Make It Official! Twins 4, Tigers 1: Castro Crushes and Sands Saves

Game 2: Twins 4, Tigers 1
Box Score
SP: Simeon Woods Richardson 6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K (80 pitches, 53 strikes, 7 whiffs)
Home Runs: Edouard Julien (4), Willi Castro (1)
Top 3 WPA: Simeon Woods Richardson (.252), Cole Sands (.167), Willi Castro (.162)

Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)

Out to a Lead
While it took the Twins some time to grab a lead during the first half of the doubleheader today, they wasted no time in the nightcap. Julien started the game against Matt Manning with a walk, rather than a strikeout, and it immediately put the Tigers in a bad spot. Jeffers drew a walk out of the two hole after being the offensive hero from game one, and Kirilloff moved Julien to third with a ground out. Buxton then lifted a sacrifice fly to center and Minnesota had a 1-0 lead.

Today was the first showing of Simeon Woods Richardson at the major league level this season. After using a fastball that barely broke 91 mph the past two seasons, his spring was highlighted by a four-seam pitch that moved up into the 93-94 mph range. He flashed that against the Tigers during the 1st inning, and was able to grab strikeouts from both Greene and Torkelson to set Detroit down in order.

Woods Richardson saw traffic in the 2nd inning with the bases loaded and just one out, but thankfully he had Baez stepping in. Despite a miss of a pitch, the Tigers shortstop popped it up to center and only tied the game on a sacrifice fly. He got out of the inning with the game being even, but a 25-pitch 2nd inning meant that Woods Richardson was already over the 40-mark for the game.

Moar Tacos
Farmer came up and grounded out, again, in the 3rd inning but Julien decided he had seen enough. Punching another opposite field home run for 400 feet, the Twins second baseman grabbed yet another taco and put the good guys back up by a run. With the amount he continues to go the opposite way, it seems like it's only a matter of time before he gets a taco sponsorship. Jeffers followed him with a single but Kirilloff and Buxton grounded out to end the inning.

Woods Richardson also got what he needed in the bottom half. After a laborious 2nd inning, he worked the 3rd inning on just five pitches. Comerica is where he made his major league debut, and while he looks like an entirely different pitcher at this point in his career, shutting down the opposition so easily is never going to bring on anything but good vibes. He carried those through the next two innings and that left his teammates in a good spot.

Hello From the Other Side
Castro has struggled to get things going this season, but he is going to be a vital part of the Twins plans going forward without Correa. Starting at shortstop on a routine basis, he will draw plenty of at bats against both righties and lefties. After Buxton struck out to bring his tally to 18/1 K/BB on the season, the Minnesota utility man clobbered a baseball to right center. With Martin on base, Castro's first home run of the season made it a 4-1 game.

Entering the 6th inning having retired 11 in a row, Woods Richardson quickly got Greene out on a ground ball to first base. Seeking his first win, there may be some exciting sorts of vindication to get that victory at the place he made his major league debut. Finishing off the inning in order, the Twins starter had sent 14 in a row packing and the victory vibes were building again. Leaving after six, Woods Richardson was in line for his first big league win, and he gave the club everything they could have wanted in a spot start following a long first game.

Kody Funderburk got the first two outs on a pair of strikeouts, but a pair of hits made things dicey. Cole Sands came in and got a first-pitch grounder from Baez that Julien made a nice play on to end the inning.

Sands Sends it to the 9th
As has been the case with Alcala early this season, Sands has found a way to make himself among the Twins most impressive relievers. After generating a one-pitch out in the 7th inning, he worked a full 8th inning, grabbing two strikeouts while allowing no baserunners. Sands hit the mid-90's with his fastball and also showed a velocity uptick that Minnesota could work with. While it's unfortunate that Jhoan Duran, Caleb Thielbar, Josh Staumont, and Justin Topa are missing time to begin the year, it's the bullpen depth that has an opportunity to prove its mettle.

Margot struck out to kick off the 9th inning before a Santana single gave him his second base hit of the game. Stranded at second following a Julien groundout, it was on Minnesota to grab the final three outs and make it a sweep of the doubleheader on Saturday. Baldelli stuck with Sands after the strong work he already showed, and he entered the frame in line for the second save of his career.

Notes
With the win today Simeon Woods Richardson gets his first at the major league level. While he was called up to be the 27th man for Minnesota, there's no doubt they'll rely on him as the season goes on. With Brent Headrick on the injury list and David Festa still getting his feet wet at Triple-A, it's Woods Richardson that should be expected top be the first man up for the foreseeable future.

Find today's game 1 recap here.

Postgame Interviews

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet