Twins 4, Yankees 3: Carlos Correa Comes Up Clutch In Yankee Stadium

4 hours ago, darwin22 said:

12-8-1-0-0-0

For those wondering what those numbers mean----it was Pagan's line tonight:

12 pitches

8 strikes

1 K------Volpe on swinging strike three to end the inning

0 hits allowed

0 BB

0 Runs

As much as criticism as I've voiced (rightfully so) about Pagan's failures----tonight--at least tonight in Yankee Stadium of all places he was very successful and worthy of being a key contributor to a Twins win.  

He was absolutely awful for most of last year.  Over the last month and a half or so (from what i heard) he stopped using a pitch.   I don't remember which.  During that time, he had very good numbers.   Look at this year now 1 ER over 5.2 innings, 1 BB and 4 K, 1.69 ERA.  If he keeps this up, he is back, and we have 6 guys who can lock it down.  

Nice "W" - am I getting too greedy to think that the Twins could possibly take 3-of-4 in Yankee Stadium? A win Saturday would be monumental, Twins are going against a very hittable Domingo German, who has a 5.87 ERA over two starts so far. 

Can't say anything more about Varland that hasn't already been said. Correa starting to come around. Nice. 

5 hours ago, jimbo92107 said:

Louie Varland looks like a fearless young MLB pitcher with excellent stuff. With he and Bailey Ober backing up the starting five, this is indeed the deepest group of quality starters I have ever seen beginning a season for the Twins. This team appears to have seven starters that would be #2's or #3's behind an ace. You really don't need a Cy Young contestant if all your guys are solid pitchers. It means that each time through the rotation, one or two guys will throw and ace-like game, six or seven innings giving up either no runs or one run. Varland today came about as close as you can get, considering the firepower of the Yankees hitters. If the next two starters can do as well, the Twins could take this series. 

They might even be better that that. It's too early to tell, but I really think Lopez might have taken the next step to #1 territory. If he can go a full season going toe to toe with the likes of Cole, deGrom, and Ohtani this could really be a special rotation.

I think Gray has been around long enough to know he's more a #2 but he's pitched like a #1 early too.

It's taken a few years, but it seems like the front office has finally managed to build the rotation they've always been working on. 

Fun piece of writing Mr Braun 

Hats off to the pinstripes (not NYY). It's been a long time since we had our pinstripes against NYY and they came through. Of course hats off to Varland (the rookie), Correa (who had been in a bad slump) J Lo and even Pagan (who likes to give us heart attacks).

This a game we look back on and say this was a turning point from good to great. The way we've been playing we could sweep the bums. Feels good, GO TWINS!!!!!!! 

I notice that the game time was 2:11 - -which aligns with the feeling I had while watching on TV. The announcers commented on how some of the pitchers, like our own Varland, typically work fast, so that plus the clock kept things brisk.

The quick pace made my viewing experience more enjoyable and especially more gripping, even in those middle innings with less tension.

I had grown accustomed to playing around on my phone while watching baseball on TV — something I have never done while attending in person — but, as others have mentioned on this site, there’s neither time nor reason to fill in the empty stretches.

This could be turning point in special season!!! C4 clutch was awesome!!! As was Varland with 8ks!!! Huge comeback win. This twins team is different from seasons past and with additions made we can definitely win division/end playoff losing streak and go deep in playoffs with possibly another World Championship!!! Let’s win today as well tomorrow and sweep the Yankees!!! Go Twins!!!

6 minutes ago, Melissa said:

I notice that the game time was 2:11 - -which aligns with the feeling I had while watching on TV. The announcers commented on how some of the pitchers, like our own Varland, typically work fast, so that plus the clock kept things brisk.

The quick pace made my viewing experience more enjoyable and especially more gripping, even in those middle innings with less tension.

I had grown accustomed to playing around on my phone while watching baseball on TV — something I have never done while attending in person — but, as others have mentioned on this site, there’s neither time nor reason to fill in the empty stretches.

Yes, it's wonderful. The reducing of dead time is advantagious to keep fans into the game not off on another tangent & being disconnected. A connected fan help the players motivated. It's very enjoyable.

Really, really good win last night. Liked how every time a big question was asked the Twins had an answer. Varland looked wobbly to start and  just when you wondered if he was going to get rocked against the Evil Empire, he cleans it up and settles into a quality start. Offense looked like it might have gone silent after the big explosion the other night, and then it just started chipping away. Big question on whether Pagan could handle an important inning and he got it done.

Jorge Lopez is in a good run of form right now and looks like the reliever we were hoping for when we traded for him. That's going to be huge. 

And just a great game by Correa. He really looked like the all-star SS. Some very nice defensive plays, the bat was cooking, he was the full package last night.

That’s a huge win for the team.  Not only in terms of their W-L record, but fan morale, national coverage, confidence, etc.

It also came with a cobbled together group from the minors (Varland and Garlick), and in Yankee stadium.

Massive.  Really impressed with this team. Injuries could be an issue, but it feels like special could be brewing here.

Said the monster........................aaaarrrgghhhhhhh............Pitching......Good!

GO TWINS!

Twins Geezer..........out!

9 hours ago, Steven Trefz said:

Best moment from being at the game tonight?  Bottom of 4th, Yankees last out is fly ball to Garlick in right. He turns to toss it to the bleacher bums, and then says “nope” and heads back to the dugout with it 😂

They booed him so hard…not Correa hard, but close.

Then, just a few innings later, he goes yard.  Then Correa wins it…

That place went from ecstatic to rage to pin drop over the course of the night. 
 

And it was glorious.

I know, I saw the turn and the... "Nope" and I was rolling 🤣.

Loved it.

The best thing about these two games has been Correa and Buxton being in the lineup........

Could it be be that at, long last, Rocco is learning how to handle starting pitchers? He leaves rookie Varland in through SIX INNINGS AGAINST THE YANKEES IN YANKEE STADIUM! And only 86 pitches! With a bullpen that has been outstanding so far! That might be a firing offense for the FO. This is a very good sign!

Correa getting back to normal is a big boost.  Miranda is coming around and hopefully, Polanco is back soon also providing a boost.  There is hope this team could be a real contender.

Great recap. You'll never get writing like that from an AI.

14 minutes ago, dxpavelka said:

The best thing about these two games has been Correa and Buxton being in the lineup........

Couldn't agree more.  In the post game interview, I liked when Correa said something like "we've got some dog in us".  I thought that was evident with him at the plate last night.  That "dog" was also displayed by Varland after his rough first inning and in Lopez's last start when he gave up 3 and then slammed the door in Chicago's face.

Best of all was on Thursday when the Twins were up 11-0.  Joe Ryan gave up a solo HR and he just smirked and shrugged...kind of motioning like "lucky" or "big effing deal".  I love to see that attitude and the Twins have it right now.

And there's no question that when Buxton is in the lineup, it's just a different team.  He gets on base and it's just chaos for the opposition.

57 minutes ago, Otaknam said:

Could it be be that at, long last, Rocco is learning how to handle starting pitchers? He leaves rookie Varland in through SIX INNINGS AGAINST THE YANKEES IN YANKEE STADIUM! And only 86 pitches! With a bullpen that has been outstanding so far! That might be a firing offense for the FO. This is a very good sign!

or could it be that we finally have 5 pitchers that are worthy of pitching a 3rd time through the order?  Did you want him to handle bad pitchers as if they were good pitchers? 

6 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

or could it be that we finally have 5 pitchers that a worthy of pitching a 3rd time through the order?  Did you want him to handle bad pitchers as if they were good pitchers? 

Seriously. With Varland, SWR, and Ober in AAA we might even have 8. Rocco has done a fine job with the pitching staff this season but more importantly the starters are a) deserving of the longer rope, and b) much more talented.

Could this be the Year of Lopez for the Twins? Jorge is looking back to form and Pablo has been a stud. Really liked Jorge's work against the Yankees last night. Velocity was great, he worked guys, he's not giving free passes, and he's trusting his stuff.

I watched the game analasyse last night on MLB; they showed all of the Yankees home runs, Correa's at bats and never mentioned Garlick, but, after that they had a long bit on Ryan's new pitch.

The called it a Sweeper.

2 hours ago, Peter said:

This could be turning point in special season!!! C4 clutch was awesome!!! As was Varland with 8ks!!! Huge comeback win. This twins team is different from seasons past and with additions made we can definitely win division/end playoff losing streak and go deep in playoffs with possibly another World Championship!!! Let’s win today as well tomorrow and sweep the Yankees!!! Go Twins!!!

Peter just firing up the fan base lol! Love it!! 

20 minutes ago, jmlease1 said:

Seriously. With Varland, SWR, and Ober in AAA we might even have 8. Rocco has done a fine job with the pitching staff this season but more importantly the starters are a) deserving of the longer rope, and b) much more talented.

Not to mention guys that could come back from injury, namely Paddack and Canterino.

9 minutes ago, Monkeypaws said:

Not to mention guys that could come back from injury, namely Paddack and Canterino.

I'll give you Paddack, whom I rate, and I think will be in the rotation next season. But I think those bastards at Rice ruined Canterino's arm and he'll never be able to stay healthy enough to start. He's probably going to have to go to the 'pen, and it's a damn shame.

17 minutes ago, jmlease1 said:

I'll give you Paddack, whom I rate, and I think will be in the rotation next season. But I think those bastards at Rice ruined Canterino's arm and he'll never be able to stay healthy enough to start. He's probably going to have to go to the 'pen, and it's a damn shame.

Maybe he can emulate the Josh Hader role.  Obviously, a top of the rotation SP would be ideal, but a high leverage RP would be a decent consolation prize, especially if he could pitch as many innings as Hader.

Maybe this is the effect of not having any guys left who remember Gardy's mental block in Yankee Stadium?