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Box Score
Starting Pitcher: Bailey Ober 6.0 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K (93 pitches, 63 strikes (68%)
Home Runs: Willi Castro (1)
Top 3 WPA: Jhoan Durán (.204), Bailey Ober (.160), Jorge Alcalá (.108)
Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)
Is it Ober?
Bailey Ober has been terrific this season. He instills confidence in the team and its fans, alike. Thursday night, he came out and tried to shake all that confidence, right away. Ober threw 28 pitches, loaded the bases twice, walked in a run, and gave up a sac fly before closing the inning with two runs. The Rangers wouldn't score again.
The second inning for Ober went much better, keeping his pitches down and getting out of the inning with some assistance from the defense. No damage was allowed, and retiring the side took only 10 pitches. Ober looked more controlled and calm, compared to the first inning. He's been so consistently efficient this season that, compared to where he has been on the mound, Thursday night was rough. At the end of the third inning, Ober had 54 pitches. The nerviness of the whole thing was out of character, but the results gradually came to match nicely with his other outings.
Just Some More RISP
The Twins answered Texas's opening volley immediately in the top of the second, with a solo home run from Willi Castro, followed by Kyle Farmer, the next at-bat, who drove one to left-center field and was able to get around the bases for an inside-the-park home run, called a triple due to an error from Rangers center fielder Leody Taveras.
Max Kepler made it on base after taking a hit by a pitch to the shin, but was ultimately stranded after back-to-back outs from Austin Martin and Manuel Margot.
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Both teams sat stagnant, and then there was a glimmer of hope for the Twins.
Rangers sent out pitcher Jose Léclerc, and it looked like he would cycle quickly through the hitters, getting two outs right away, one of those being a foul ball off of Matt Wallner's knee, who stayed in but then struck out swinging. That quickly changed, though, as Léclerc walked Carlos Santana with Royce Lewis on deck. During Lewis’s at-bat with a 2-2 count, Santana picked up his fourth stolen base this season, in preparation for what would hopefully be some help from Lewis. Instead, it was another walk, with José Miranda on deck. Miranda battled tough, but unfortunately struck out swinging, bringing the runners left in scoring position for the night up to five, four of those with two outs.
One Run and Done...Finally
Griffin Jax took over for Ober in the seventh, along with defensive changes. Margot slid over to center field and Wallner took over in left, after pinch-hitting for Martin. It was yet another scoreless inning for Jax, with only one on base, giving the Twins a chance to break out of the tie--only for them to do nothing in the eighth.
Jorge Alcala kept the Rangers from scoring any runs, pushing the game into the ninth inning. With both teams unable to move the offensive needle, the battle came down to breaking the tie from the bullpens and who would blink first.
Rangers reliever Kirby Yates had one out, a popout from Kepler, before walking Wallner (who then stole second) and Margot. On a wild pitch to Santana that bounced in front of Jonah Heim, Wallner and Margot advanced, putting them in perfect position to score. And Santana, who just fouled off a ball that was nearly a home run, punched a sac fly to right, allowing Wallner to advance and take the lead, making way for Jhoan Durán to close out the game.
Duran worked through a long battle with Marcus Semien, but he closed out the game with the Twins winning 3-2, allowing us all to breathe, until tomorrow night.
What’s next?
The Twins continue the series with the Rangers Thursday this weekend. Tomorrow, the Twins send out Simeon Woods-Richardson (3-3, 3.52 ERA) who continues to slowly improve, against Rangers pitcher Heaney (4-12, 4.05 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05pm CT.
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