Twins Video
Box Score
Joe Ryan: 5 ⅓ IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 7 K
Home Runs: Christian Vázquez (2), Alex Kirilloff (5)
Top 3 WPA: Alex Kirilloff (.453), Emilio Pagán (.204), Christian Vázquez (.185)
Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)
.png.0bcb187ecddcc21000fbb943483389fd.png)
The Twins—disappointing; lethargic—entered Sunday, the victors of the two first games of the second half. Oakland hadn't made it easy. The California tankers fought with vigor to win, challenging Minnesota in almost every inning the two teams played. Would the Twins earn a sweep to start the second half, or would the A's be too feisty to handle?
It was a homecoming of sorts for Joe Ryan. The Northern California native took the mound with plenty of supporters in the stands, rooting on the sterling pitcher in his breakout season. He was stellar early, working a six-pitch 1st to send the team on its way.
JP Sears is no slouch, however. Assuming Oakland's team lacks talent would be foolish; the 27-year-old lefty stood as Ryan's opponent on Saturday and was on his game.
Until Mark Kotsay took the ball from Sears' hand, the former Yankees farmhand was sharp, efficient. He diced through lefties and righties all the same, offering rising heaters, dying changeups, and sweepers that seemed to move from the Pacific to the Atlantic, all leading to 6 ⅓ quality innings with seven strikeouts.
But he wasn't perfect. Christian Vázquez startled his shutout effort in the 5th, hammering one of those fastballs out to right-center to give the Twins their first run. They only needed one more out to score again. Alex Kirilloff also caught a fastball—this one trickier, placed precisely on the outside corner—but powered it enough to reach the top of the wall, cutting Minnesota's deficit to one.
About that deficit: Ryan wasn't himself. A sluggish splitter to Jordan Diaz cost him some ERA points in the 2nd, but the primary damage came in the fourth when Oakland shot the ball around the yard to plate two. You could tell Ryan's story in more than earned runs, though: he walked three batters for the first time since May 30th.
It seemed, then, that the Twins would have trouble winning this game. With yet another lackluster start from their stud starting rotation and with the bats again flailing with wild abandon, Minnesota needed drastic action to take the lead.
They got it. Sears exited the game to a hero's appreciation, turning the ball over to Oakland's dreadful bullpen. A walk and an infield hit loaded the bases, sending Kirilloff to the plate. He delivered. A shot a ball down the left field line, allowing all three runners to come home safely as he trotted into third.
Minnesota failed to plate another run, but their lead was enough now. What would they need an extra gluttonous run for?
5-3 soon became 5-4. Jorge López smoothly ended the sixth with a first-pitch double-play lineout, but the seventh wasn't as kind. He walked a man, eventually giving him 2nd off a wild pitch. Then Zack Gelof plopped a ball between a galloping Kepler and a flailing Kirilloff, chopping off the all-important luxury run with one fortunate swing.
And so entered Jhoan Duran. He pitched on Friday and Saturday, but Rocco Baldelli decided to call upon his reliable workhorse for a third straight game. He had yet to do such a thing in his MLB career. He coaxed a grounder to start the inning, but Shea Langeliers smoked a double high off the right-center field wall. Jace Peterson flew out. Laboring, Duran fired without his usual control, and Tony Kemp lined one of his hanging splitters... directly into Willi Castro's glove to end the game.
Notes:
Alex Kirilloff's 4 RBIs tied a single-game career-high; his previous 4 RBI outing was on April 30th, 2021 against the Royals.
Joe Ryan's seven strikeouts pushed his season total to 131, good for 8th in MLB. He is 21 strikeouts away from setting a single-season career-high.
Carlos Correa extended his on-base streak to 13 games.
Christian Vázquez reached base three times for the first time since June 1st.
Post-Game Interview:
What’s Next?
The Twins will extend their west coast trip, heading up I-5 to play the Mariners in Seattle. Sonny Gray will retake the mound he pitched on in the All-Star game; Logan Gilbert will pitch opposite of him and first pitch is at 8:40 PM.
Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet
Follow Twins Daily For Minnesota Twins News & Analysis
- weitz41, Clare, nclahammer and 1 other
-
4
Recommended Comments
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now