Twins Video
Box Score
SP: Chris Paddack 5.1 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K (91 pitches, 61 strikes (67%)
Home Runs: N/A
Top 3 WPA: Louis Varland (-.117), Jonah Bride (-.093), Cole Sands (-.091)
Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)
The Twins finally returned to their previously scheduled program in the second game of Wednesday's odd doubleheader. Chris Paddack looked to continue his recent two-game run of dominance, in which he racked up 14 1/3 innings with the only blemish being a solo home run. Paddack immediately faced some pressure, however, after Steven Kwan led off the game with a double off of the wall in right. Thanks to some defensive effort from Game 1 hero Kody Clemens on a pop fly to no-man's land, Kwan stayed put and Paddack put another zero on the board.
Grinding Out Some Runs
Gavin Williams was dealing through the opening innings, until the piranhas returned to Target Field. Willi Castro worked a lead-off walk, and Rocco Baldelli thought runners would be at first and second after DaShawn Keirsey Jr. looked to be hit by a pitch. The Twins and Baldelli lost the challenge, however, and Williams got Keirsey out on a fly ball to center. Christian Vázquez then grounded out, but with Castro in motion, he avoided the double play. This meant that Castro was in scoring position with two outs, and Ryan Jeffers clubbed the first hit of the inning to plate the first run of the game with a 105-mph single up the middle to make it 1-0 Twins.
Paddack Rolls Until the Sixth
With Jelly Roll in attendance, neither offense was able to generate much of a "roll" through the first half of the game—probably because frozen jelly isn't very pliable. It also might have been because Paddack and Williams were mixing their pitches effectively and the defenses were making the appropriate alignments and plays behind them. Paddack entered the top of the sixth inning having only thrown 71 pitches, and a lead-off single by the suddenly red-hot José Ramírez threatened to derail his outing. A one-out walk to ex-Twins gold glover Carlos Santana (suddenly red-hot, as well) added to the threat. Paddack's walk of Daniel Schneemann on a full count filled the bases and ended his afternoon earlier than hoped or expected.
Louis Varland got the call and the jam to pitch out of, and Gabriel Arias stood at the frozen plate with rain steadily falling upon the hundreds (dozens?) of fans in attendance. With the game slowed to a snail's pace, and the count run full on Arias, Varland's knuckle-curve dropped out of the zone, and suddenly it was a tie game—with three straight walks threatening to further unravel what had been another well-pitched outing for the Twins staff. A Nolan Jones sacrifice fly plated Santana to make it 2-1 Guardians, before Varland could finally get the third out and end Cleveland's roll in the deteriorating conditions.
Williams Rolls Through the Sixth, and Carlos Santana Keeps Rolling
After losing the lead, the Twins hoped to regain the advantage immediately against Williams who remained in the game for the bottom of the sixth, but found no traction against the righty. Lefty Tim Herrin came in to face the middle of the lineup in the bottom of the seventh, and Harrison Bader's walk with one out turned into a caught stealing and the second out before any rally could ensue. Cole Sands got the call to pitch the top of the eighth, and he recorded the first out with ease. Unfortunately, Santana plays for the enemy now, and he deposited the ball into the right-field plaza to stretch the Guardians' lead to 3-1.
No More Home Field Advantage
With the Twins running out of time and at-bats, they turned to their bench to face righty Hunter Gaddis in the bottom of the eighth. Trevor Larnach got the call, but went down swinging on three pitches. The catching duo of Vazquez and Jeffers came up next, and Jeffers managed to get plunked with two down to get the tying run to the plate in Brooks Lee. Lee flew out, and again the Twins came up empty. The Twins bullpen, however, continued to leak runs as Kody Funderburk allowed three hits and two runs in the top of the ninth to blow the game open at 5-1.
The final swings and attempt at extending their amazing 10-game home winning streak washed away with zero fanfare and soaked actual fans.
What's Next?
After an off day on Thursday, the Twins will once again attempt to put some separation between division foes on Friday, as the Kansas City Royals come to Target Field for a weekend series. Twins righty Pablo López (4-2, 2.40 ERA) will get his second start of the season against the Royals, after acquiring a no-decision in early April in Kansas City. Kansas City will counter with rookie lefty Noah Cameron (1-1, 0.71 ERA) who is off to a strong start. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 pm CDT.
Postgame Interviews
Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet
| SAT | SUN | MON | TUE | WED | TOT | |
| Sands | 0 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 41 |
| Topa | 23 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 |
| Alcalá | 15 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 |
| Durán | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 23 |
| Jax | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 20 |
| Funderburk | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 17 |
| Stewart | 0 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| Varland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 14 |
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