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Twins Video
Box Score
SP: Zebby Matthews - 3.1 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K ( 61 pitches, 40 strikes (66% Strikes)
Home Runs: Matt Wallner (13)
Top 3 WPA: Willi Castro .160, Griffin Jax .137, Trevor Larnach .118
Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)
Rookie Time!
The Twins relied on Pablo López to end yet another losing streak on Tuesday night, and they turned to rookie Zebby Matthews to help lead toward a goal that hadn't been accomplished in 10 days: winning back-to-back games! Matthews didn't give Twins fans much confidence right from the get-go, surrendering a leadoff home run to Angels slugger Taylor Ward. Two singles and a walk by Matthews loaded the bases with two outs, and the Angels were one swing away from putting the Twins in a hopelessly familiar place in the top of the first inning. However, Eric Wagaman came to the plate in only his second major-league at-bat, and flew out to end the threat.
Jack Kochanowicz took the mound opposite Matthews, and he, too, represented the rookie class of 2024, making his eighth career start. Kochanowicz survived an Edouard Julien rocket line out in his first at-bat of the game, but he didn't survive Matt Wallner in the second at-bat. Wallner evened the score at 1-1 with a 435-foot, 110.3-mph blast to center.
Playoff Tactics for the Twins?
Matthews and Kochanowicz both settled down through the second inning, but in the top of the third, Zebby was once again hurt by the long ball. This time, Nolan Schanuel took Matthews into the dock in right to put the Angels back up 2-1. This homer was the beginning of the end for Matthews, as his pitch count climbed into the 50s in the third inning, and Caleb Thielbar began to get ready in the bullpen. Rocco Baldelli appeared to approach this game before the off day almost like a playoff game. Short hooks for the pitchers, lineup configurations to stack the hottest (and coldest) batters, and other machinations often reserved for the season's most important contests.
Matthews survived the third, but he didn't make it out of the fourth inning, with Cole Sands coming in to put out a small fire. The Twins offense took advantage of Kochanowicz remaining in the game in the bottom of the fourth, with a leadoff single by Carlos Santana, another by Trevor Larnach, and a game-tying knock by previously slumping Willi Castro to knot the score at two apiece, breaking his personal 0-15 streak. Brooks Lee followed Castro by breaking his own 0-19 streak with a double to left, plating Larnach and Castro and putting the Twins ahead 4-2.
You Get to Pitch! YOU Get to Pitch!
Nobody in the Twins bullpen could rest easy tonight, with Thielbar and Jorge Alcalá handling the fifth inning. Alcalá remained in for the top of the sixth, but found rookie Jordyn Adams to be an unkind guest in the batters box. Adams took Alcalá deep to bring the Angels within one run at 4-3, and marked the seventh time in the last 17 appearances that Alcalá has surrendered a home run after going the first 32 appearances without giving one up. This doesn't bode well for the playoff push, but the Twins still left the inning with the lead.
Griffin Jax got the call for the seventh inning on an emotional night for he and his family. As the Twins honored those who died on Sept. 11, 2001, the evening featured a flyover by military aircraft--with Jax's brother and sister-in-law serving as two of the four pilots, and his other brother tossing the first pitch. Jax came in a bit too hyped and walked Zach Neto on four pitches. Four pitches later, a double-play and a strike out ended the threat. Christian Vázquez and a pitch-hitting Kyle Farmer gave the Twins an opportunity to extend the lead and to take some anxiety out of the closing frames with a single and double.
Twins Daily's winning "Make It Official!" game recaps are sponsored by Official Fried Chicken, which you can find in center field of Target Field. With a name like "Official," we know we have to be the best in the game every day, and from your first bite, you'll know that's a promise we make good on.
Following an intentional walk to Santana, grand slam man himself, Royce Lewis looked to break even further out of his 0-22 slump with another big hit. He drove a ball off the top of the wall in left field, and initially, it was called another grand slam. However, upon further review, the ball bounced back without hitting anything behind the wall. It went as a two-run double, extending the lead to 6-3 but not adding to Lewis's historic totals.
Can the Twins Close it Out?
The relative tension left after the lead stretched only to three, rather than five, meant that Jax came back out in the bottom of the eighth. Jax delivered again, 1-2-3, to send the game toward lights-out time. Jhoan Durán indeed came out to his usual fanfare, and unfortunately, Durán also came out with his more recent effectiveness. Two Angels reached on singles to start the inning, and with two out, Schanuel singled to pull Los Angeles within two runs and to bring the lead run up to the plate. Durán took out pinch-hitter Michael Stefanic with a dynamic curveball, and indeed the home crowd could celebrate two wins in a row, and a chance to make a little move up the Wild Card standings yet again.
What’s Next?
The Twins get a day to rest and recuperate at home on Thursday, before engaging in a weekend home series against the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night. The Twins will send out RHP Bailey Ober (12-6, 3.77 ERA) in hopes that he can repeat his outing against the Royals last week albeit with better offensive support. Cincinnati has yet to announce their starter for their series finale in St. Louis on Thursday, let alone their starter for Friday. Either way, fans can count on a prepared and rallying Twins squad, and a Chris Young after-game concert to look forward to! First pitch is scheduled for 7:10pm CT.
Postgame Interview
| SAT | SUN | MON | TUE | WED | TOT | |
| Sands | 0 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 46 |
| Varland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 0 | 35 |
| Blewett | 0 | 19 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 32 |
| Tonkin | 0 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 31 |
| Durán | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 30 |
| Henríquez | 0 | 0 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 29 |
| Jax | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 28 |
| Alcalá | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 25 |
| Thielbar | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 18 |
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