put two more runners on base, but avoided further damage.

Yoendrys Gómez closed down the game for the Twins. He faced the meat of the hosts' lineup, and while he gave up one run, there was never any real worry that the Guardians would come back. It was a sloppy game for Cleveland, but an impressive win for the Twins.

What’s Next?
The Twins finish the series and the road trip with a getaway day game at 12:10 pm CST. The Twins will send Taj Bradley to the mound (9-4, 3.85 ERA), facing Gavin Williams, then head home to make the most of one last push before the trade deadline.

Postgame Interviews 

Coming soon.

Bullpen Availability Chart

 

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[wesnewy]

Great way to get off the shnide 

fun fact about brooks lee:

I love him

[RpR]

[Sampson5]

Brooks a demon on the road I'm just gonna assume he hates target field the way most his production is on the road . Cool to see the offense bounce back I had doubts when I saw a lineup with both buck & jeffers not playing be cool to split this series tomorrow 

[Mike Sixel]

6 minutes ago, Sampson5 said:

Brooks a demon on the road I'm just gonna assume he hates target field the way most his production is on the road . Cool to see the offense bounce back I had doubts when I saw a lineup with both buck & jeffers not playing be cool to split this series tomorrow 

Wow, just checked. It's night and day on lee home and away. 

[Danchat]

Notably, Travis Adams has gone 8 scoreless innings in a row... I'm glad they haven't given up on the kid. He's the type of guy to gives chances to, not a DFA pickup.

Also, I feel like Roden deserves some credit for putting the ball in play even if the opposing team flubbed it up, even though it counts against his batting average that's better than striking out.

[soyouresayingtheresachance]

Need to score some runs? Sit your 2 best bats for the day. 🙄

Ober continued the streak of starters struggling, but not as bad as those before him. 

[USAFChief]

Only mostly dead.

[Parfigliano]

Not pretty but still a W.

[JD-TWINS]

Need Taj to come up Big on Thursday! Get the split with Cleveland and take 4 of 6 in homestand ……. back to .500 and trying to maneuver an acquisition or two.🤞