Twins 5, Red Sox 4: Lee Swings Like the Wind to a Walk Off Win

Box Score
SP: Simeon Woods Richardson 4.2 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K (99 pitches, 58 strikes (58.6%)
Home Runs: DaShawn Keirsey Jr. (2)
Top 3 WPA: Brooks Lee (0.395), Mickey Gasper (0.241), DeShawn Kiersey Jr (0.211)

Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs) 

The Minnesota Twins made their first move of the trade deadline and it signaled "sell" as Chris Paddack became a member of the Detroit Tigers. With the Boston Red Sox in town, a team ahead of the Twins for a wild card spot, would the team on the field concede and also declare sell Monday evening? 

The Twins first inning got off to a weird and rocky start. First was a Roman Anthony hit right back at Woods Richardson that bounced off the right-hander's glove. When Woods Richardson gathered the ball, he threw an errant throw that made it to the wall and was lodged under the padding. Giving Anthony second base. The second batter was Alex Bregman, and his hit also went off Woods Richardson’s glove, putting runners on the corner. 

Impressively, the Twins starter was able to escape the first inning without allowing a run. Woods Richardson struck out two batters and was helped for the second out by Willie Castro. Castro was able to position himself well on a fly ball to left field in a way that Anthony did not even attempt to tag up and test a throw to home.

Is DaShawn Kiersey Jr. Auditioning?
Depending on just how much more selling the Twins participate in, DaShawn Kiersey Jr. could see his playing time rise if he can prove he deserves it. Hopefully, the Twins front office is watching as Kiersey Jr. puts a great swing on a ball in the third inning for an opposite-field home run to drive in Christian Vazquez and put the Twins up 2-0. 

The left-handed hitter hasn’t had much opportunity to hit this season, being limited to 74 at-bats. If Harrison Bader leaves the Twins as a rental, Kiersey Jr. would have an opportunity to grab at-bats down the stretch of the season. 

Chance to Add Runs Squandered
The Twins had a chance in the fourth inning to add to their lead as Kody Clemens walked, Royce Lewis singled, and a long shot to center field from Matt Wallner that resulted in a single, had the team with the bases loaded and no outs. As the television broadcast stated, that scenario gave the Twins a 2.69 run expectancy. 

Instead of scoring, the Twins walked away with zero runs as Ty France struck out and Christian Vazquez grounded into a double play to end the inning. That fourth inning feels like a description of the Twins offense in 2025 and exactly what has been frustrating to watch. 

Woods Richardson a Third Time Through the Lineup?
The Twins have been described as reluctant to allow Woods Richardson to face the lineup a third time this season. While the numbers don’t prove to be that awful as the Twins pitcher has allowed a .206 average and .649 OPS, it has seemed to be a strategy of the Twins. Although maybe the reluctance (if two-thirds of the time can be considered that) has helped keep Woods Richardson's numbers looking good. 

It was the third time through the order that did Woods Richardson in on Monday evening, after what had been a good outing into the fifth inning, that all was erased on an Alex Bregman swing that found the seats. With two runners on, that gave the Red Sox a 3-2 lead over the Twins. Even if the third time through the order narrative isn’t a true trend, it seems like an interesting spot to choose to let Woods Richardson continue when the Twins and Rocco Baldelli hadn’t often enough. Is it a further sign of the Twins selling as the week goes on? 

Jorge Alcala to the Rescue
Don’t worry, you didn’t misremember a trade that happened earlier this season. Jorge Alcala is back in the Twin Cities, but still in a Red Sox uniform. This time, his ability to shrink in the big moments helped the Twins out. With Lewis on first, Alcala threw a wild pitch, advancing Lewis to second. Lewis would advance again to third as catcher Carlos Narvaez couldn’t handle an Alcala pitch. 

Harrison Bader was the batter as a pinch hitter during the wild throwing and would make it to third on a walk. It was Vazquez who was able to hit a sacrifice fly, which allowed Lewis to tag up and tie the game at 3-3. It likely felt good for Vazquez to get some runs across after not being able to in the fourth inning. 

Walks Haunt
With a walk to Abraham Toro to lead the ninth inning, David Hamilton came on to pinch run. Hamilton has a reputation for being a great base stealer, and every bit of that was showcased at Target Field. First, Hamilton stole second, and if it wasn’t for a crafty play by the veteran Correa, Hamilton should have been standing on third as the ball made its way into the outfield. It didn’t matter much as Hamilton went ahead and stole third as well. An Anthony single later, and the Red Sox put themselves up 4-3. 

All of Twins Territory was able to "enjoy" an intermission in the middle of the ninth inning as a strong storm system made its way through the state. Once the weather had passed, the Twins got ready to try and erase the one run Boston was now ahead of them. They would have to go through flamethrower Jordan Hicks to do so. 

Brooks Lee is the Hero
Kiersey Jr. was able to continue is good night at the plate with a single to lead the inning. Mickey Gasper entered the game and wore a pitch to put himself on the basepaths. Willi Castro was also hit by a pitch, loading the bases for Carlos Correa. Correa hit a grounder, and Kiersey Jr. was thrown out at home plate. 

All wasn't lost as the bases were still loaded with one out. Next came Brooks Lee, hitting from the left side of the plate. Lee quickly went down 0-2 in the count, but took a swing at the third pitch and the first fastball he saw and lined it to left field. It was enough to bring around two runs and end the game in a Twins win. 

The team on the field showed Monday night they are not ready to call it a season quite yet. If there is any slim chance of them fighting back into the playoff picture, a win against a Boston team you are looking up at in the standings is a good step towards that. 

What’s Next?
It has been reported that Pierson Ohl is getting the call-up and making his major league debut Tuesday evening. Since his promotion to St. Paul, Ohl has pitched in seven games, three of those starts. In those 22 ⅓ innings, the 25-year-old right-hander has a 2.82 ERA. Veteran Lucas Giolito will take the mound for the Red Sox. Giolito is bringing into the contest a 3.97 ERA and a 6-2 record. 

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