SEA 2, MIN 1: Paxton Outduels Romero

Snapshot (chart via FanGraphs)

Current record: 21-25

Fernando Romero: 69 Game Score, 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 K, 2 BB, 61.4% strikes

Bullpen: 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 K, 0 BB

Lineup: 0-for-0 w/RISP, 3 LOB

Top three per WPA: Kepler .145, Romero .054, Reed .030

The Mariners did an excellent job manufacturing their runs. Jean Segura hit a leadoff single in the first and stole second base. He came around to score on a two-out single from Nelson Cruz.

Romero retired the first two batters he faced in the sixth but then ran into some control issues. He walked Guillermo Heredia, whose life must have flashed before his eyes on ball four, a 96.5 mph fastball that was headed straight for his head. Luckily he ducked. Heredia advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a single.

That was all the offense Seattle could muster, but Twins pitchers have to be basically perfect with the way their offense is playing right now. To be fair, Mariners starter James Paxton is among the better pitchers in baseball right now. He struck out 11 Twins batters over seven innings.

The star of the game for the Twins’ lineup was no doubt Max Kepler. He hit a home run (off Paxton, a lefty) and made an excellent throw to nail a runner at third base. He also got a single, meaning he accounted for two of the team’s four hits.

https://twitter.com/TwinsHighlights/status/1000221384533069826

Romero was extremely efficient, completing seven innings for the first time of his big league career. Between Triple A and the majors, he’s logged 49 2/3 innings so far this season. That total already represents the third-most innings he’s thrown in a season.

Miguel Sano returned from the DL. He played first base. That was a good look for him, in my opinion. Unfortunately, he was 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. Nobody outside of Kepler hit well for the Twins, but it’s disheartening to see Byron Buxton in particular continue to struggle. He was 0-for-3 with a pair of strikeouts, dropping is OPS on the year to .416

Postgame With Molitor

https://twitter.com/fsnorth/status/1000238526208737281

Bullpen Usage

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

Next Three Games

Sat at SEA, 9:10 pm CT

Sun at SEA, 3:10 pm CT

Mon at KC, 6:15 pm CT

Last Three Games

DET 4, MIN 1: Niko’s Revenge

MIN 6, DET 0: Lynn Shows Will to Win

MIN 4, DET 2: It’s All Coming Up Rosie

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