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    Twins 6, Yankees 2: Start Spreadin' the News! The Twins Win!

    Steven Trefz

    By Steven Trefz

    With the season series, and 22 years of angst on the line, the Minnesota Twins put together a team effort and beat the Yankees 6-2 Tuesday evening at Target Field. Joe Ryan dazzled, the bats came alive in bursts, and the bullpen closed it out in easy fashion to send the crowd home happy. Here's how it all unfolded.

    Image courtesy of Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

    Twins Video

    Box Score
    SP: Joe Ryan  7 IP,  7 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 7 K (91 pitches, 72 strikes (79% strikes)
    Home Runs: Byron Buxton (4), Trevor Larnach (3)
    Top 3 WPA:  Byron Buxton .221, Jorge Polanco .197, Donovan Solano .108

    Win Probability Chart  

    image.png.8baf402e2f4c2ba84810c8055abea4a1.png

    If at First You Don't Succeed...
    Joe Ryan entered the game tied for the MLB league lead in wins, and looking to continue to silence the Yankee bats. 

    The Twins got the offense rolling in the bottom of the third inning, thanks to a ground ball by Michael A. Taylor that snuck through Anthony Volpe's glove (and Peraza's for that matter) for an error. After an eight-pitch at-bat in the first inning, Donovan Solano only needed five pitches to tie the game by lacing a double to left field.

    Not to be outdone, Jorge Polanco continued his red hot hitting by ripping a double of his own into left, scoring Solano to put the Twins in the lead, 2-1. 

    The Twins Giveth...
    In the top of the fifth inning, Donovan Solano allowed a "single" to Aaron Hicks on a smash grounder through his glove. Volpe followed with a smash single to left, and the Yankees were set up for success with two on and nobody out. Ryan battled, and was set to escape the inning after Aaron Judge hit into a 5-4-3 double play...except Solano forgot to catch the ball at first. This time it was an error which allowed Hicks to scamper around third to tie the game 2-2.

    (Twitter video not provided to protect Twins fans from having to see it again)

    The Yankees Giveth...
    After Cortes had retired eight Twins in a row, Polanco just kept rolling by blasting a deep fly ball to left-center for a "double" that everyone who has ever watched Hicks play outfield before was surprised that he didn't catch. Then Byron Buxton worked the count into his favor at 3-1, and drove a cutter to left field beyond where even Hicks could catch it.

    Not So Fast on that Joe Ryan Paragraph...
    Just when a TwinsDaily blogger thought it was safe to move the focus to the amazing Ryan and his pitching, the Yankees sent in lights-out RHP Ron Marinaccio to put out the fire in the bottom of the sixth. Of course, his 0.80 WHIP was no match for the blazing speed of Ryan Jeffers, who beat out an infield excuse-me grounder to third. Then, with two outs, the slugging lefty Larnach sent an 82.6 mph first pitch changeup out at 107.1 mph for a two-run blast!

    Ok, Now for the Joe Ryan Fanboy Paragraph (Or, 5-Joe, if you prefer)
    Pitcher "Wins" might not be the perfect stat to determine starting pitcher success in this sabermetric world, but Ryan earned his MLB-leading fifth win, and the Twins haven't lost a game that he's started yet this season. If that doesn't move a player into the "ace" status on your roster, I don't know what will. (*) I had the pleasure of meeting Joe before a game in Miami earlier this season, and I watched him take time for Twins fans of all ages, humbly and cheerfully thanking the fans for being there. We thank you, Joe Ryan, for being here. We like 20-game winners with fun personalities, and we think you fit that description awfully well.
    *one might argue also that a pitcher leading the league in ERA might also be an "ace." Or, giving a contract extension of four years and $73.5 million to the guy that most consider the team's best pitcher might also qualify for "ace" status. 

    Now for the Jorge Polanco Fanboy Paragraph
    Judging by the texts that flooded my phone tonight, many Twins fans are either celebrating or sobbing because of where Polanco has landed in their fantasy baseball league. One things Twins fans are in agreement on? He is single-handedly rebuilding our hope in the Twins offense and defense with plays like this in the top of the eighth. I think Jorge Lopez's facial expression is all the evidence you need about how good it is to have Polanco back.

    Closing Out a Season Series Victory Against the Yankees
    For the first time since 2001, the Twins will win the season series against the New York Yankees. Some of you weren't even born yet, but you know the angst that's followed. Tonight's a night to celebrate Twins Territory! Let's get out the brooms tomorrow!

    Other notes
    With their 6-2 victory tonight, the Twins stretch their early lead in the AL Central to three games over the Cleveland Guardians, who continue to be overmatched at home versus the Colorado Rockies.

    What’s Next? 
    The Twins play their final game of the season series against the Yankees on Wednesday afternoon with Kenta Maeda returning to face off against the sticky pitches of Domingo German. First pitch is scheduled for 12:10 p.m. 

    Postgame Interview 

    Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

      FRI SAT SUN MON TUE TOT
    Jax 31 0 0 23 0 54
    López 16 0 7 0 10 33
    Thielbar 12 0 18 0 0 30
    Durán 0 0 11 0 15 26
    Moran 0 0 0 24 0 24
    Headrick 0 3 0 0 0 3
    Pagan 0 0 0 0 0 0
    Stewart 0 0 0 0 0 0

     

    Follow Steve Trefz on Twitter: @TwinsTrefz
     

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    Featured Comments

    chinmusic

    chinmusic 915

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    11 hours ago, jkcarew said:

    In the 21 seasons (2002-2022) during this streak, the Twins finished with a better record than the Yankees exactly one time. 2020, the strike-shortened season, when…you guessed it…the Twins and Yankees didn’t play during the regular season.

    Wow! Quite a remarkable and telling stat.

    Monkeypaws

    Monkeypaws 3,358

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    Kind of surprised (and happy) to find out that the Twins have 4 more years of control on Joe Ryan after this season.

    His career line so far reads like a season of a Cy Young contender:

    20-9

    3.50 ERA

    205.2 IP

    153 hits allowed

    217 K

    56 BB

    etc.

    Battle ur tail off

    Battle ur tail off 1,666

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    13 hours ago, stringer bell said:

    The pitching has been outstanding so far this year and I think there's reason to believe it will be really good all year. What it means is they can make a bad play and still survive and also they don't always need four runs. 

    Here is the thing. So far against good teams, they have won series. Last year they seemed overmatched against these teams. And the pitching has surely been the difference this year.

    Beating Houston in a series and taking the season series from the Yankees is a good start to the year.

    Battle ur tail off

    Battle ur tail off 1,666

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    2 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

    I figured the Twins were going to have to get lucky and have some of the young guys step up to drag this offense out of the mud, but if they can get 2019 or 2021 Polanco back, that would be the biggest boost they could ask for.

    He is the twins best overall hitter IMO. Takes great at bats, can hit from both sides, has enough power, doesn't strike out much and walks a fair amount as well. A season like 2021 from him and healthy and we will go far. Even something in between what he was last year and 2021 and he will be a huge asset to the lineup.

    h2oface

    h2oface 8,909

  • Old-Timey Member

    • Posted

    3 hours ago, Don't Feed the Greed Guy said:

    Koosman was traded from the Mets to the Twins for Jesse Orosco! Orosco would go on to pitch in the big leagues for 24 years before retiring in 2003 at age 46, after appearing in eight games for the Minnesota Twins. 

    Still with me? Koosman won 20 games for the Twins in 1979. How many wins will Joe Ryan collect in 2023? 

    Note: No one has won 20 games since Cole and Verlander did it in 2019.

    Don't tell Kyle Wright that.

    https://www.mlb.com/news/kyle-wright-wins-20th-game-of-2022#:~:text=Kyle Wright wins 20th game of 2022

    Or Julio Urias.

    https://www.mlb.com/news/julio-urias-20th-win-2021

    rick kayser

    rick kayser 25

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    The Yankees, in my memory there is a vault that I rarely open. I grew as a Twins fan in the late 60s, a period where the Twins were ascendent  and the Yankees decades long rule was in shambles, think 1965. Then came free-agency, Clark Griffith vs.Joe Steinbrenner, we didn't spend and Joe did! We were descending into a 4A franchise. I will skip the late 70s and 80s, too painful. In the following decade we won 2 World Series, riding the backs of home grown talent and astute player additions. More recently, even with good teams the Yankees dominated, more like the play "Damn Yankees" than real life.

    Now, a single early season series brings back my Yankee memories, both good and bad, an aging Mantle, a young Pucket, Carew with Billy Martin in 1969, Butch Weinagar and Knoblock to the Yankees, (but not Hrbek).

    Bob Allison and Caesar Tovar, Bill White and seemingly a few hundred next Mantles flow through my memories, all triggered by a single win.

     

    jkcarew

    jkcarew 8,314

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    1 hour ago, chinmusic said:

    Wow! Quite a remarkable and telling stat.

    Yeah. Not that the Twins were horrific over that stretch...they were slightly over 500 2002-2022.

    But the Yankees were being the Yankees. The Yankees won 267 more games than the Twins over that span...an average of over 12 games better each year. And to make it tougher on the Twins, when the Yankees had bad years (i.e., barely over 500)...those years lined up with the Twins truly horrific seasons of the 20-teens.

    chinmusic

    chinmusic 915

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    18 minutes ago, jkcarew said:

    And to make it tougher on the Twins, when the Yankees had bad years (i.e., barely over 500)...those years lined up with the Twins truly horrific seasons of the 20-teens.

    After my post, I thought, wait a minute, the Bomba Squad won 101. Sure enough, the Yanks clocked in at 103 in 2019! And none of this even takes the Twins abysmal post season numbers against New York into account.

    I have a feeling the Twins will win this aft, to put an (!) on the season series, AND a little German payback.

    Hope I'm right...

    Don't Feed the Greed Guy

    Don't Feed the Greed Guy 564

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    1 hour ago, h2oface said:

    Don't tell Kyle Wright that.

    https://www.mlb.com/news/kyle-wright-wins-20th-game-of-2022#:~:text=Kyle Wright wins 20th game of 2022

    Or Julio Urias.

    https://www.mlb.com/news/julio-urias-20th-win-2021

    Oops, I was looking at an AL list. Thanks for being a good editor. 

    ashbury

    ashbury 60,787

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    5 hours ago, mikelink45 said:

    and I do wish the scorers would use their discretion to give wins to the most deserving.

    Just to be clear, what you wish is for the rule book to give the scorer that discretion in more games.  Currently the only time the scorer has discretion is when the starting pitcher goes less than 5 but leaves with a lead that is never relinquished - so the only "pitcher of record" when the lead is taken for good is that starter, but he's ineligible.

    JD-TWINS

    JD-TWINS 6,212

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    16 hours ago, Althebum82 said:

    Impressive win against Jim Kaat's favorite rhyming Nestor!

    Looking forward to Maeda's best effort so far this year so maybe the Twins can add "series sweep" on top of season win honors against this opponent in 2023.

    Commenting in middle of Wednesday contest. Picked it up in middle of 4th - Kenta appears to have gotten rocked with 5 ER in two different innings.

    Time for a change - when you have depth, there’s no reason to experiment and give extra chances hoping for better outcomes. Give St. Paul a call & move Bailey Ober into the 5th slot.

    Headrick seems to be doing OK today (1 run through 3 1/3) so he seems to be a competent long guy for the near-term. Maeda needs to join him in the Pen for the month of May…….then re-evaluate.

    Those 2, along with the López - Jax - Duran - Thielbar - Alcala - Morán - & a new guy for Pagán would be a nice relief corp - maybe not perfect but pretty nice!!

     

    ……………………..

    Whoever said we shouldn’t have signed Joey Gallo needs to write a formal apology as I am here……….Sorry Joe! …….,Sorry FO! 7th dinger on the 26th of April……..he was out 10 days on IL as well!!

    Wow, when right, he’s a monster. Gold Glove outfielder that has played a flawless 1B every time he’s on the field!

    ………………………

    Today’s game seems to be a proving ground for Headrick - a break-out day for Miranda….2 HR - and even Nick Gordon just tripled in the gap.

    JD-TWINS

    JD-TWINS 6,212

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    3 hours ago, Battle ur tail off said:

    Here is the thing. So far against good teams, they have won series. Last year they seemed overmatched against these teams. And the pitching has surely been the difference this year.

    Beating Houston in a series and taking the season series from the Yankees is a good start to the year.

    Until Kenta blew up today with 10 runs in less than 4 innings, our starters were leading the Majors in ERA at 2.62 runs per 9 innings. Fantastic!! Bailey Ober gave up 1 run in 6 innings……….time to make him a regular in the rotation.

    mikelink45

    mikelink45 17,670

  • Old-Timey Member

    • Posted

    4 hours ago, ashbury said:

    Just to be clear, what you wish is for the rule book to give the scorer that discretion in more games.  Currently the only time the scorer has discretion is when the starting pitcher goes less than 5 but leaves with a lead that is never relinquished - so the only "pitcher of record" when the lead is taken for good is that starter, but he's ineligible.

    from MLB.com - 

    Definition

    A pitcher receives a win when he is the pitcher of record when his team takes the lead for good -- with a couple rare exceptions. First, a starting pitcher must pitch at least five innings (in a traditional game of nine innings or longer) to qualify for the win. If he does not, the official scorer awards the win to the most effective relief pitcher.

    There is also a rarely used clause where an official scorer can deem a relief pitcher's appearance "brief and ineffective." (For example, if a reliever relinquished a one-run lead by allowing three runs, but was still in line for a win after his team scored four runs in the following inning -- that may qualify.) If that's the case, the scorer can award the win to a pitcher who followed that "brief and ineffective" pitcher. Which relief pitcher earns the win specifically is also up to the judgment of the official scorer.

    ashbury

    ashbury 60,787

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    12 minutes ago, mikelink45 said:

    from MLB.com - 

    Definition

    A pitcher receives a win when he is the pitcher of record when his team takes the lead for good -- with a couple rare exceptions. First, a starting pitcher must pitch at least five innings (in a traditional game of nine innings or longer) to qualify for the win. If he does not, the official scorer awards the win to the most effective relief pitcher.

    There is also a rarely used clause where an official scorer can deem a relief pitcher's appearance "brief and ineffective." (For example, if a reliever relinquished a one-run lead by allowing three runs, but was still in line for a win after his team scored four runs in the following inning -- that may qualify.) If that's the case, the scorer can award the win to a pitcher who followed that "brief and ineffective" pitcher. Which relief pitcher earns the win specifically is also up to the judgment of the official scorer.

    Okay, so that's two.  "Rarely used" and I forgot about the second, so thank you.  Still doesn't mean the scorer can willy nilly award the W to the pitcher of his choice, most of the time.  If an official scorer tries to do that even once, they'll stand to be fired.

    When the starter goes a strong 6 or 7, the bullpen coughs up the lead, but the team comes back to win, the starter still gets bupkis, even though we'd all prefer to award him the Win.  A pitcher who is among the league leaders in Wins can hardly be a "bad" pitcher but I still prefer ERA or other measures to assess who is really good.



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