Twins 4, Giants 2: Wait, Visiting Teams Can Win Series, Too?

[Sherry Cerny]

Image courtesy of D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images

Box Score
SP: Connor Prielipp  - 5.1 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K (77 pitches, 55 strikes (72% strikes))
Home Runs: Luke Keaschall (10)
Top 3 WPA: Walker Jenkins (0.09); Yoendrys Gómez (0.12); Luke Keaschall (0.10)
Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)

In their final away game of the season, the Twins found themselves in a rubber match with the lowly Giants. Connor Prielipp came in for his final appearance of the season, with a chance to even out his win-loss record. Prielipp has had games where his command and arm start to loosen up, only to see things unravel around the fifth inning. On Wednesday, that unraveling started a little earlier.

The Twins' bats made contact in the first two innings, but nothing that generated any runs. Then, Luke Keaschall came up for his second at-bat and ripped a solo home run deep to left field, putting the Twins ahead 1-0.

In the top of the fourth, both Ryan Jeffers and Alan Roden reached base, but subsequent outs ended the Twins' opportunity to add to their lead. Prielipp's trouble started in the bottom half. A groundout opened the inning, but a single from Bo Davidson and a double from Andrew Knizner put runners in scoring position. Prielipp managed to get another out, but then walked Marcelo Mayer to load the bases. A well-placed hit from Shay Whitcomb into right field dropped right between Keaschall and Aaron Sabato, scoring two runs and putting the Giants ahead 2-1.

The Twins' response was quick. Ben Ross crushed a ball toward the seats, but it fell just short and bounced off the wall. Ross kept running and dug deep, turning it into a triple and putting the Twins right back in position to answer. Keaschall was just the man to do it. The contact maven hit a sacrifice fly to plate Ross and tie the score.

Prielipp's fifth inning looked much cleaner and much quicker, as he retired the top of the Giants' lineup on just six pitches. His day ended after one out in the bottom of the sixth, closing the book on his first season as a Twin. Manager Derek Shelton took a moment to offer Prielipp some encouragement and positive feedback as he left the mound for the final time in 2026, then brought in reliever Yoendrys Gómez to finish the inning. Gómez did exactly that, without allowing any damage.

The Giants cycled through two more relievers in the seventh, and the Twins took advantage of the opportunity. Austin Martin immediately drew a walk. Then, what should have been a routine defensive play turned into an opportunity for the Twins when Giants shortstop Christian Koss committed a throwing error, allowing Kody Clemens to advance to second.

Walker Jenkins came in to pinch-hit for Ross, prompting the Giants to have a meeting on the mound. There was only one out, and given what Jenkins had already done earlier in the series, they clearly wanted to make sure he didn't beat them again.

That didn't work. Jenkins lined a single, scoring Clemens and putting the Twins back in front, 3-2.

The Giants made another pitching change, but the Twins weren't done. Josh Bell followed with a single, bringing home another run and extending the Twins' lead to 4-2.

Gómez came back out for the seventh and struck out all three batters he faced. No hits. No runs. Exactly the kind of outing the Twins needed. A.J. Minter replaced Gómez and followed with a scoreless inning.

For the bottom of the ninth, Andrew Morris came out and secured two outs, but things seemed to get sticky after that. Morris gave up a two-out single to Drew Gilbert and then walked Mayer. Pitching coack Pete Maki came out to settle down Morris, but the team was warming up Kody Funderburk. The Twins wouldn't need Funderburk, though, because Morris's next three pitches were all strikes, ending the game.

What’s Next?
The Twins leave San Francisco to head home for the last series of the season at home against the Texas Rangers, starting on Friday 7:10 PM CT. The Twins send Joe Ryan (6-10, 3.83 ERA) to finish out his season, against a pitcher the Rangers will determine later. 

Postgame Interviews 

Bullpen Availability Chart

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[Blyleven2011]

nice to see prelipp finish out the season healthy and with a good start , definitely will be in consideration for a rotation spot in 2027 if an when the season starts …

twins managed to score enough runs and bullpen had good results , twins win there second in arow , now will they play spoiler and beat up on Texas who are a team over 500 but not by much …

should be an interesting series to conclude the season , I’d like the promising young players to finish the season with a five game winning streak …

[SE23]

8 minutes ago, Blyleven2011 said:

nice to see prelipp finish out the season healthy and with a good start , definitely will be in consideration for a rotation spot in 2027 if an when the season starts …

twins managed to score enough runs and bullpen had good results , twins win there second in arow , now will they play spoiler and beat up on Texas who are a team over 500 but not by much …

should be an interesting series to conclude the season , I’d like the promising young players to finish the season with a five game winning streak …

As noted in the game thread, Prielipp was 3-1 with a 3.79 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in his last 7 games. He struck out 34 and walked 8 in that span.

[Vanimal46]

Prielipp crushed his drive down the middle on the 18th hole of the season like Taj. A good way to end things for both players!

[Parfigliano]

Road series win.  Yippeeeeeee!!!!!

[SE23]

13 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

Prielipp crushed his drive down the middle on the 18th hole of the season like Taj. A good way to end things for both players!

Connor played the last 4-5 holes very well. 

[Vanimal46]

29 minutes ago, SE23 said:

Connor played the last 4-5 holes very well. 

I’d argue holes 17 and 18. He had a rough stretch in mid August 

[Saxophone Joe]

Tale of 2 RISP averages with 2 outs: Bell (.385, 2nd in MLB) & Buck (2-34, .058). Crazy. 

[Saxophone Joe]

Can’t help but ruminate on, if we had righted this ship sooner, we would be playing for something truly meaningful this weekend. They weren’t that far off imo. A few breaks here and there, better execution…Oh well. So it goes. I’ve been entertained.

[LastOnePicked]

11 minutes ago, Saxophone Joe said:

Can’t help but ruminate on, if we had righted this ship sooner, we would be playing for something truly meaningful this weekend. They weren’t that far off imo.

No need to ruminate. They were that far off. This is not a good baseball team. Don't let two squeaker wins against a worse baseball team distort 2+ months of futility.

[Saxophone Joe]

7 minutes ago, LastOnePicked said:

No need to ruminate. They were that far off. This is not a good baseball team. Don't let two squeaker wins against a worse baseball team distort 2+ months of futility.

I totally see your point. But strictly by the standings math, they’ll probably end up one hot week away in the course of a 6 month season from being in the playoffs or at least still in the hunt in this final week. Even just an extra win a month…that’s not far off imo.

[mikelink45]

Nice to take the series against the AAAA Giants, but what about the draft?

[Linus]

Preillip is really close to being a good pitcher. A little better command and a little better change up and we have something. Don’t understand the pitch selection with Morris. His fastball is his best pitch and they just went cutter / change over and over. 

[mark allen]

2 minutes ago, Linus said:

Preillip is really close to being a good pitcher. A little better command and a little better change up and we have something. Don’t understand the pitch selection with Morris. His fastball is his best pitch and they just went cutter / change over and over. 

I can see where they might of needed to throw a few less fast balls. I think the hitters were setting on the fastball since he's been throwing it almost 1/2 the time

[Old Twins Hat]

Shelton has been on Prielipp to smile more.  Or at least, once in awhile.

Looking at the photo with Shelton removing him from the game is hilarious.

[SE23]

5 minutes ago, Linus said:

Preillip is really close to being a good pitcher. A little better command and a little better change up and we have something. Don’t understand the pitch selection with Morris. His fastball is his best pitch and they just went cutter / change over and over. 

His struggles in late-May and mid-August were painful, but necessary for his growth as a pitcher. Big league hitters WILL figure out young pitchers. It's up to the young pitcher to adjust and regain the advantage needed to get crucial outs when the pressure rises. Connor is making the adjustments.

[thelanges5]

1 hour ago, mikelink45 said:

Nice to take the series against the AAAA Giants, but what about the draft?

As of right now, they pick 11th
 

https://www.tankathon.com/mlb

[shimrod]

9 hours ago, Saxophone Joe said:

9 hours ago, LastOnePicked said:

No need to ruminate. They were that far off. This is not a good baseball team. Don't let two squeaker wins against a worse baseball team distort 2+ months of futility.

I totally see your point. But strictly by the standings math, they’ll probably end up one hot week away in the course of a 6 month season from being in the playoffs or at least still in the hunt in this final week. Even just an extra win a month…that’s not far off imo.

They had their hot week(s), that's why they didn't look that far off at the end. The Twins are going to finish with a better record than expected considering their talent level most of the year. 

 

[soyouresayingtheresachance]

Being his last start of the season, I was a little disappointed Prielipp was pulled so early. But just a minor complaint. He pitched quite well and finished the season strong. Im excited to his development next season. 

[Coach]

10 hours ago, Saxophone Joe said:

Tale of 2 RISP averages with 2 outs: Bell .375, 2nd in MLB) & Buck (2-34, .058). Crazy. 

 

[Saxophone Joe]

20 minutes ago, Coach said:

 

Ah yes, -- .385 ;) Not too shabby. 

[LastOnePicked]

2 hours ago, shimrod said:

They had their hot week(s), that's why they didn't look that far off at the end. The Twins are going to finish with a better record than expected considering their talent level most of the year. 

Depends on whose expectations. They need to sweep the Rangers to even meet their preseason expectations from Fangraphs.

But they did nail the over on the Vegas odds, so I guess they can stick that little feather in their caps.

[LastOnePicked]

12 hours ago, Saxophone Joe said:

I totally see your point. But strictly by the standings math, they’ll probably end up one hot week away in the course of a 6 month season from being in the playoffs or at least still in the hunt in this final week. Even just an extra win a month…that’s not far off imo.

Fair enough. I wish that had happened. As down as I am about this team, if they had given any attention whatsoever to the bullpen in the offseason, those six wins might already be banked and we doubters would have a little egg on our faces.

Oh well. 

[jmlease1]

Really pleased with Prielipp's season. There have been some bumps along the way, but the fact that he threw more innings this season than he has from 2020-2025 combined? And finished the season (to all appearances) healthy? Huge win. They did some thing to manage his workload in MLB and space him out a little (smart!) but he's still finishing the season with total starts and innings right in the same range as Ryan, Ober, and Matthews. Now he can go into the offseason lab and work on refining his pitches and so forth...and not just hope to be healthy.

Would like to see a little more offense, but there were some good ABs taken by the younger guys, and seeing keaschall park one is good too. Fine season for keaschall after a rotten start. He's not slump proof either; June wasn't very good. He's still looking like a guy you can count on to lead off and cause trouble.

[Saxophone Joe]

27 minutes ago, LastOnePicked said:

Depends on whose expectations. They need to sweep the Rangers to even meet their preseason expectations from Fangraphs.

But they did nail the over on the Vegas odds, so I guess they can stick that little feather in their caps.

Does anyone remember if the win expectations changed on Fangraphs after the Pablo injury? They definitely should've. A lot of baseball people smarter than me penciled them in for last place after that.

I'm guessing on Opening Day, with the roster we had, most Twins fans/followers would've taken the under on 75 wins. Be honest - you know who you are;) 

Maybe I'll torture myself next week by looking back and finding the 10-15 games we gave away (or couldn't get that one extra hit) that could've made the difference 🙃

 

[shimrod]

36 minutes ago, LastOnePicked said:

3 hours ago, shimrod said:

They had their hot week(s), that's why they didn't look that far off at the end. The Twins are going to finish with a better record than expected considering their talent level most of the year. 

Depends on whose expectations. They need to sweep the Rangers to even meet their preseason expectations from Fangraphs.

But they did nail the over on the Vegas odds, so I guess they can stick that little feather in their caps.

My expectations. I thought they would lose 100. I'm very happy to have been proven wrong. It's more fun to watch when they win.