Twins 2, Dodgers 6: Twins Fall Below .500

Before the game even started, things were a bit strange for the Twins. Less than an hour before game time, Miguel Sano was scratched from the lineup due to his aggravated wrist (from Monday night’s hit-by-pitch). He got x-rays, and they were negative, which of course is positive. Eduardo Escobar was going to hit sixth and play shortstop. Instead, he moved to third base and batted cleanup. Jorge Polanco played shortstop. That was the easy lineup construction situation of this game.

Win Expectancy (via fangraphs)

Jose Berrios started for the Twins and he was solid early. He began the game with three shutout innings. He used his fastball at a variety of speeds, from 92 to 97. He also had a very sharp curveball again, as evidenced by this 1st-inning pitch to Corey Seager:

https://twitter.com/cjzero/status/890036001279811584

Top Three Twins (by Win Expectancy)

1. Zack Granite (.078) - 1-4, RBI 1B
   
2. Joe Mauer (.060) - 1-2, 2 BB
   
3. Jason Castro (.026) - 1-4
   

Zack Granite gave the Twins a 1-0 lead with an RBI single in the 3rd inning. However, in the fourth inning, the Dodgers bats took over. They scored four runs on five hits off of Berrios. While he got through the inning, he was pinch hit for in the top of the fifth frame. Trevor Hildenberger pitched a scoreless fifth frame. He got one out in the sixth as well.

However, that’s when things went strange. Paul Molitor came out to talk to the umpire and tell him he was making a double-switch. He had Ryan Pressly come in to the game to take Hildenberger’s spot as pitcher. He had Ehire Adrianza come in to play shortstop, replacing Jorge Polanco. Of course, Adrianza would bat in the pitcher’s spot in the double switch. Seemed simple enough.

As Molitor explained, the umpire somehow heard that Belisle was coming in for Rosario. Molitor thought that he explained it (Pressly for Polanco) correctly. Molitor took the blame for the miscommunication, though I certainly don't think he needs to.

https://twitter.com/fsnorth/status/890094677990551553

But after Pressly threw one pitch, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts came out to ask the umpires about the double switch. Confusion ensued. The umps talked to Roberts. Then went and talked to Molitor. Then Roberts again. Then they called the offices in New York where a rules interpretation was done. Over 20 minutes later, Polanco needed to stay in the game and Adrianza went to left field with Eddie Rosario coming up. That meant that the pitcher’s spot in the lineup would come up two spots earlier.

Roberts explained following the game that part of the concern was that Jorge Polanco had been taken out of the game for the first pitch after Pressly came in. He noted that apparently there is a re-entry rule that allowed Polanco to re-enter the game at shortstop when Adrianza went out to left field instead, removing the hot-hitting Eddie Rosario.

https://twitter.com/fsnorth/status/890092125345525761

Of course, Roberts kept saying Escobar, which was wrong, and probably adds to the confusion.

After the 20+ minute delay, Pressly served up three straight hits to give the Dodgers two additional runs of offense. They didn’t need it, but it gave them the final 6-2 win.

AL Central

Cleveland won late on an Edwin Encarnacion grand slam. Earlier in the evening, the Royals topped the Tigers. The White Sox lost to the Cubs. The Twins came into their Tuesday night game at Dodgers Stadium with a .500 record and… …

Cleveland 52-45 .536 ---

Kansas City 52-47 .525 1.0

TWINS 49-50 .495 4.0

Detroit 45-54 .455 7.0

Chicago 39-58 .402 8.0

Bullpen Usage

Trevor Hildenberger, Ryan Pressly and Alan Busenitz worked out of the Twins bullpen on Tuesday night. Here is a look at which relievers may be available on Wednesday night.

What’s Next?

The Twins and Dodgers will finish their three-game series on Wednesday night (9:10 central time). It will be Ervin Santana (1-0, 5.40 ERA) facing right-hander Brock Stewart (0-0, 0.00 ERA).

Ervin Santana is coming off his worst start of the season. On Friday night, the All- Star gave up five runs and needed 95 pitches in just 3.1 innings against the Tigers. He gave up two homers in the game as well. In his one July start before the All-Star Game, he gave up two runs in nine innings. In his first post-All Star Game start, he gave up just two runs in six innings, but he walked five. Santana will look to get the Twins back on track.

Lefty Alex Wood, who is 11-1 so far this season for the Dodgers, was scheduled to start on Wednesday. Instead, right-hander Brock Stewart will make his first start for the Dodgers this season. He has worked 13 innings over six appearances this season out of the bullpen. Last year, he made seven appearances, including five starts for the big league club. Stewart was a name mentioned in the offseason when there were approximately 13.2 million Brian Dozier-to-the-Dodgers rumors.