Athletics 4, Twins 2 (10 inn.): Twins Can't Convert Chances, Shea Langeliers is Mean

Box Score
SP: Bailey Ober - 5.2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K (82 pitches, 53 strikes (65%))
Home Runs: no one
Bottom 3 WPA: Royce Lewis (-.254), Byron Buxton (-.210), Génesis Cabrera (-.190)
Win Probability Chart (per FanGraphs)

Bailey Ober made his fourth start since returning from the hip injury that sidelined him this summer. His velocity remains a concern—strong in his first two outings, but leveling off in his most recent. The team has also dropped his last three starts, with Ober responsible for all but one of the runs surrendered in those appearances. Tonight was one of his better appearances, despite the dearth of velocity. Ober's back was tight in pregame warmups, but he said it loosened up as the outing progressed, and he felt he had unusually good feel for each of his pitches.

The Athletics struck first in the top of the second. Tyler Soderstrom led off with a double, and Darell Hernaiz followed with a sac fly to center. Byron Buxton tracked it deep to the wall and made the catch with ease, despite facing into the sun. The run scored, but that was all Oakland managed, taking a 1–0 lead.

In the bottom of the third, James Outman collected his second hit as a Twin—a double—to open the inning. Ryan Fitzgerald, his new “twin” in the lineup, followed with a single of his own. On an airy throw into the infield by right fielder JJ Bleday, Fitzgerald alertly took second base, putting both runners in scoring position after aggressive baserunning. Buxton then hit a sharp grounder to third baseman Brett Harris, however, and Harris's sure-handed pick and peg home nailed Outman to kill the would-be tying tally. 

Once again, the Twins failed to cash in with runners aboard. Like so many innings before, the threat ended in a double play—this time off Trevor Larnach’s bat. No matter the opponent, the Twins hit into double plays, as if rehearsed.

Ober entered the fourth inning at 51 pitches. On his second batter, second pitch, he surrendered a solo shot to Soderstrom—just clearing the center-field wall and out of Buxton’s reach. Ober regrouped to strike out Hernaiz, and the Athletics finished the inning up 2-0.

Both pitchers allowed their share of hits, but the defenses held firm on both sides. The Twins stayed aggressive on the bases, yet Oakland’s defense matched their energy.

Luke Keaschall provided another spark with the team's second extra-base hit of the game—and his seventh of the year. He then stole third during Kody Clemens’s at-bat, barely beating the tag. Clemens couldn't bring him home, however. With two outs, Ryan Jeffers drew the first walk issued by Athletics pitching all night, bringing up Matt Wallner with a chance to tie it. But Wallner’s at-bat ended quickly on a routine fly to right. The crack of the bat drew a collective breath from fans, but instead of cheers, only a groan of continued frustration followed.

The fifth inning was the turning point for the Twins lineup. Instead of dying after one out, they rebounded. Outman clubbed another double to start the frame. Even after what looked like a home run (or at least another double) from Fitzgerald was snatched in center field, followed by Buxton striking out for the fateful second out, the rally wasn't quite extinguished.

Larnach came through and hit a single off a sinker. The line drive to left field gave Outman the chance to run home and get the Twins on the board, 2-1. Brooks Lee then hit a liner to right-center that center fielder Lawrence Butler (better cast in right) couldn't catch, and Larnach came all the way around as the ball went to the wall.

After a walk to Keaschall, the Athletics went to the bullpen early. In response, Rocco Baldelli pinch-hit Royce Lewis for Clemens, but before he could even swing, a misread from Lee leaving second base ended the inning; catcher Shea Langeliers threw him out at third. 

Ober started the sixth inning, but was replaced by Kody Funderburk with two outs, to face Soderstrom. Funderburk walked Soderstrom, but Keaschall and new first baseman(!) Fitzgerald combined on a putout to escape the miniature jam.

Lewis singled to lead off the bottom of the sixth, but was caught stealing during Ryan Jeffers's at-bat. The Twins were caught twice out of the four times attempting to steal bases against the Athletics tonight. The decision to be aggressive on the bases is a conscious one, Baldelli affirmed after the game, and it will continue—but it comes with some pain.

Cole Sands worked a 1-2-3 seventh inning. The game remained tied 2-2 through seven. Justin Topa came in to work the eighth, and immediately put himself in danger against the teeth of the Sacramento lineup. With two on and nobody out, Langeliers registered the first out. A short flyout from Brent Rooker held the runners and got the second out. Soderstrom was intentionally walked, and what happened next was the stuff baseball is made of. With the bases loaded and two outs, Topa struck out Colby Thomas on three pitches to end the inning.

Leading off the bottom half of the frame, Lee got his third hit of the night, a single to left field that fell just short of Soderstrom. Austin Martin pinch-ran for Lee. Lewis and Jeffers each flied out to center without allowing Martin to advance, though. A's manager Mark Kotsay made another pitching change, bringing in Hogan Harris to face Wallner, who struggles to hit lefties. Wallner fought through a full count, but grounded out to end the mild threat.

Brooks Kriske came out in the ninth. Edouard Julien came in play to first base and Fitzgerald moved to the shortstop spot vacated by Lee. In the shuffle, Outman had move to right field, where he immediately made what could have been a fatal mistake, falling down beneath a routine fly ball that became a gift double.

A walk ended up bringing Nick Kurtz to the plate with two outs and two on. Baldelli called upon Génesis Cabrera to face Kurtz, who also struggles against lefties. Cabrera got him out with no incident, moving the game to the bottom of the ninth and shifting the pressure to the visitors.

With the game on the line, Fitzgerald drew a one-out walk. Byron Buxton hit a long fly ball to center field that had the crowd loud and hopeful, but it died in the outfielder's glove. In another two-out situation, with the winning run at first, Larnach pulled through with a single to right field, advancing Fitzgerald to third. Martin, however, couldn't bring him the rest of the way, flying out to send the game to extra frames.

Cabrera came back out to start the 10th. Kurtz started on second for the Athletics. As he did Tuesday night, however, Langeliers made the telling difference, crushing a two-run home run to give Sacramento a two-run edge. He has the most homers in the league since the All-Star break. (grumblegrumble) Good for him. The next three outs came quickly, but the damage had been done. The Twins would have to pull something magical to pull off the win. 

Inexplicably, on a flyout by Lewis to begin the 10th, Martin tagged up and went to third. He was safe—but barely, and he should feel lucky, because his run meant relatively little in that situation. Jeffers drew a two-out walk and was replaced by pinch-runner Mickey Gasper, while Julien made his first hitting appearance of the evening. The light was snuffed out, though, with a grounder hit to the second baseman to end the game. 

The Twins battled at the plate and were aggressive on the bases, Ghost-Runner strikes again. 

What’s Next? 
The Twins finish out the series with the Athletics Thursday, before heading into the third divisional series of the month with the Kansas City Royals at home. José Ureña (0-0, 4.06 ERA) takes the ball for the Twins, opposite righty Jack Perkins (2-2, 4.28) for the A's. First pitch is at 12:10 PM CT.

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