Cubs 6, Twins 2: Kody Clemens Can't Do It All as Minnesota Drops Series Even

Box Score
SP: Taj Bradley - 5 IP, 3 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 6 K (94 pitches, 59 strikes (72% strikes)
Home Runs: Kody Clemens 2 (17, 18)
Bottom 3 WPA: Taj Bradley (-0.31); Brooks Lee (-0.10); Austin Martin (-0.08)
Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs):

The Twins headed into game two of their post-game schedule with Taj Bradley on the bump to hopefully continue a positive trend. The Twins would go without Royce Lewis who sat out today with a tight hamstring. The team didn't express a ton of concern on Lewis and he's considered day to day,

The Cubs got on the board first with a scripted solo home run to Michael Busch on a fly ball off Bradley, putting them up 1-0. 

Need a clutch swing? Kody Clemens answered with his 17th bomb of the season, off the lefty Boyd no less, and tied it up like it was just another day at the office, leveling the score 1-1. Clemens has spent much of the season in the No. 3 spot, where his power and contribution is the largest impact. His ability to contribute home runs and drive in runs has helped strengthen the middle of the lineup, giving opposing pitchers another dangerous left-handed bat to navigate. 

In the second, third and fourth innings, Bradley’s command was patchy against the Cubs. Bradley would get to the second out and then labor. A two-out, two-run double in the second followed by back-to-back RBI singles with two outs in the third put the Twins in a 5-1 hole. Bradley was able to get through the fourth and fifth without much incident but by then the damage was done.

While Bradley ran into trouble, Cubs starter Matt Boyd mostly cruised, holding the Twins to three hits and a walk through six innings. Minnesota's lineup could get nothing going outside of Clemens' lefty-on-lefty homer. 

Clemens added another homer, also against a lefty (old friend Caleb Thielbar) in the sixth, but that would be it for offensive output from the Twins. 

Mike Paredes and Kendry Rojas held things down in relief following Bradley's exit, combining to allow one run in three innings. This set up a potential comeback effort in the ninth, but the Twins botched their opportunity with some brutal base-running.

Josh Bell led off with an infield single against Jordan Webb. Victor Caratini singled to put two on with nobody out. Brooks Lee then doubled into the gap, but an inexplicably horrible base-running decision from Bell led to two subsequent pickles, with Bell and Lee both getting tagged out on the bases. A possible bases-loaded, no-outs situation turned into one on, two outs, and that was that. The Twins are now back to one game back under .500 after spending a glorious 12 hours there. 

What’s Next?
The Twins finish the series against the Cubs Sunday at 1:20 pm CST. The Twins will send Zebby Mathews to the mound (4-6, 4.57 ERA) facing Shota Imanaga (LHP)(5-8, 4.17 ERA).

Postgame Interviews 

Bullpen Availability Chart