Pirates 2, Twins 1: Twins' Chances to End First Half on High Note Get Stuck In Webbing

Box Score:
Starting Pitcher: Simeon Woods Richardson: 4 2/3 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K (77 Pitches, 57 Strikes, 74%)
Home Runs: None
Bottom 3 WPA: Jhoan Duran (-.302), Willi Castro (-.168), Brooks Lee (-.163)
Win Probability Chart (Via FanGraphs):

It was rather circuitous, but the Twins entered Sunday’s game with a chance to improve their record to 48-48 entering the All-Star break. With the team’s other stars all failing to post their usual numbers, Byron Buxton has carried the load, punctuated by his posting the first-ever cycle at Target Field during Saturday’s romp against Pittsburgh.

The team remains just three games out of a playoff spot, despite losing every series in June and the fifth spot of their rotation becoming a recurring bullpen game. At some point, the team will have to pitch and hit at the same time for extended stretches, but for now, Buxton has put them in a position where a hot stretch out of the All-Star break will get them right back where they need to be.

First, though, they had to finish off a sweep against the Pirates, and despite the Bucs' deficiencies in most areas, they do have a couple of legitimate starting pitchers—including Sunday’s starter, Mitch Keller, who offers an array of quality pitches and a 96-MPH fastball. He's also been one of the most durable starters in baseball over the course of his career.

Opposing him was Simeon Woods Richardson, the cause of one of Aaron Gleeman’s more embarrassing (though correct) recent crashouts. Woods Richardson has been nails since his recall, ditching his changeup for a splitter and posting a sub-1.00 ERA in his past five starts. He didn’t look all that amazing against the Pirates’ lineup, giving up some hard contact. The game plan was clearly to swing early to take advantage of his trying to get ahead. But the only damage came on an ambush by veteran Tommy Pham, who dove out over the plate and crushed a slider 421 feet to give Pittsburgh a brief lead 1-0 in the second.

Keller seemed to have little trouble with the Twins lineup, mixing his slider, four-seamer and sinker to great effect. But a bloop from Harrison Bader (who should maybe sign an extension at this point, since he would probably be my third choice for first half MVP) put Buxton at the plate with a runner on. The Twins' star slugger did his usual routine, working the count and then barreling up a breaking ball that Keller should just be thankful stayed in the yard. It ended up being a double off the left-field wall that scored Bader and tied the game.

Woods Richardson danced around raindrops for a while before allowing a couple baserunners with two outs in the fifth. After allowing his starter to face the top three batters in the Pirates lineup a third time, Baldelli turned to Louis Varland, who finished off the inning with a single pitch. (Gleeman began scouring and searching for folks with incorrect opinions on the matter.)

Keller continued to cruise, finishing six innings with just the one run allowed on four hits. Varland pitched a scoreless sixth, working around a Jack Suwinski single by picking him off first base. Brock Stewart worked a scoreless seventh, working around a single by striking out Twins killer Andrew McCutchen on a nasty cutter to end the inning.

Lefty Caleb Ferguson is still around and pitching well for the Pirates, and he worked a 1-2-3 seventh in relief of Keller. Griffin Jax then worked a 1-2-3 eighth, in dominant fashion. It figures, as he allows a .532 OPS in tie games and a .773 OPS when protecting a lead this year.

The Twins made some noise in their half of the eighth, with consecutive singles by Christian Vázquez and Buxton putting two on base with one out, and prompting Baldelli to lift Vázquez for a pinch-runner. That immediately backfired, as Castro hit a nubber that Pirates catcher Henry Davis pounced on and threw out the lead runner (now DaShawn Keirsey Jr.) at third base for the second out. Trevor Larnach then flied out to end things.

After throwing 34 pitches on Saturday, Jhoan Duran was called upon to pitch the ninth. He allowed a jam shot single to Ke'Bryan Hayes, and an infield hit to Oneil Cruz, the latter of which came when a dribbler got past a reaching Duran at the mound. Isiah Kiner-Falefa then delivered his fourth hit of the game, a clean single to center to load the bases. Spencer Horwitz, on an 0-2 count, got a far-too-hittable pitch that he smacked right to Brooks Lee in a drawn-in infield. A double play looked possible. The ball got stuck in Lee's glove, however, and he was only able to retire Horowitz at first base. 2-1 Pirates. David Bednar put Carlos Correa on to start the bottom of the ninth but then flummoxed the Twins with his curveball.

What’s Next: The All-Star break is here! It begins with the Home Run Derby on Monday featuring Buxton and no, he won't be cursed or get hurt. I mean, he might, but aren't sports supposed to be fun? Buxton and Joe Ryan will then represent the American League in the All-Star game on Tuesday. The Twins will resume their season on Friday in Coors Field against the woeful Rockies (22-74).

Postgame Interviews:

Coming soon

Bullpen Usage Chart: