Make it Official! Twins 3, Red Sox 1: Pablo Shoves for 12

Box Score
SP: Pablo Lopez 6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 K (99 pitches, 60 strikes, 19 whiffs)
Home Runs: Max Kepler(2)
Top 3 WPA: 

Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)

Where Art Thou Pablo?
The Twins desperately need Pablo Lopez to find the form that has eluded him to start the year. There have been glimpses of Cy Young caliber stuff, but they have largely been hidden beneath mediocrity. Starting for his first Pablo Day promotion, the Red Sox broke through early. After getting a pair of quick outs, Tyler O’Neill doubled to put Boston’s first runner on the basepaths. Connor Wong slapped a single the other way on a fought-off swing to plate the game’s first run. Lopez labored to put batters away and ultimately needed 25 pitches to make it through the 1st inning. A better pitcher in warmer weather, Mother Nature certainly wasn’t going to be on Lopez’s side Saturday with gloomy skies and just 52 degrees at first pitch.

Working against opener Brennan Bernardino, Minnesota needed an early answer. Jose Miranda got plunked before Willi Castro singled and a wild pitch moved them to second and third base. Carlos Correa’s groundout scored the run and evened things at one through the first frame. A 1-2-3 second inning complete with a Garrett Cooper strikeout made for much smoother sailing.

Kepler Keeps the Lefties Relevant
Minnesota knew Bernardino would work as an opener, leaving the lineup in flux for Rocco Baldelli’s platoon situation. Keeping both Max Kepler and Edouard Julien in the starting lineup, the Twins had a couple of lefties that could be expected to do damage. Launching a solo shot off former Minnesota prospect Cam Booser gave the Twins their first lead of the afternoon.

Through five innings, Lopez had worked past his first inning to put up a dominant showing. Scattering five hits, he had allowed just a single run and one walk while striking out six. Needing a start that combined both his velocity and stuff in a way that turned into a solid showing, Minnesota needed to see this outing.

Working six innings in total, Lopez punched out eight and worked 99 pitches on the afternoon. Pushing the ERA down and turning in an outing that could set some positive momentum, everything about Saturday’s start was a great showing.

In the bottom of the 6th inning, Castro led off with a single before a pair of wild pitches pushed him to third base. Correa then lifted a sacrifice fly to center, giving the Twins an insurance run to make it 3-1. While the Twins shortstop’s batted ball didn’t do damage, the 105 mph exit velocity produced a liner that had an .890 expected hit average.

Duran on Early
The Minnesota Twins found themselves in a situation where Griffin Jax and others could work in high-leverage spots with Jhoan Duran out to start the season. That would allow Baldelli different bullpen strings to pull late in games if he opted to do so. With Boston’s 3-4-5 hitters due up in the 8th inning, the Twins countered with their closer. Although Wilyer Abreu singled, Duran struck out a pair and got a fly ball to end the inning. The outing was his first back-to-back of the year.

Cole Sands took over in the 9th inning and was looking to grab his second save of the season. Having pitched well all year, he's earned these sorts of opportunities. Cooper quickly grounded out, and Sands punched out David Hamilton before Reese McGuire lined out to end the game.

Notes
Brock Stewart, who was placed on the injured list before last night's game, has some positive momentum when it comes to a future activation. While the Twins did an MRI, the thoguht is that Minnesota is simply being cautious. With a desire to avoid further injury down the road, they quickly got him off the roster as he deals with shoulder tendinitis.

What’s Next? 
Joe Ryan takes the hill on Sunday afternoon as Minnesota looks to take the series from the Red Sox and Cooper Criswell. Arguably the Twins' best starter this season, Ryan will be looking at another opportunity to pile up strikeouts and lower his ERA.

Postgame Interviews

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