Twins 4, Royals 3: Eighth-Inning Rally Snaps Twins' Four-Game Skid

[Sam Caulder]

Image courtesy of Denny Medley - IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Box Score
Starting Pitcher: Bailey Ober - 6 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 0 BB, 0 K (74 pitches, 50 strikes (68% strikes))
Home Runs: Royce Lewis (13)
Top 3 WPA: Yoendrys Gómez (0.21), Josh Bell (0.20), Brooks Lee (0.17)

Win Probability Chart

The Twins entered Thursday night's series finale against the Royals desperately needing something to stop the bleeding. After buying at the trade deadline, Minnesota had dropped four straight games and lost the first two contests of this series, putting plenty of pressure on the finale.

For much of the night, it looked like that losing streak was only going to grow. The Twins managed just one run through seven innings against Michael Wacha and Kansas City's bullpen, while Bailey Ober continued to give them every opportunity to climb back into the game. Then, with the season threatening to spiral further, Minnesota finally broke through.

A three-run eighth inning erased a two-run deficit, Brooks Lee delivered yet another clutch hit, and the bullpen slammed the door as the Twins escaped Kauffman Stadium with a much-needed 4-3 victory. After four straight losses and another sluggish offensive performance, this was exactly the type of win Minnesota needed.

BAILEY OBER KEPT THE TWINS IN THE GAME
One week after tossing a quality start against Kansas City, Bailey Ober turned in another strong performance against the Royals. The right-hander cruised through the first two innings, needing just 26 pitches while allowing only one baserunner. His lone hiccup came in the third, when Kansas City strung together three consecutive two-out singles.

Carter Jensen started the rally with a single before Bobby Witt Jr. collected his second hit of the night and stole second base. Jac Caglianone then reached down to hook a two-strike changeup into right field, bringing home both runners and giving the Royals a 2-0 lead. Outside of that inning, Ober was in complete control.

He retired 11 of the final 13 batters he faced and continued working efficiently throughout the night, throwing only 63 pitches through five innings. Kansas City added another run in the sixth after Witt doubled and eventually scored on Salvador Perez's RBI ground ball that snuck through the left side, but Ober once again gave the Twins a chance to win.

His final line won't fully reflect just how well he pitched. Aside from one two-out rally and a seeing-eye ground ball, Ober was exactly what Minnesota needed.   

ROYCE LEWIS STAYS HOT
For the first four innings, the Twins had almost nothing going offensively. Alan Roden's leadoff double in the third went to waste, and after several well-hit balls found gloves early in the game, Minnesota finally broke through thanks to Royce Lewis.

Leading off the fifth inning, Lewis jumped all over a 2-0 sinker from Michael Wacha and demolished it 421 feet over the bullpen in left field for his 13th home run of the season. The blast cut Kansas City's lead to 2-1 and finally gave the Twins some life. 

Minnesota immediately threatened to do even more. Victor Caratini and Tristan Gray each worked walks before Trevor Larnach reached on an infield single that deflected off Wacha's glove, loading the bases with two outs. Unfortunately, Luke Keaschall couldn't cash in, flying out to center field to end the inning and leaving all three runners stranded.

At the time, it felt like another missed opportunity that might come back to haunt them.

BROOKS LEE COMES THROUGH AGAIN
Trailing 3-1 entering the eighth inning, the Twins finally mounted the rally they had been searching for all night.

Keaschall started things with a single before Ryan Jeffers delivered a terrific nine-pitch walk as a pinch hitter. Josh Bell followed with an RBI single to right field, bringing home Keaschall while Jeffers went first-to-third, cutting the deficit to one. Kansas City went back to the bullpen, but it didn't matter.

Lewis wore a two-strike pitch to load the bases, setting the stage for Brooks Lee. With two runners in scoring position, Lee ripped a line drive through the right side of the infield, scoring both Jeffers and pinch-runner Alex Jackson to give Minnesota its first lead of the night.   

It was another huge moment for Lee, who has developed a habit of delivering in the biggest spots this season. In a game where offense was incredibly difficult to come by, his two-run single completely flipped the outcome.

THE BULLPEN FINISHED THE JOB
Once the Twins grabbed the lead, it was up to the bullpen to make it stand. Kody Funderburk tossed a scoreless seventh before Andrew Morris made quick work of the heart of Kansas City's lineup in the eighth. Morris struck out Carter Jensen before getting Witt Jr. and Caglianone on consecutive ground balls, preserving Minnesota's one-run advantage.

That handed the ball to Yoendrys Gómez in the ninth. Things didn't start smoothly, as Salvador Perez worked a leadoff walk before Tyler Tolbert entered as a pinch-runner representing the tying run. But before Kansas City could create any chaos on the bases, Gómez calmly picked Tolbert off first base for the inning's biggest out.

From there, Gómez took over. He struck out Michael Massey after an eight-pitch battle before freezing Isaac Collins with a perfectly located backdoor sweeper to end the game.

After dropping the first two games of the series and watching another early deficit develop, the Twins refused to let this one slip away. They finally found the big hits they had been searching for all night, their pitching staff once again kept them within striking distance, and Minnesota walked away with one of its most important victories of the season.

It won't erase the frustration of the past week, but after buying at the trade deadline and immediately losing four straight, this was exactly the kind of comeback the Twins needed to remind everyone why they still believe they can make a run.

What’s Next? 
The Twins continue their road trip, as they begin a three-game weekend series in Milwaukee against the Brewers tomorrow night. No starter has been announced yet for the Twins, but whoever it may be, they'll face off against left-hander Shane Drohan. First pitch is set for 6:40 PM.

Postgame Interviews
Coming Soon!

Bullpen Availability Chart

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[VivaBomboRivera!]

[AlLagoon]

Yaay, keeps a shred of hope alive.

[Peter]

Whew!!! Huge huge huge much needed comeback win!!!!💪💪💪💪💪

[IndianaTwin]

15 minutes ago, VivaBomboRivera! said:

Roger, Roger. 

[ashbury]

Season Saved!

[thelanges5]

Upcoming - Brewers

Best Record in MLB, 2 LH starters, and the Miz. Let’s take 2 out of 3!

[Permanent Twins Fan]

White Sox fall in the 13th to Boston tonight. Guardians also lost, so the Twins are 3.0 games out of first in the Central, tied with Cleveland and 1/2 game behind the Rangers for the last wild card. Win Twins. 

[Sampson5]

Brooks love to step up to the plate with a chance to turn a loss into a win . Maybe saved the season but we'll see if they can stack some wins going forward. Honestly they should get some help from st Paul they clearly need more offense jenkins clearly ready although doubt it happens until they can get away with keeping his rookie status in place for next year on the off chance he wins roty I believe that's coming up in the next week or so feels like if they didn't care about burning a year of service time he'd already of been in the majors we'll see if twins can hold on that long without losing to much ground in the standings 

[VivaBomboRivera!]

5 minutes ago, thelanges5 said:

Upcoming - Brewers

Best Record in MLB, 2 LH starters, and the Miz. Let’s take 2 out of 3!

[ashbury]

19 minutes ago, Permanent Twins Fan said:

White Sox fall in the 13th to Boston tonight. Guardians also lost, so the Twins are 3.0 games out of first in the Central, tied with Cleveland and 1/2 game behind the Rangers for the last wild card. Win Twins. 

Dang, I love a good old-fashioned Slow Mule Race!

[DJL44]

Nice to see Tristan Gray, Alan Roden and Alex Jackson play and spark the team to a win.

[ashbury]

2 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Nice to see Tristan Gray, Alan Roden and Alex Jackson play and spark the team to a win.

[Nashvilletwin]

Great win!  Such an important victory. Huge heart and fight from this team.  Love it. 

[wesnewy]

we can beat the Royals?

[howeda7]

Nice win. Now PLEASE call up Culpepper and Jenkins. The offense is still brutal. 

[JD-TWINS]

Exciting win ….. whole bunch of guys chipped in at different times.

Jackson was big, running for Bell …… Roden had a lead-off double one inning & was stranded at 3B. I too think it’s in Team’s current best interest to bring up Culpepper & Jenkins. ……… Gray & Roden would be the guys to get displaced.

Who is moved off 13 man roster when Buxton ultimately returns? If that return date is anytime soon, waiting until the service date is behind them for Jenkins …….:instead of promoting two & DFA’ing a guy you want next year (Jackson or Martin) after bringing Buxton back …..,,,while keeping Jenkins up………..I understand the slow move as time passes.

Culpepper for Gray seems like a move that cannot be a negative. They lose a LH bat v. 75% right handed pitching ……. Gray is not contributing enough to be concerned.

Maybe just have to cut Jackson when the time comes?

 

[Patzky]

7 hours ago, DJL44 said:

Nice to see Tristan Gray, Alan Roden and Alex Jackson play and spark the team to a win.

It took everyone and chewing gum to save the ark.

[Patzky]

7 hours ago, ashbury said:

Dang, I love a good old-fashioned Slow Mule Race!

When the turtles turn around and plod  backward.. 

[Saxophone Joe]

5 hours ago, wesnewy said:

we can beat the Royals?

We can build this dream together.  

[Patzky]

7 hours ago, thelanges5 said:

Upcoming - Brewers

Best Record in MLB, 2 LH starters, and the Miz. Let’s take 2 out of 3!

Surprised? We will 

[HarmonK03]

They need to cut bait with Jackson as one of their moves, he can be replaced in the offseason if they need a backup.  They need players that they can play.

[JD-TWINS]

Lewis, since his return to Big Club on June 6th:

.270/.338/.505 …..10 HR & 25 RBI with 7 stolen bases…….while moving to 1B on the fly and playing 2B occasionally and even 3B once or twice.

His total WAR as of today is 1.3 and it was zero when he came back from St Paul on June 6.

[TL]

Lewis, wow. He’s on one and it could just carry the team. Also need Buck back to form soon and a few other moves (Jenkins) to get this offense going before it is too late. I think they can severely limit/eliminate the at bats for Jackson, Gray and Caratini at this point. 

[DJL44]

5 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

Lewis, since his return to Big Club on June 6th:

.270/.338/.505 …..10 HR & 25 RBI with 7 stolen bases…….while moving to 1B on the fly and playing 2B occasionally and even 3B once or twice.

His total WAR as of today is 1.3 and it was zero when he came back from St Paul on June 6.

Talking contract extension this offseason? Arbitration is not going to be kind to him with his overall stats.

[HarmonK03]

2 minutes ago, TL said:

Lewis, wow. He’s on one and it could just carry the team. Also need Buck back to form soon and a few other moves (Jenkins) to get this offense going before it is too late. I think they can severely limit/eliminate the at bats for Jackson, Gray and Caratini at this point. 

If you are going to limit the at bats for someone why keep them on the roster.  We need one of Caratini or Jackson as backup catcher but there are options in St. Paul bring them up.  

[TL]

12 minutes ago, HarmonK03 said:

If you are going to limit the at bats for someone why keep them on the roster.  We need one of Caratini or Jackson as backup catcher but there are options in St. Paul bring them up.  

The eliminate is Jackson. Caratini’s time can be limited until/unless he snaps out of it. In no world should be see time at DH/1B right now. And we don’t have time to let him hit is way out of it in games. 

[chinmusic]

8 hours ago, thelanges5 said:

Best Record in MLB, 2 LH starters, and the Miz. Let’s take 2 out of 3!

If the Tigers can dump Skubal and Mize, and turn into a juggernaut...then sure, why not🙂

[HarmonK03]

6 minutes ago, TL said:

The eliminate is Jackson. Caratini’s time can be limited until/unless he snaps out of it. In no world should be see time at DH/1B right now. And we don’t have time to let him hit is way out of it in games. 

I agree, they seem to be forcing Caratini into the lineup and that makes no sense.

[mark allen]

43 minutes ago, HarmonK03 said:

They need to cut bait with Jackson as one of their moves, he can be replaced in the offseason if they need a backup.  They need players that they can play.

I think we half to keep Jackson to important for next year. He has done a lot for this team and looks like to good of future to waste