Twins 2, Pirates 0: Dallas Keuchel Flirts With Perfection; Twins Take Series

Box Score:
Starting Pitcher: Dallas Keuchel, 6.1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K (85 Pitches, 53 Strikes, 62%)
Home Runs: None
Top 3 WPA: Keuchel (.332), Edouard Julien (.120), Griffin Jax (.092)
Win Probability Chart (Via Fangraphs):

The Twins looked to execute some revenge Sunday afternoon, against a Pirates squad that aimed to neutralize the Twins offense with an opener and bullpen game approach. Ryan Borucki was the first man up for Pittsburgh, and the lefty held the Twins hitless over two innings, striking out three in the process. 

Osvaldo Bido was the next arm up for the Pirates, and he got the bulk of the work for the bullpen. Bido struck out six Twins batters over 3 1/3 innings, and dominated most of the lineup. Luckily for the Twins, Donovan Solano and Edouard Julien were not dominated so easily. In the bottom of the fourth, Solano led off the inning with a single, and hustled his way to third on a Correa flare to right. Julien launched a deep fly to the left field warning track that was reeled in, but Solano tagged and scored to make the game 1-0 in favor of the Twins.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Solano led off the inning with a double to the opposite field. Julien came up with Solano at second and one out, and this time he couldn't be reeled in.

Keuchel Channels His Inner Cy Young
Two runs proved to be enough for the Twins this day, because Dallas Keuchel decided he wasn't going to allow a hit through six innings. The Twins lefty threw a master class in pitch location, generating 10 groundouts and weak contact up and down the Pirates lineup. After allowing six runs in only 1 2/3 in Philadelphia earlier in the week, this performance seemed improbable or impossible. Twins fans will take it, no questions asked. After seeing Sonny Grays five no-hit innings get erased in the sixth last night, watching Keuchel hold his outing into the seventh felt tangibly comforting. Only a Bryan Reynolds double off of the wall in right could end this miracle run, and Keuchel left with a 2-0 lead and to a standing ovation.

Twins Bats Keep Flailing
After whiffing their way to 15 strikeouts last night, the Twins offense looked to make more contact against this Pirates bullpen. They didn't.

16 strikeouts in only eight innings of batting. The Twins averaged two strikeouts an inning at the plate. Seriously. This run of deflating at-bats can't continue against the likes of Texas and Cleveland in the coming weeks, or the AL Central race will be tigher than it needs to be.

Twins Bullpen Returns the Favor
Luckily for the Twins, Griffin Jax, Caleb Thielbar, and Jhoan Duran also were making the Pirates bats flail. Jax came in and struck out his two batters in the top of the seventh to erase the threat. Thielbar and Duran faced little resistance, and the Twins pitchers combined for a two-hit shutout to complete the series win.

What’s Next: The Twins enjoy an off-day on Monday, before they travel east for a two-game border battle with the Brewers. Tuesday's matchup will see Twins RHP Bailey Ober (6-6, 3.40 ERA) face Brewers LHP Wade Miley (6-3, 3.05 ERA). First pitch Tuesday is scheduled for 7:10pm CDT.

Postgame Interviews:

Bullpen Usage Chart: