Final: Astros 13, Twins 12: Miranda Makes History, but Twins Comeback Comes Up Short

Box Score
SP: Pablo Lopez 5.0+ IP, 8 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 6 K (91 pitches, 62 strikes, 8 whiffs)
Home Runs: Jose Miranda(9), Carlos Correa (11)
Bottom 3 WPA: Pablo Lopez (-.330), Josh Winder (-.169), Carlos Correa (-.143)

Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)

90 Feet at a Time
The Minnesota Twins needed Pablo Lopez to continue looking like the starter he had in recent outings against the Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners. After just an eight-pitch first inning, Lopez ran into trouble during the second. With a pair on and no one out, Houston continued to single runners around the bases. Yainer Diaz, Jon Singleton, and Jeremy Pena all scored to make it 3-0.

Facing the Astros Shawn Dubin, Jose Miranda extended his hitting streak to nine games with a second inning single. Following his 5-for-5 day on Thursday, it was also his sixth straight hit. The Twins loaded the bases in front of Brooks Lee, and the rookie ripped another single to drive in Minnesota’s first run.

Willi Castro drew a bases loaded walk to score Carlos Santana and make it a 3-2 game, but Carlos Correa left the sacks packed when his pop out ended the inning.

Yes Way, Jose
After Dubin got Trevor Larnach on strikes, Miranda stepped in with his six straight hits and made it a seventh. Ripping a solo shot down the left field line, the Twins suddenly had tied the game at three, and Miranda’s dinger made it eight straight plate appearances with a hit as well. That matched Joe Mauer’s streak from the 2006 season, and another hit would match a team record.

Looking for a quick zero, Lopez started his inning getting Pena to ground out to the guy he took over for. Correa continues to be a defensive wizard for Minnesota, and his latest web gem was nothing short of spectacular. Of course you may have become accustomed to these plays from the Twins shortstop, but he is nothing to take for granted.

Stepping in looking to tie the record (held by Tony Oliva, Mickey Hatcher, and Todd Walker), Miranda ripped a double just over third base. Manuel Margot, who came on and walked for Larnach, motored around from first base to score the go-ahead run. A ninth straight hit surpassed Mauer’s streak and gives him a chance to set a new franchise record during his next plate appearance.

Margot was thrown out on a Max Kepler dribbler that could have made it a 5-3 game, but the Twins kept the pressure on. Buxton roped a double to Yordan Alvarez in left field, and with two outs, Minnesota had runners on second and third. Unable to plate either, the one-run lead is what the Twins took to the sixth inning.

More Singles, Less Pablo
As was the case during the first inning, Houston stacked singles against the Minnesota starter. Three in a row to lead off the sixth inning knotted things at four and sent Lopez to the showers. The Twins starter didn’t record an out in the sixth inning, and left with Jorge Alcala inheriting runners on first and second. He got Jake Meyers to strike out swinging, but Joey Loperfido bounced a ground rule double off of the chalk line to make it a 6-4 Houston lead. Alcala walked the bases loaded before getting Alvarez to roll over and stop the bleeding.

Josh Winder took over in the seventh inning and it was his first appearance since September 2023. He immediately struck out Yainer Diaz, and his strikeout of Singleton featured a 96.9 mph fastball to end it. That happened to be the hardest-thrown pitch of his entire major league career. Meyers doubled after Pena reached on a nubber back to the mound, and Houston pushed the lead to 7-4. Winder plunked Loperfido on the foot with a slider, and the outing took a turn following two quick outs. Cesar Salazar grounded out up the middle to end the inning.

History for Jose
Miranda stepped in against Bryan Abreu in the seventh inning, and his single through the hole at second base gave him a hit in his tenth consecutive plate appearance. A new Twins record had been established, and he was just one hit away from tying the major league record at eleven.

Kepler took a solid swing and sent a ball back up the middle. Miranda came around to score and Santana found himself just 90 feet away. Unfortunately Buxton was unable to cash in a run, and it was up to Lee with runners on the corners and two outs. Abreu got him looking to keep the lead intact and push Minnesota to 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position on the evening.

After Winder sent Jose Altuve out of the game after hitting him on the wrist, Houston quickly made it hurt with traffic on the bases for Alvarez. He dumped a run-scoring single into left field. Diaz poked a ball to the same spot and loaded the bases against Winder loading the bases, and despite working around Singleton, Pena lofted a ball to Margot in left field. It bounced off his glove, and the Astros pushed it to 9-5 on the error. Meyers lifted a sac fly to Buxton and Minnesota’s deficit was now 10-5.

Vazquez attempted to give the Twins life as he led off the eighth inning with a single against Luis Contreras. Loperfido made an insane catch on a Castro fly out though, and sucked the air out of any potential rally.

9th Inning Frenzy
The Twins failing to capitalize was the name of the game tonight. Of course they came up short in the eighth inning, and Kody Funderburk allowing additional runs to the Astros made any sort of a last ditch effort even more difficult. Alex Bregman got him for a three run blast, and it took Funderburk nearly 30 pitches to get through the frame.

Austin Martin pinch hit for Miranda in the ninth inning, meaning his attempt to tie the MLB record for consecutive hits, will go into tomorrow against Hunter Brown. Margot went down quickly, but Martin did single in his pinch hit spot. Kyle Farmer got an at bat and went down on strikes. Kepler beat out an infield single before Buxton singled to left field to drive in a run. Lee then continued to hit and singled home Kepler to make it a 13-7 game. Vazquez lofted a run-scoring double down the left field line, and all of a sudden the Twins were making it interesting again.

Castro was up with runners on second and third. He worked a three-two count before drawing a walk which forced Joe Espada to turn to closer Josh Hader. Correa was Minnesota's batter, looking to extend his hitting streak as he stepped in having gone 0-for-5 on the evening. He blasted a grand slam off the Astros closer, and all of a sudden the Twins trailed by just one. Margot was in a good spot, going against a lefty but swung at an ugly pitch to end the game and come up just short.

Minnesota finished 6-for-16 with runners in scoring position but left nine on base. Recording 17 hits on the evening, they could have seen a better result with just a bit more from the bullpen.

Notes
David Festa was sent out following the Twins victory against the Detroit Tigers on Thursday. His turn in the rotation doesn’t come up again until Monday against the White Sox. Josh Winder took his roster spot, but a corresponding move would make sense to grab a starter. Louie Varland did not fare well on Thursday night for the Saints, and Caleb Boushley was roughed up his last time out as well. Randy Dobnak, although needing a 40-man roster spot, could be a consideration. Of course, Chris Paddack will be eligible to come off the Injured List then as well.  Baldelli noted Paddack was trending well, and he would make the most sense.

Brock Stewart’s timeline was recently reported as August into September. He threw live batting practice today at Target Field, and has thrown at CHS Field as well. He did hit teammate Kyle Farmer though. Hitting 95-96 mph on Friday, a rehab assignment soon would have him back much more quickly than the grim reports.

A Whole New Ballgame in Blaine
Having watched multiple Twins games in person this season, and taking them in at different establishments throughout the Twin Cities, I tried the newly opened The Ball Park in Blaine on Friday night. Think Top Golf for baseball. Six HitTrax suites are set up in the back of the restaurant area, and they feature fun family games for all levels. Four traditional batting lanes exist in the back, and their intention is more traditional development. With Xbox setups and a candy wall, everyone in the family can come watch you train.

Beyond just the entertainment setup, The Ball Park is also a full-fledged restaurant. With 36 pour-your-own taps adorning a wall, and a full bar, there are options for everyone. Boasting a menu curated by an executive chef, everything from small plates to full-size entrees are available. A patio wraps around the building with plenty of sunlight and open air. Even if you weren’t to step foot in the batter’s box, the ambience of baseball is worth the price of admission.

Owners Tim Sanders and Ryan Carlson sought out to use the since vacated Gander Mountain space not far from the National Sports Center, and initially thinking of a baseball training facility, they expanded on the idea. With a limited number of cages throughout the northern part of the metro area, The Ball Park has utility in multiple different capacities. They seemingly have thought of everything, and despite having opened just last week, it has been well-received as one of the most unique venues with few like it across the country.

What’s Next? 
Joe Ryan will start for Minnesota against Hunter Brown and the Astros. The Twins saw Brown earlier this season and will look to even the series with an opportunity to win it on Sunday. Unfortunately, as has been the case in Minnesota much of the summer, rain is again in the forecast.

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