Twins Video
Box Score
SP: Louie Varland: IP, H, ER, BB, K (99 Pitches, 67 Strikes, 67.7%)
Home Runs: None
Bottom 3 WPA: Varland (-0.272), Joey Gallo (-0.168), Byron Buxton (-0.097)
Win Probability Chart (Via Fangraphs):
Baez Continues to Rake
Louie Varland started his outing by getting two quick outs. A Kerry Carpenter single broke up the no-hitter, and Javier Baez broke up the chance the Twins had at winning the game. On a 1-2 count, Christian Vasquez asked for a pitch two feet north of the strike zone, and Varland laid it right at the top of the zone, and Baez crushed it to right. Max Kepler misplayed the carom off of the wall, and Carpenter scored with Baez cruising into third base for a triple to make it 1-0 Tigers,
The Twins fought back breifly in the bottom of the second inning, when Kyle Farmer and Vasquez unleashed a pair of doubles to knot the score at 1-1. Michael A. Taylor and Edouard Julien flailed away the scoring opportunity from there, and Vasquez was left at second to end the threat.
Pleading in the Fifth
The offenses took turns making the pitchers look like Cy Young Award winners until the top of the fifth inning, when the Tigers unloaded on Varland. Jake Marisnick laced a triple to center, as Taylor failed to read a second ball tailing away from him. Varland then got ahead of Spencer Torkelson 0-2, before Torkelson caught up in the count and then really caught up to this 89 mph cutter for a two-run home run that broke a chunk off of Joe Mauer's retired number sign. Ouch.
Does Varland have a home run problem? Carpenter stepped up to the plate next and shouted "YES!" as he rounded the bases, making the score 4-1 Tigers.
Welcome to the Show Jordan Balazovic!?
After a controversial start to spring training, Balazovic worked his way back up the pitching pecking order until making his debut today. He got his chance today because Jorge Lopez was placed on the restricted list, and then the injured list for mental health reasons. This roster shake-up no doubt had the Twins shooken up, and more details will be forthcoming over the coming weeks on Lopez's future with the team. No one wants to see Lopez hurt, and hopefully this story has a redemptive ending.
Back to the game itself, Balazovic inherited runners at first and second, with only one out. The first batter up was Andy Ibanez, and he rudely welcomed the rookie by lacing an RBI single to left. The timeless Miguel Cabrera followed that up with a sacrifice fly to deep center, and suddenly the Tigers were in control of the game and the series with a 6-1 lead in the sixth.
Undeserved Hope in the Eighth...
The Tiger's bullpen game approach continued to baffle the Twins lineup, with five relievers scattering five hits over the first seven innings. closer Alex Lange started the eighth for the Tigers, and he started it off by almost hitting Taylor in the gut. Unfortuneately for Taylor, Lange then succeeded by climbing the ladder, and striking Taylor in the back of the helmet. Taylor was able to walk off the field under his own power, but Ryan Jeffers took his place on the bases.
The danger of the bullpen game is that a team runs the risk of having one of the multiple arms go off the rails, and that appeared to be Lange today. Julien walked. Then Willi Castro took two strikes, called timeout, and then laced a double to right to plate Jeffers to make the score 6-2. Donovan Solano followed by taking one for the team in a softer spot on his body, and suddenly Carlos Correa strode to the plate with the bases loaded and nobody out, representing the tying run! Lange promptly sent a pitch to the backstop to take the grand slam out of play, plating Julien from third to make it 6-3. Correa couldn't even get a strike to swing at, walking on four pitches to load the bases yet again for Royce Lewis.
Needless to say, Lange's night was done, and the Tigers turned to Jason Foley with the bases loaded and nobody out.
Unredeemed Opportunities in the Eighth
Royce didn't hit a grand slam, but he didn't get out either. Lewis lost his bat in the process, but he gained a single up the middle and an RBI to make the score 6-4. Farmer battled, but ultimately flied out weakly to left field, unable to advance any of the runners. This set the stage for Joey Gallo and his 11 home runs and 66 strike outs.
Make that 67 strike outs for Gallo, and now the Twins miracle inning was down to its last out. Byron Buxton strode to the plate to pinch hit for Vasquez and the last hope for the game and series perhaps. Buxton still looked lost at the plate, watching a called strike three to end the threat. Bases loaded, nobody out, and the Twins can't cash in once again.
Let's Put This Game Out of It's Misery
Jovani Moran got the top of the ninth for the Twins, and he mowed them down in order to set up a potentially dramatic bottom of the ninth. Foley remained in the game to face Jeffers, Julien, and Solano with the Twins hopes hanging by a thread, but present nonetheless.
Jeffers struck out looking. Julien struck out looking. Castro flew out weakly to left field. Fade to black.
What's Next
The Twins will send RHP Pablo Lopez (3-3, 4.27 ERA) out on Monday night after some extra rest to face the Boston Red Sox to kick off their second four-game series in a row. The Red Sox will counter with LHP James Paxton (2-1, 3.09 ERA) who has pitched six games since returning from the injured list. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40pm CDT.
Postgame Interviews
Bullpen Usage Chart
| WED | THU | FRI | SAT | SUN | TOT | |
| Pagán | 0 | 24 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 45 |
| Balazovic | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 40 |
| Headrick | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 0 | 35 |
| Morán | 0 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 33 |
| Durán | 12 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 27 |
| De León | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 24 |
| Jax | 11 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 19 |
| Stewart | 14 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 19 |
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