Twins 5, Guardians 4: Small Ball, Clutch Hits Key Rare Victory in Cleveland

Box Score
Starting Pitcher: Jose Urena: 4 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K (69 Pitches, 62.3%)
Home Runs: None
Top 3 WPA: Matt Wallner (.146), Kody Funderburk (.137), Trevor Larnach (.130)
Win Probability Chart (Via Fangraphs):

A new era of Twins baseball has begun, and it has looked pretty similar so far, with two one-run losses to the Guardians on Friday and Saturday. They've been a more interesting watch, however. In my mind, frisky baseball is a lot more watchable than the lawyer ball that represented the Carlos Correa era in Minnesota. With the bullpen arms they have now, I doubt we'll see a lot of winning, but it will hopefully be more fun.

The Guardians are the kings of pesky small ball, so we may have to give the Twins (players, not owners) some grace while they acclimate to putting some actual pressure on an opposing pitcher. Today began promisingly, with Austin Martin getting a leadoff single, Ryan Jeffers dropping in a blooper, and Matt Wallner lining a single up the middle to score Martin. Royce Lewis brought in third baseman Jose Ramirez by showing bunt and then lined a double over his head for the game's second run. Baby steps.

Joey Cantillo was pitching for Cleveland, and after a mound visit following Lewis' double, started emphasizing his curveball and struck out Kody Clemens and Brooks Lee. That felt familiar, but Trevor Larnach then pulverized a hanging curveball into the gap in right center field to score two more runs.

Jose Urena started for the Twins, and if you aren't familiar with his work, you clearly have no appreciation for the 2017-2018 Miami Marlins, where Urena started 59 games with a 3.90 ERA. But his strikeout percentage peaked at 18.3% during that time and hasn't reached that level since. This despite a a fastball that can reach the upper 90's. I remember the Twins facing Urena when he was with the White Sox in 2023 and thinking it must feel rotten to have to watch Urena pitch for your team. Well karma giveth and taketh away, and Urena got absolutely rocked the first few pitches in a Twins uniform.

Steven Kwan barreled up a fastball that would have easily left the yard were the wind not blowing in at Progressive Field. Daniel Schneeman laced a single and Jose Ramirez jumped all over a Urena fastball and launched it 406 feet through the wind to cut the lead in half. Urena settled down from there and actually showed some positive signs as his outing went along.

Meanwhile Cantillo focused on his changeup and curveball while the Twins swung in vain hoping for his very hittable fastball. He has reverse splits and proved why, as he allowed five hits and two walks to the contingent of lefties the Twins trotted out in Wallner, Larnach and Clemens. He would strike out nine over five and two thirds innings.

Urena was done after four innings and 69 pitches, and kept the Twins ahead by inducing some weak contact featuring a ton of sliders and sinkers. As auspicious as the start to his day was, he gave Baldelli what he needed and may have bought himself another week or two on the 40-man roster.

The teams traded zeros, with both lineups taking an aggressive approach early in the count. It wasn't a winning strategy on either side, however.

After twelve straight scoreless half innings, Wallner reached out and poked a triple to right center field off of Jakob Junis to begin the eighth, with the ball deflecting off of center fielder Angel Martinez's glove. Lewis struck out, but Clemens dropped a bunt up the first base line that drew a throw home far too late to retire pinch runner DaShawn Keirsey Jr. as the Twins scored their first insurance run in Cleveland since 2019.

Cole Sands pitched a scoreless eighth inning, and Michael Tonkin was brought in to protect the 5-2 lead. It didn't go that well.

.216 hitter Nolan Jones drew a walk and rookie CJ Kayfus hit his first career hit, just over the outstretched glove of Alan Roden in right field. Bryan Rocchio singled to left and all of a sudden it was a 5-4 game. Tonkin retired Steven Kwan and was then relieved in favor of the legendary Erasmo Ramirez. He retired Schneeman and Ramirez on pop ups like it was nothing.

Stray Observations:

• The back of the Twins bullpen has obviously been eviscerated. However, last year at this time Cole Sands was an ascendant eighth inning guy, while Justin Topa was acquired from Seattle to pitch late in games as he did successfully in 2023. Michael Tonkin quietly has his best season in 2024, throwing 79 1/3 innings with 85 strikeouts. For a team that just traded away its five best relievers that could look a lot worse. Yeah, I'm coping.
• Wallner has shown some life lately, going 7-21 over his past seven games with three homers, a triple and five walks.

What’s Next: The Twins travel to Detroit to take on the division-leading Tigers. Simeon Woods Richardson (5-4, 4.24 ERA) was set to oppose Casey Mize (9-4, 3.43 ERA) to start the three game series. However, SWR has a stomach issue and Monday's starter is TBD. Mize is a former number one overall pick and is having his first real run of sustainable success following some initial struggles and Tommy John surgery that knocked out his 2022 and 2023 seasons. He has been terrible lately though, with a 6.32 ERA over his past four outings, and lasting only an inning and a third his last time out against Arizona.

Postgame Interviews:

Coming soon

Bullpen Usage Chart: