Twins Video
Box Score
David Festa: 5 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 6 K
Home Runs: None
Top 3 WPA: Louie Varland (.465), Scott Blewett (.320), David Festa (.147)
Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)
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The Twins crawled out of Cleveland and into Boston with their dignity in the toilet; a demoralizing, inevitable lost series left them out of juice—any sort of good vibes—and freshly tied with the Detroit Tigers of all teams for the Wild Card. Spirits are low. Juju basically non-existent. The only solace they can find is in their opponent: an ordinary, tepid club mired in mediocrity and forgettable play—the perfect opponent for a team looking to gain some mojo. Would fortune turn out in their favor? We shall see.
David Festa earned the nod for Minnesota. The “Slim Reaper”—all limbs, no meat—had been sporadically effective in his rookie campaign, flashing some promise before some ignorant writer declared him a quality hurler, ushering in two dreadful starts. Whoops.
And on Friday, he was… acceptable. Perhaps a little inefficient, but otherwise effective over five frames as he allowed just one earned run and struck out six. Even the best at-bats tended to overstay their welcome; Festa needed 103 pitches to net his 15 outs, walking three while spreading five hits across his innings. The lone run came when Trevor Story struck a single into right-center in the 4th.
Boston’s starter—Dick Fitts, which is what President Eisenhower probably told reporters who inquired into how Richard Nixon worked in the context of his cabinet—toed a different line. He gave up his fair share of hits, but the Twins fell flat on their face at every turn. Two on in the 4th? Nothing. Another pair on the bases in the 5th? Zip. Every time Minnesota needed a hit, they could only find a glove; even a Willi Castro single in the 6th with a runner on 2nd couldn’t result in a run. So it goes.
But a score did break through eventually. With runners on the corners in the 7th, Carlos Correa shot a grounder to Rafael Devers, who couldn’t quite transfer quick enough to turn two, allowing Byron Buxton to score the game-tying run.
Then, time stood still. Or, maybe it accelerated. All anyone knows is that outs came and went, batters took their turn and walked back to the dugout, and all either team had to show for it was a tired bullpen and an unflinching run total. The 7th became the 8th, which became the 9th, which became the 10th. Maybe runners reached base, but they sure as hell didn't score; the game was still 1-1 heading into extra-innings. It would take Manfred Man shenanigans to decide the winner in this match.
At some point, the game morphed into high comedy. One may argue that it started that way. The ethos of chaos and nonsense became apparently clear to even the most ignorant fan when Manuel Margot, pinch-hitting for Christian Vázquez, struck out looking to push his pinch-hit 0-fer to 30. 30. That's 10 perfect innings. A pitcher throwing such a game would be revered for enjoying one of the finest games of all time. That's just how the 2024 Twins roll.
The 12th proved to be the turning point. Trevor Larnach doinked a strange grounder beyond pitcher Cooper Criswell's grasp to plate the Manfred runner before Matt Wallner sharply singled into right to score an insurance run. Two runs! Who knew? Willi Castro added on with a sacrifice fly.
All silliness, tomfoolery, high jinks, lunacy, and otherwise non-sensical acts, self-inflicted or forced upon, ended when Griffin Jax entered the game. With business-like intensity, he coaxed two grounders—scoring a run—before striking out Story to end the game. Finally.
Notes:
With their 81st win, the Twins secured their first back-to-back 162-game seasons with at least a .500 record since 2009-2010.
Scott Blewett earned his first career major league win.
Caleb Thielbar appeared in his 343rd career game, good for 15th place in Twins pitching history. He is five games away from tying Bert Blyleven for 14th place.
Manuel Margot is now 0-30 (0-35 in plate appearances) as a pinch-hitter.
Boston hitters struck out 20 times on Friday, a franchise record.
Minnesota's bullpen pitched seven innings, allowing five hits, four walks (three intentional), and no earned runs while striking out 14.
Post-Game Interview:
What’s Next?
The Twins and Red Sox play again on Saturday, with Pablo López facing off against Kutter Crawford. First pitch is at 3:10 PM.
Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet
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