Twins 4, Red Sox 5: Bizarre Walk-Off Caps Strange Loss in Boston

Box Score
Sonny Gray: 5 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K
Home Run: Max Kepler (2)
Bottom 3 WPA: Jovani Moran (-.902 good lord), Griffin Jax (-.184), Kyle Garlick (-.070)

Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)

From being dominated by Chris Sale to watching umpires decipher through grain whether their night would end, the Twins experienced the full range of baseball emotions on Tuesday. Oscillating between uneasy optimism and certain expectations losing, the game had it all, and each reaction and re-action was more extreme than the one that came before. Be warned: this is the kind of game that can eat up lesser souls.

Boston wasted no time scoring. Lead-off man Alex Verdugo stroked a double into the right-center gap and Rafael Devers chopped a single too far to Willi Castro’s right to score him. Just like that, before Sonny Gray could ease into the start, the Red Sox had a run, and Minnesota would need a response.

Unfortunately for them, their opponent was a certain stork-like pitcher, known for regularly—although inconsistently, recently—making fools of even the best hitters. And he was on his game. The opening innings consisted of whiffs, and wrong guesses; the first out Chris Sale recorded that didn’t come via a punchout was in the 3rd—when Donovan Solano tapped out directly to Rafael Devers. Whenever Minnesota expected fastballs, he tossed sliders, always in the perfect spot to coax a swing.

Gray suffered no such fortune. The veteran righty did a lot of pitching—entirely too much pitching—battling himself over the first two frames as Red Sox batters stood stoically against his balls and smoked his strikes. He had over 50 pitches after just two innings. Somehow, though, he slithered away from damage, never allowing Boston to secure the knock-out blow they desperately craved. He ended his start with five innings, and a medium-sized village stranded on base; the opening run was his lone blemish.

Just as soon as it seemed that Sale would settle in, he finally wavered, relenting in his command to walk Michael A. Taylor, hit Max Kepler, and see Castro split the infield with a bunt single. Solano struck out, but a Carlos Correa liner brought Taylor home to somehow even the game at one. Even as Byron Buxton extended his dreadful streak of ineffective hitting—batting as if he were blinded—the Twins could finally claim a competitive match. 

In a sign that the baseball gods absolutely have a sense of humor, the second Sale exited the game, Max Kepler took fresh pitcher Josh Winckowski deep to right field, inconceivably handing the Twins a 2-1 advantage. It was his second shot of the season.

Thus started the running of the bullpen: Jorge López’s 6th frame was smooth, while Caleb Thielbar’s only 7th inning trouble came when Devers poked a shift-beater the other way. 

Griffin Jax found his 8th difficult, though, as a cheeky soft liner and a confusing catcher’s interference placed runners on the corners. Rather, actually, Solano took the play off after the catcher’s interference was called, allowing Reese McGuire to reach base while Kiké Hernández took off for third base. An obscure rule—one so unheard of that Dick Bremer had to provide clarity to the people watching— allows for a manager to elect for the play to count, allowing the runner to advance to third base. No matter; it isn’t like the extra base had game-altering implications.

Anyways, Boston tied the game when Jarren Duran’s grounder provided enough space for Hernández to bolt home safely.

Jhoan Duran carried the 9th, turning the match into a Manfred Man fest with Minnesota up first. Boston reliever John Schreiber couldn’t locate the strike zone, hitting Solano and walking Correa to load the bases. Buxton then sent a deep enough fly ball to right to score a run—and advance the runner from second to third—which allowed Miranda to plate a second score with a grounder. Lacking a hit, the Twins still scored two.

If you’re counting at home, Rocco Baldelli was now left without his best relievers, making Jovani Moran the pitcher called upon to save the game. Hernández struck out with suspicious intent; Moran’s changeup is good, but the offering was so low in the dirt, it seemed that he anticipated the chance to scamper to first base. A walk loaded the bases and finally, McGuire re-knotted the game with a dumping single to left field. A knock placed Moran into familiar confines. With Rob Refsnyder at the plate, Moran delivered another signature change, getting the roll-over he wanted; Miranda snagged the ball, tagged the runner going to home, then gunned out Refsnyder to turn an immaculate double play.

It was all for nothing, however, as Verdugo’s painted fly ball to right fell on the field side of the wall, giving Boston the bizarre walk-off a game like this deserved, but only after the lights person, the umpires, and every player stood around thoroughly baffled at what just occurred.

Notes:
Post-Game Interview:

The Twins will take on Boston again tomorrow; Joe Ryan will pitch opposite Corey Kluber. 

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet