Twins 10, Rangers 2: A Win to Wind Down the Season

Box Score
Joe Ryan: 6 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 8 K
Home Runs: Kody Clemens (27)
Top 3 WPA: Luke Keaschall (.200), Royce Lewis (.150), Walker Jenkins (.080)
Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)

Though often dramatic, the 2026 Twins have proved that a finality can also be soft in execution. There’s little grand, sweeping movements here: the team can spoil the AL West for the Rangers, but will not sniff the playoffs themselves, lest some sort of time travel shenanigans allows them to flip a handful of prior losses to wins. Alas, such terrible writing only exists in Marvel movies. The real life Twins are screwed. But, at least we get to watch a few more ballgames before football fully takes over. 

Early matters portended ugly outcomes. The Joe Ryan of new appeared once more. A Brandon Nimmo double and Josh Jung hit by pitch clogged the bases before fans could find their expensive beers and opulent hot dogs. Corey Seager stroked a hanging curve into right to score a run. Somewhere, someone paid entirely too much for nachos they’ll find disappointing. Wyatt Langford corkscrewed a grounder to first hit so slowly that the leading runner Jung raced home safely. 

The runs looked to support Jacob deGrom, 38, in the regal ace’s inaugural outing on the Target Field mound. The righty’s two Cy Young awards and over 2,000 career strikeouts had not yet come with the aid of Minnesota groundskeeping; the erstwhile veteran evidently found hotdish, fishing, and passive aggression to be anathema. 

Minnesota fell silently in the first and returned with passion in the second. It was a flurry: Josh Bell walked, and Ryan Jeffers and Walker Jenkins slashed singles to load the bases. Royce Lewis then sent one of deGrom’s signature sliders into center to plate two to tie the game.

“A nice rally?” Well, the offensive was far from over. A Ryan Kreidler bunt plated one more—and sent the bunter safely to first—while Luke Keaschall slapped a triple into the right field corner, where it rattled and hummed as Nimmo prodded and investigated before finally throwing the ball in, but not before two more runs could score. A wild pitch ushered Keaschall home as the sixth and final run of the frame. 

The paralyzing furor halted scoring in the third. The Twins returned for more in the fourth. 

Kreidler walked before Keaschall notched his second extra-base hit of the evening, this time cracking a double off the walk guarding the bullpens in left-center. Kody Clemens soon guided a single in and out of Nimmo’s glove in right for an eighth run. 

All the while, Ryan settled. He became the man fans know and love; complete with excellent pitching and interpretive mound antics. Strikeouts looking and swinging were accompanied with his usual flair; perhaps a nodding approval, or acknowledged movement. By the time he walked off the mound, the righty had collected eight strikeouts across six innings, with just the two early earned runs to his name. His season ERA rests at 3.79.

Another break begat another Clemens run-scoring hit, this time a two-run shot slashed to left-center in the sixth to give the Twins 10 runs on the day.

Following the homer, Kody Funderburk entered the game. His fifth pitch ended in an exquisite catch in left by Emmanuel Rodriguez. Why the lax prose? The video speaks for itself. 

Funderburk gave way to Tommy Nance, who gave way to Taylor Rogers. Their efficiency mattered little in such a blowout, yet each hurler put forth a scoreless frame. Once more—like so many times in years prior—Rogers earned a 1-2-3 ninth to conclude the game, coaxing a soft flyout from Danny Jansen to secure the win.

Post-Game Interview:

What’s Next?
The Twins and Rangers march towards the end with a Saturday afternoon matchup, as Bailey Ober is scheduled to face the intimidating and daunting TBD. First pitch is at 3:10 PM. 

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