MIN 15, DET 8: Five Hits for Forsythe in Busy Night on the Bases

A conga line broke out on the basepaths at Target Field last night. The Twins’ pitching staff gave up eight run on 10 hits and six walks, yet they still won by seven runs. The offensive outburst was led by Logan Forsythe, who was a perfect 5-for-5.

Snapshot (chart via FanGraphs)

Ervin Santana: 7 Game Score, 4.0 IP, 7 H, 7 ER, 2 K, 3 BB, 62.5% strikes (45 of 72 pitches)

Home Runs: Polanco (2), Sano (10), Adrianza (5)

Multi-Hit Games: Forsythe (5-for-5, 2 2B), Mauer (2-for-4, 2B, BB), Polanco (2-for-4, HR), Sano (2-for-4, HR, BB)

WPA of 0.1 or higher: Forsythe .216, Adrianza .179, Polanco .165, May .152, Mauer .109

WPA of -0.1 or lower: Santana -.349

After tonight’s hit parade, Forsythe is now 22-for-49 since joining the Twins, posting a .449/.500/.531 batting line. He only had 40 hits in 198 at bats with the Dodgers this season.

The Twins have struggled to score runs in bunches this season, but they managed to rack up 15 runs despite only scoring in three separate innings. Jorge Polanco hit a three-run homer in the first inning, the five-run second inning was highlighted by a Miguel Sano two-run homer and they managed to tally seven runs in the sixth thanks in part to an Ehire Adrianza two-run blast.

This was Ervin Santana’s fifth start of the season. He now has an 8.03 ERA. Not sure how a team out of contention could possibly justify continually trotting out a struggling 35-year-old on an expiring contract (there’s no way they’re picking up his $14 million option).

Santana loaded the bases without recording an out in the fifth inning. Trevor May took over and walked in two inherited runners, bringing Detroit back within a run of the Twins. May also pitched a scoreless sixth inning. Addison Reed gave up a run over his two innings of work and Oliver Drake delivered a clean ninth inning.

Postgame With Molitor

Bullpen Usage

Here’s a quick look at the number of pitches thrown by the bullpen over the past five days:

AL Central Standings

CLE 69-51

MIN 57-63 (-12)

DET 50-72 (-20)

CHW 44-76 (-25)

KC 37-84 (-32.5)

Next Three Games

Fri vs. DET, 7:10 pm CT: Kyle Gibson vs. Matthew Boyd

Sat vs. DET, 6:10 pm CT: Kohl Stewart vs. Artie Lewicki

Sun vs. DET, 1:10 pm CT: Jake Odorizzi vs. Blaine Hardy

Last Three Games

MIN 6, PIT 4: New-Look Bullpen Boosts Twins Over Buccos

MIN 5, PIT 2: Odorizzi, Polanco Spark Comeback

DET 4, MIN 2: Stewart Debuts, Bats Slump in Loss

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