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Twins 4, Guardians 3: Emmanuel Rodriguez Blasts the Twins to Victory!

Steven Trefz
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Steven Trefz FCL Twins

Steven Trefz

Twins Daily Contributor
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Image courtesy of Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images

Box Score
SP: Connor Prielipp - 5.1 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 1 K (77 pitches, 57 strikes (74%))
Home Runs: Emmanuel Rodriguez (1)
Top 3 WPA: A.J. Minter (0.16), Jeff Hoffman (0.12), Rodriguez & Andrew Morris (0.09)

Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs) 
image.png

The Twins saw their playoff chances dwindle even further towards zero after suffering a ninth-inning debacle on Friday night to their Central Division foes. The Guardians looked to leap right past the wild card and into the division lead, and they used a series of bullpen openers in hopes of getting the game eventually into the lefty hand of Joey Cantillo. Meanwhile, the Twins continued to rely on rookies to save their season, and they rolled out Connor Prielipp without an opener this time. Would the long-awaited debut of Twins top-prospect Emmanuel Rodriguez spark the Twins to victory? Or would the Cleveland magic of the past month keep on steamrolling through Target Field?

For Openers

Prielipp and opener Daniel Espino made quick work of the first inning, but Prielipp ran into trouble in the top of the second with a pair of leadoff singles by Jo Adell and Angel Martinez to start the threat. Travis Bazzana cashed in the first run of the game with a single to center that plated Adell, but Rodriguez immediately made his presence felt by gunning out Martinez at third!

Rodriguez is Him

After Rodriguez cut down the Guardians momentum, the game cruised along until the bottom of the third with one out. That's when Rodriguez got his first crack at new pitcher Franco Aleman. His first crack was a 420 foot one, and suddenly we had an electric Target Field and a tie ballgame!

What unfolded next might continue to have ramifications on Sunday, as three straight singles by the Twins put them in front 2-1. Aleman then put a 95 mph fastball off of Kaelen Culpepper's neck, and while the Twins were excited to have the bases loaded with still only one out, Culpepper had to leave the game and payback is inevitable. Victor Caratini also got hit to score the fourth run of the inning and to chase Aleman. To be continued...but the Twins took a 4-1 lead and that's as far as their offense could go today.

Cleveland Does What Cleveland Does?

Prielipp had his lead, but in the top of the fifth inning it was deja vu all over again, as the pesky Guardians chipped away at the lead. The inning started with a non-retributive hit by pitch to David Fry, and that became runners at second and third with one out on an Austin Hedges double. Brayan Rocchio did his job, and grounded out to second to score one run, and Steven Kwan flipped a single to center to pull the Guardians within one at 4-3.

While Cantillo came in and silenced the Twins through his four innings of work, the Twins bullpen was finally up to the challenge themselves. Andrew Morris, Kody Funderburk, and Jeff Hoffman kept the game at a one-run Minnesota advantage, and A.J. Minter found some redemption in the ninth with two strikeouts and his first save as a Twin. With that win the the Twins moved back to 4.5 games back, and claimed the season series against their division rival as well. 

What’s Next?

The Twins look to win yet another "last chance" game in this roller coaster season in their last game against Cleveland for the season. Minnesota has yet to name a starting pitcher, while the Guardians will toss out RHP Tanner Bibee (5-15, 4.22 ERA) in the final game of the series. Tune in to see who wears that retaliation! Tune in for Emma! Or follow along at TwinsDaily while you are watching football. Either way, first pitch is scheduled for 1:10pm CDT.

Postgame Interviews

 

 

 

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

  TUE WED THU FRI SAT TOT
Funderburk 0 22 0 15 22 59
Minter 23 0 0 17 16 56
Nance 0 24 0 24 0 48
Hoffman 18 0 0 10 16 44
Adams 0 42 0 0 0 42
Gomez 13 0 0 21 0 34
Morris 8 0 0 0 17 25
Rogers 0 16 0 0 0 16

View full article

HarmonK03 FCL Twins

HarmonK03

Verified Member
Posted
Posted
48 minutes ago, PuckettPond said:

Erod makes the decision to trade Buxton easier. Twins would be in 1st place if only Erod would have been called up sooner. Extrapolating his 1st game he's on pace for 162 HR season.

Go ahead and work out a trade for Buxton so he can veto it.

ashbury GOAT

ashbury

Verified Member
Posted
Posted
2 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

What? He was recently introduced as Manny? Interesting. Thanks!

Stay tuned, but for now, I'm just relaying what I heard.  Some people (my doctor is one) are very reluctant to just come out and say what they wish to be called.

DJL44 Minnesota Twins

DJL44

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted
39 minutes ago, ashbury said:

Stay tuned, but for now, I'm just relaying what I heard.  Some people (my doctor is one) are very reluctant to just come out and say what they wish to be called.

How was he announced at Target Field? Full Name?

Blyleven2011 Ft Myers Mighty Mussels

Blyleven2011

Verified Member
Posted
Posted

Another 1 run game and twins prevail  …

wins are hard to come by so I’ll take it after the blown save by Gomez on Friday night …

nice game for Emma hitting his first homerun in first at bat , alittle disappointed he didn’t hit 3 homers in 3 at bats like the cardinals rookie did on his debut 😂😂😂

Wedman13 Draft Eligible

Wedman13

Verified Member
Posted
Posted
3 hours ago, HarmonK03 said:

Go ahead and work out a trade for Buxton so he can veto it.

You are so wrong on this topic, respectively.  It's a player option.  He 💯 woukd have enticed contending team.  He and his agents aren't dumb.  Trade, and we'll extend the $.  He doesn't live here, maybe kinda like it but no ties at all to a losing club? And if does that's an issue

at the ASP we could have gotten a great deal but most here wete 'gotta twin forever.'  Well that's why you got Fedko, Roden and Kriedler.

if you think money and winning doesn't talk, well....

terrydactyls Ft Myers Mighty Mussels

terrydactyls

Verified Member
Posted
Posted

Four signs of team improvement ahead.

1.   Rodriguez unleashing a rocket throw to get the runner at third.  Defense wins games.

2.  Rodriguez hitting a home run at 111 MPH.  He hit the ball hard.

3.  Rodriguez running hard from the moment he hit the ball until it safely cleared the wall.

4.  Rodriguez flashing a big smile.  His enthusiasm can be contagious.

Do you notice a theme here?

terrydactyls Ft Myers Mighty Mussels

terrydactyls

Verified Member
Posted
Posted
28 minutes ago, Wedman13 said:

You are so wrong on this topic, respectively.  It's a player option.  He 💯 woukd have enticed contending team.  He and his agents aren't dumb.  Trade, and we'll extend the $.  He doesn't live here, maybe kinda like it but no ties at all to a losing club? And if does that's an issue

at the ASP we could have gotten a great deal but most here wete 'gotta twin forever.'  Well that's why you got Fedko, Roden and Kriedler.

if you think money and winning doesn't talk, well....

If Buxton likes the atmosphere at Target Field and he likes the Twin Cities, why is that an issue?  Money and winning may "talk" but he doesn't have to listen.

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