CWS 5, MIN 1: Twins Drop Ugly Game, Series to White Sox

Win Expectancy (via Fangraphs)

Top 3 Twins per WPA: Escobar .055 | Rosario .037 | Mauer .032

It’s almost hard to believe the White Sox managed to score five runs off Berrios, given how nasty he was. Jose only gave up four hits and struck out nine batters over 5.1 innings, but he also walked three and the Twins made a pair of costly errors (one of which was committed by Berrios).

The fourth inning was particularly painful. Berrios walked the leadoff hitter, rookie Yoan Moncada, on four pitches. After retiring Jose Abreu, first baseman Mitch Garver committed a fielding error on a groundball in the hole. Moncada, who had stolen second base, hustled around to score, putting the Sox up 2-0.

Berrios then gave up back-to-back singles to load the bases with one out. Next, Tim Anderson hit an RBI ground out to put the White Sox up 3-0. With the two outs and runners at the corners, Berrios' pickoff throw went passed third baseman Ehire Adrianza, allowing the White Sox to score their fourth run.

It was a high-risk, low-reward move. I get that these guys are professionals and practice and prepare for everything, but how many pickoff throws has Adrianza fielded at third base in his life? And how many times has Berrios even ever attempted a pickoff at third?

Either way, that mistake was far from the reason the Twins lost this one. For the second-straight night the bats went ice cold. After making 2017 James Shields look like vintage James Shields Wednesday evening, the Twins gave the same treatment to Derek Holland. The longtime former Ranger entered the night with a 6.28 ERA, but he was able to hold the Twins to one run over 6.0 innings.

The Twins managed just five hits, with their only run coming on Byron Buxton’s 10th homer of the year. Buxton has now hit 19 home runs for the Twins over the last 365 days. He actually homered exactly a year ago today … for the Rochester Red Wings.

https://twitter.com/TwinsHighlights/status/900926899186262016

Eddie Rosario drew two walks, and is up to 28 in 118 games this season. He entered this year with 27 walks in 214 career games. Brian Dozier was 0-for-3 with a walk. The team really needs him to provide some offense against lefties, especially now that Miguel Sano is out. The Twins face another southpaw tomorrow. Jason Castro was placed on the seven-day concussion DL, which allowed the club to bring Zack Granite back up. He was 0-for-2 with a walk.

The bullpen was solid, as Ryan Pressly and Alan Busenitz each pitched 1.1 scoreless innings. Pressly has now given up just two earned runs in 13.0 innings (1.38 ERA) this month. Busenitz gave up runs in each of his first two appearances with the Twins, but since then he’s given up only two earned runs over 18.1 innings (0.98 ERA).

Postgame With Molitor

https://twitter.com/fsnorth/status/900922920314089472

Twins W-L Record

Overall: 65-62

Last 10: 6-4

Last 20: 13-7

Last 40: 20-20

Last 80: 39-41

AL Central Standings

Cleveland 70-56

Minnesota 65-62 (-5.5)

Kansas City 64-62 (-6.0)

AL Wild Card Standings

WC1: Yankees 68-58 (+3.5)

WC2: Minnesota 65-62

Angles 65-63 (-0.5)

Kansas City 64-62 (-0.5)

Seattle 65-63 (-0.5)

Texas 64-63 (-1.0)

Bullpen Usage

Here’s a quick look at the number of pitches thrown by the bullpen over the past five days:

Looking Ahead

FRI: Twins (Bartolo Colon) at Toronto (J.A. Happ), 6:07 pm CT

SAT: Twins (Dillon Gee) at Toronto (Marco Estrada), 12:07 pm CT

SUN: Twins (Kyle Gibson) at Toronto (TBD), 12:07 pm CT

Question of the Day

Are we to the point where Joe Mauer (.256/.344/.293 vs. LHP) needs to be in the lineup against lefties just for his defense?