Twins 1, White Sox 4: Little Good on the North Side of Chicago

[Matt Braun]

Image courtesy of Matt Marton, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Box Score
Zebby Matthews: 5 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
Home Runs: Josh Bell (18)
Bottom 3 WPA: Zebby Matthews (-.180), Luke Keaschall (-.110), Ryan Jeffers (-.090)
Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)

 

Good and bad. Yin and yang. However you like to interpret the internal battle in all of us, the concept is never more apparent than in a Zebby Matthew start. One day, excellence; another, the ugly flipside of a hurler with a penchant for homers. Seemingly a preference for punishment. His last start against the White Sox nearly resulted in a complete game shutout, while Friday’s affair resulted in turned heads, exalted cheers from the home crowd, and roaring music accompanying a plethora of home run trots.

First, the first: an initial blast by Miguel Vargas in the game’s opening frame, a tone setter. Then, a Braden Montgomery shot in the second. Chicago skipped the third - how kind of them - just to return in the fourth with a two-run long ball off the bat of Colson Montgomery, who’s already developing a Twin-killing reputation early in his young career. 

The 4-0 deficit was already a tough endeavor, and it was made worse by the Big Bad Wolf standing on the mound for the White Sox: Erick Fedde. The monster. A 6’4” 205-pound terror of finesse pitching that no lineup bearing a Twins insignia can figure out, no matter their makeup. He would shut out the 1927 Yankees, if they bore Minnesota jerseys. And he worked his magic once more, surrendering a scattering of baserunners across five innings, but holding the team scoreless as they once more struggled to find the big hit against him. 

Or against anyone, for that matter. The lively, young offense that pulverized the Tigers, and necessitated an unchanged lineup for nearly a week, showed little vigor. Fedde begat Hagen Smith, who begat Bryan Hudson, all of whom were anathema to Minnesota on Friday. Their collection of singles and walks proved impotent, contrasted with Chicago’s three mighty dingers.

Finally, some action arrived in the ninth against the best White Sox pitcher of the night. Go figure. Josh Bell launched a thunderous solo home run, and Royce Lewis doubled after a Gabriel Gonzalez ground out. Another worm-burner by Kaelen Culpepper gave the Twins one final out. Walker Jenkins walked, and Luke Keaschall hit an ordinary fly ball to right to end Minnesota's tepid rally. 

 

Notes:

Post-Game Interview:

 

What’s Next?
The Twins and White Sox meet at Guaranteed Rate Field for a Saturday brouhaha, with Taj Bradley scheduled to start opposite left-hander Anthony Kay. First pitch is at 6:10 PM. 

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

	MON	TUE	WED	THUR	FRI	TOT
Nance	26	0	33	0	0	59
Acton	0	39	0	0	18	57
Morris	0	29	0	0	0	29
Funderburk	0	0	29	0	0	29
Rogers	0	0	7	0	19	26
Minter	0	0	17	0	0	17
Gomez	0	0	15	0	0	15
Hoffman	0	0	13	0	0	13
Adams	0	9	3	0	0	12

View full article

[thelanges5]

11-19 since Aug 1. Been fun but no playoffs for these guys. Let’s see what we got for 2027. 

[thelanges5]

Guardos Devil Magic with two walk-offs today. 👹

[Linus]

Zebby has been pretty good for a 4th / 5th starter. 

[soyouresayingtheresachance]

Another lifeless effort. 

 

[singlesoverwalks]

Starting to realize that maybe the White Sox are better than the Twins. 

[D.C Twins]

White Sox are South-Side of Chicago.... were the Twins somehow sucking on the North-Side of Chicago as well in absentia?  I mean... I wouldn't put it past them, but just curious