Reds 5, Twins 4: Twins Lose Another Winnable Game Against the Reds

Box Score
SP: Taj Bradley 6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K (99 pitches, 62 strikes (63%))
Home Runs: N/A
Bottom 3 WPA (via FanGraphs): Cole Sands (-0.30), Eric Orze (-0.14), Byron Buxton (-0.10)

Win Probability Chart (via BaseballSavant)

The Twins dropped the series opener against Cincinnati Friday night because of missed opportunities at the plate. As they looked to face yet another left-handed starter in Andrew Abbott on yet another chilly Saturday, manager Derek Shelton looked to regain some heat in the lineup by shifting around both positions and batting order. Josh Bell moved up into the three-hole and Luke Keaschall dropped down to fifth. Ryan Kreidler got his first Twins start in center field, while Trevor Larnach got left and Austin Martin got right. Would the manager's moves provide the necessary spark to right the ship after a brief two-game losing skid? Or would the fact that Taj Bradley was on the mound mean that one run would be enough to get the Twins back into the win column?

Starting Strategically Strong
In the top of the first inning, the first Reds swing of course found its way into center field, but Kreidler looked like a natural in making the grab. The lineup changes also played early dividends, as Bell followed a Martin walk with a strategic push swing for a single through an empty right-side of the diamond. With runners at first and second, Ryan Jeffers saved his at-bat by fouling off a fastball at the very last second. On the next pitch, Jeffers timed the Abbott fastball perfectly and tripled his way into a 2-0 Twins lead.

A Challenging Third
The Twins' lead got cut in half in the top of the second inning when Bradley walked lead-off man Sal Stewart, and a Nathaniel Lowe double with one out put both men in scoring position. Taj escaped with only allowing a sacrifice fly to Tyler Stephenson, and the Twins built the lead back to 3-1 in the bottom of the third inning after three consecutive challenges went their way. First, Martin reached first base on an overturned call after an Elly De La Cruz bobble. Then Martin was ruled safe trying to reach second base on a Bell groundout, and even though the video seemed to show that he was out, the Reds challenge was unsuccessful in overturning the call on the field. Then, with two outs, the demoted Keaschall snuck a single into right field to plate Martin. Keaschall got picked off trying to steal second, but the Twins challenged and Luke was ruled safe. All in all, the longest one-run inning of my life came to a mericful end.

More Defensive Issues Bite the Infield
In the top of the fourth, Bradley got Eugenio Suarez to hit a grounder to the hole in short. Brooks Lee had two options: 1) Allow the ball to go through for a one out single. 2) Try to slide and snag the ball for no apparent reason. Lee chose option two, and booted the ball into no-man's land in short left field, allowing Suarez to reach second base on a gift double. Therefore, a Lowe inning-ending groundball double-play turned into a advance the runner to third groundout. On an 0-2 count, Stephenson struck again and plated a Suarez who should have never been there with a single. 3-2 Twins.

RISP for the Win?
After establishing the first Sam Caulder jinx of the season by flailing with runners in scoring position on Friday night, the Twins knew that winning a close game was going to require re-discovering their scoring ways in the middle innings. Through the first four frames on Saturday, the Twins left FIVE men on in scoring position as they nursed a one run lead. After a Bell single and a Larnach walk in the bottom of the fifth, Lee came up with a chance at redemption and he finally delivered with a single that plated Bell and pushed the lead back up to 4-2. Unfortunately, the RISP success stopped there, as Tristan Gray struck out with the bases loaded to push the "left behind" total to SEVEN after five innings.

Bradley Continues to Deal, Bullpen Loses a Winning Hand
With his pitch count climbing towards the magic 100 mark in the top of the sixth inning, Bradley saved his best for last. Taj struck out the last three men he faced with a mixture of 96 mph heat and buckling curve balls. Though the bullpen got brought into play a bit sooner than last time, Bradley kept the Reds mostly quiet throughout his start and gave the constant and steady performance that Twins fans have grown to appreciate this season. 

Justin Topa was first man out of the pen in the top of the seventh, and after surrendering a leadoff single to Rece Hinds, he settled down and got the next two Reds. Kody Funderburk entered the game to face lefty Will Benson, and Terry Francona countered by pinch-hitting righty Dane Myers. Funderburk got ahead and then plunked Myers which brought up De La Cruz again. This this, the Twins weren't so lucky and Elly finally stung the Twins with a run-scoring single to tighten the game at 4-3, but still advantage Twins.

After Shelton got tossed for arguing in general during the De La Cruz bat, the pitching decisions were up to bench coach Mark Hallberg, and he went with Eric Orze in the top of the eighth, Two batters later, the Reds had runners at the corners with nobody out. Orze notched a strike out, but then allowed a sac fly to Hines to tie the game and to rob Bradley of another win. 

No Defense for This Loss
Cole Sands took the top of the ninth, and another ground ball found its way past Lee and into left field, this time under his backhand attempt. While ruled a single by Spencer Steer, it was a makeable play for an average shortstop. After a sacrifice bunt, Myers blooped a heart-breaker over Keaschall's head to score Steer and to give the Reds their first lead of the day at 5-4.

Could the Twins bats overcome their lack of clutch throughout the day, and deliver their first walk-off win of the season? Nope. Not even close, as the Reds slammed the door shut 1-2-3 to take the series in a second consecutive one-run victory.

What’s Next?
The Twins look to salvage the series finale at home against the visiting Reds on Sunday afternoon. Twins send "crafty" righty Bailey Ober (2-0, 5.49 ERA) to the mound in search of more steady progress on his 2026 campaign. The Reds will send the former Royal RHP Brady Singer (1-1, 5.60 ERA) who is starting his second year of service in the Reds organization but has a 9.15 ERA at Target Field over his career. First pitch is scheduled for 1:10pm CDT.

Postgame Interviews

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