Twins Video
Box Score
Chris Paddack: 5 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
Home Runs: Byron Buxton (22), Willi Castro (10)
Bottom 3 WPA: Chris Paddack (-.236), Brooks Lee (-.151), Harrison Bader (-.097)
Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)
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The last time the Twins were in Colorado felt different. The 2023 squad chomped on Coors Field as their victory cigar, claiming two final wins in what was window dressing for an already postseason-bound team. They had the liberty of using a position player pitcher to conclude the final game—and the season. This squad, however, is barely clinging onto life. The 2025 Twins are squabbling in an AL wild card melee, constantly oscillating their playoff chances between “unlikely” and “possible.” Minnesota entered Friday on something of a hot streak, with three straight series wins (and also three straight missed sweep opportunities). How would they fare in the first game since the All-Star break?
Early? Poorly. Very poorly. Exceedingly poorly. Through 5,116 games as a franchise, the Rockies had never started a game with four consecutive extra-base hits, yet that’s exactly what they did Friday, going double, double, triple, homer to clock Chris Paddack for four runs through as many batters. Welcome to the second half.
The Rockies struck for a fifth run in the second before entering a slumber.
Meanwhile, the Twins started lethargic and remained stalled for most of Kyle Freeland’s time on the mound. Byron Buxton cracked a solo homer in the fifth—that one was for the Home Run Derby pessimists—yet no other legitimate scoring threat came to fruition while the lefty stood on the mound. Well, there was one. Carlos Correa started the sixth with a walk, and Ty France followed with a single. Staring at a tremendous chance to score at least one run, Minnesota’s next three hitters pooped their pants as all three struck out swinging. Freeland entered the frame with zero strikeouts in the start. It’s incredible how funny this game can be.
The botched rally portended a sixth run for Colorado the next half-inning; evidently the dredges of dower baseball proved to be a launching point, though, as Freeland’s exit for the game sparked a sign of life. Buxton outran an infield hit, and Ryan Jeffers served a single into right. As unbelievable as it may be given the ugliness of what came before, the Twins were a swing away from jumping back into things—and Willi Castro provided that swing, crushing a first-pitch sinker 439 feet out to dead center.
That proved to be the end of excitement. The Twins never scored again. Their bats petered out against the back end of the Colorado bullpen, leading to an empty and disappointing start to the season's second half.
Notes:
Ryan Jeffers earned his first four-hit game since May 17th.
Christian Vázquez caught in his 912th career game, the fourth-most amongst active catchers.
Byron Buxton is slashing .556/.586/.1.074 in his last seven games.
Post-Game Interview:
What’s Next?
The Twins and Rockies match up once more for a rare Saturday evening game as the highly anticipated TBD takes on Antonio Senzatela. First pitch is at 7:10 PM.
Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet
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