Twins 3, Tigers 2: The Twins Bend, But Refuse to Break

[Sam Caulder]

Image courtesy of Brian Bradshaw Sevald-Imagn Images

Box Score
SP: Dean Kremer - 5 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 3 K (69 pitches, 46 strikes (67% strikes))
Home Runs: Kody Clemens (25)
Top 3 WPA: Kody Clemens (0.29), Andrew Morris (0.21), Yoendrys Gómez (0.20)
Win Probability Chart

The Twins entered Tuesday night's matchup against the Tigers needing a win after dropping Monday's series opener and watching their already-slim playoff chances continue to slip away. They got exactly what they needed. Minnesota jumped out to an early lead, surrendered it on Kevin McGonigle's two-run homer, and then immediately responded with the biggest swing of the night. Kody Clemens crushed his 25th homer of the season in the sixth inning to give the Twins the lead back, and the bullpen did the rest. The Twins held on for a 3-2 victory, evening the series and moving to 69-76 on the year. It wasn't always pretty, and Minnesota had to escape a massive threat in the seventh inning, but after dropping the opener, the team found a way to respond when they absolutely needed to.

DEAN KREMER BATTLED THROUGH ANOTHER SOLID START

Dean Kremer didn't have the easiest first inning. McGonigle opened the game with a 10-pitch at-bat that ended with a single, and Gleyber Torres followed with another base hit. Suddenly, Detroit had two runners aboard with nobody out and the heart of its lineup coming up. But Royce Lewis helped Kremer escape. Colt Keith lined a ball toward first base. Lewis made a phenomenal leaping grab, before doubling McGonigle off second. Torres later moved into scoring position on a wild pitch, but Kremer got Riley Greene to swing through a splitter to end the inning.

After throwing 20 pitches in the first, Kremer settled in nicely. He worked scoreless second and third innings before recording his first 1-2-3 frame of the night in the fourth. The right-hander needed just six pitches to get through that frame.

The only real mistake came in the fifth. After Zach McKinstry reached with a two-out single, Kremer left a fastball over the middle of the plate. McGonigle didn't miss it, launching a two-run homer to left and giving Detroit a 2-1 lead. It wasn't a perfect outing, but Kremer once again gave the Twins a chance to win. And they did some damage immediately after Kremer's night ended.

KODY CLEMENS GAVE THE TWINS THE LEAD RIGHT BACK

The Twins did a nice job of making Drew Anderson work early. Brooks Lee doubled in the first inning before Clemens and Ryan Jeffers drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. Josh Bell then lifted a sacrifice fly to right, giving Minnesota an early 1-0 lead and putting Anderson at 28 pitches after just one inning. But after that, the Twins' offense went quiet. Anderson settled in and retired the side in order in the second, third, and fifth innings. Jeffers singled in the fourth, but Bell immediately grounded into a double play, and Minnesota was suddenly struggling to generate much of anything against a pitcher they had seen less than a week earlier. Then came the sixth.

Luke Keaschall worked a leadoff walk, surviving two called third strikes that were successfully challenged. Lee struck out, but that brought Clemens to the plate with Keaschall aboard. And he didn't miss. Anderson left a fastball elevated, and Clemens turned on it, sending his 25th homer of the season into the seats in right-center field. Just like that, the Twins had erased Detroit's lead and moved back in front 3-2.

The homer also tied Clemens with Byron Buxton for the team lead. More importantly, it gave Minnesota the lead for good. Clemens has been one of the Twins' most important offensive players this season, and Tuesday night gave him another massive moment. With the offense struggling to get anything going, one swing changed the entire game.

ANDREW MORRIS ESCAPED THE BIGGEST THREAT OF THE NIGHT

The seventh inning had all the makings of a complete disaster. A.J. Minter walked pinch-hitter Ben Malgeri to open the inning after getting ahead 1-2. Malgeri then stole second, and a throwing error from Jeffers allowed him to advance all the way to third. Suddenly, the tying run was 90 feet away with nobody out.

Minter got Max Clark to ground to short, with Kaelen Culpepper holding Malgeri at third before recording the out. That brought Andrew Morris into the game with one down and the Twins desperately needing two more outs. He delivered. Morris got Hao Yu-Lee to swing through a cutter for a massive second out before Zach McKinstry lined a ball to left. The ball stayed in the air long enough for Minnesota to escape the inning completely unscathed.

It was a huge moment. The Twins had put themselves in a difficult position, and after allowing Detroit to get the tying run to third with nobody out, they could have easily watched the game slip away. Instead, Morris came in and shut the door. Minter, Morris and Jeff Hoffman combined to get Minnesota through the sixth, seventh and eighth innings without allowing a run. That set the stage for Yoendrys Gómez to finish the job.

THE TWINS' DEFENSE AND BULLPEN CLOSED IT OUT

Minnesota's defense made several huge plays throughout the night. Lewis saved potentially multiple runs with his leaping double play in the first inning. Lee made a nice catch against the netting in the third, and McKinstry robbed Lee of a potential hit with a diving catch in the eighth.

Then, fittingly, Keaschall made the final play. After Gómez struck out Greene and got Eduardo Valencia to line out, Malgeri lined a ball into right field that looked like it had a chance to drop. Keaschall came sliding in and made the catch, ending the game and securing the 3-2 victory. Gómez is now 22-for-22 in save opportunities this season.

The Twins needed this one. Their playoff chances are continuing to fade, and after dropping Monday's opener, another loss would have made things even more difficult. Instead, Minnesota responded with timely pitching, strong defense and one massive swing from Clemens. They haven't fixed everything, and the Twins still have plenty of work to do over the final few weeks of the season if they're gonna make an improbable run. But for one night, they found a way. Now, the series is even, and Minnesota will have a chance to take the rubber match Wednesday afternoon.

What’s Next?
The Twins and Tigers wrap up their three-game set in Detroit tomorrow afternoon. Zebby Matthews is set to take the hill for Minnesota, and he’ll face off against right-hander Keider Montero. First pitch is set for 12:10 PM.

Postgame Interviews
Coming soon!

Bullpen Availability Chart

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[Linus]

Defense matters. The Twins don’t win this game without a couple of fielding gems. Happy for Luke to make that catch in a big spot. 

[Andy MacPhail]

Twins have to win close games; this was a good game. We need many more.

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

Gomez has been utterly brilliant this year. That we got him for cash considerations is absurd.  

[RpR]

[Permanent Twins Fan]

1 hour ago, Linus said:

Defense matters. The Twins don’t win this game without a couple of fielding gems. Happy for Luke to make that catch in a big spot. 

He has been pretty bad in the outfield, but he has been getting better lately especially after moving out of CF. His DRS is -1 as a right fielder which isn't good, but it is a lot better than it was a month or so ago.

[Parfigliano]

46 minutes ago, Permanent Twins Fan said:

He has been pretty bad in the outfield, but he has been getting better lately especially after moving out of CF. His DRS is -1 as a right fielder which isn't good, but it is a lot better than it was a month or so ago.

He will be fine at 1B.

[Peter]

Huge win!!! 

[DJL44]

7 hours ago, Parfigliano said:

He will be fine at 1B.

I think Keaschall should work on both 1B and LF in the offseason. He’s not going to be the best fielder at either spot but some versatility could keep him out of playing DH.

[Whitey333]

Nice win.  Goodbye entertaining game.  I have no delusions of them making the playoffs and havent for most of the season.  But they do have some nice young players to watch.  Now this off season they need to get rid of a few more veterans like Buxton and Larnach, and Jeffers, and maybe Lewis too.  Who knows??

[HarmonK03]

1 minute ago, DJL44 said:

I think Keaschall should work on both 1B and LF in the offseason. He’s not going to be the best fielder at either spot but some versatility could keep him out of playing DH.

They need to pick a spot and let him work at it and get comfortable so he can improve.  He is not a utility type player, he needs to focus on one position.

[mikelink45]

Royce Lewis - last 30 games = 231/272/342.  Last 15 211/246/298 despite this last week being fairly good.  Is he really out 1B going forward?

 

[HarmonK03]

12 minutes ago, mikelink45 said:

Royce Lewis - last 30 games = 231/272/342.  Last 15 211/246/298 despite this last week being fairly good.  Is he really out 1B going forward?

 

Yes