Twins 7, Royals 1: Big Arms Bring Back Bombas

Box Score
SP: Tyler Mahle 4.0 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K (66 pitches, 44 strikes (66.0%)
Home Runs: Byron Buxton (5), Carlos Correa (3)
Top 3 WPA: Byron Buxton (.118), Tyler Mahle (.108), Trevor Larnach (.085)

Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)

 

Early Run Support Brings the Energy
Tyler Mahle got some great run support to start the game, which he hasn’t had much of this season. In Mahle’s six games this season, he has allowed nine earned runs.  In three of those games, the Twins offense simply couldn’t get anything started,  getting no more than two runs. 

That was not the case on this night. The Twins offense started strong and showed no signs of slowing down. In the first inning, the Twins started with a couple of singles before Trevor Larnach singled to bring Carlos Correa home for the first run of the game. The Twins scored two more runs in the second inning, for a 3-0 lead over Zack Greinke. 

Is Buck Back?
Since April 19th, Buxton has had a hit or run in all but one of his appearances. He started this game 0-for-2, but in the bottom of the fourth inning, Buck launched a 419 foot, three-run, home run off Zach Grienke’s 73 MPH breaking ball, breaking the lead open by five more runs. 

Carlos Correa, who has also been on a streak, hit a solo home run immediately following Buxton’s. The back-to-back bombs got the crowd going and gave Grienke a trip back to the dugout. The Twins have had five home runs in the last three games. 

Deep Threat Pitching
Mahle only saw four innings before the Twins brought reliever Brock Stewart to the mound in the fifth. 31-year-old Stewart made his Twins debut after spending rehabbing in 2022 and the start of 2023 in St. Paul. Stewart was originally drafted by the Dodgers in 2014 in round six (189th over all). He elected into free agency in 2021 and was picked up on a minor-league contract with the Twins on July 14, 2022, and has been in the system ever since. He had a great return to the big leagues. He threw two scoreless innings. He gave up only a single and struck out three batters. A great start for the newly-minted Twin. 

In the eighth inning, it was announced that Mahle left the game because he was feeling some pain in his elbow. There was no further information and Mahle will be evaluated. Following the game, he noted that he didn't think he'd need to miss a start, but that obviously is yet to be determined. 

Jovani Moran and Johan Duran finished out the game with no further damage from the Royals, sealing the deal on the first win of the series. The Twins are 6-1 against AL Central teams.

What’s Next? 
The Twins will continue with three more games in the Royals series at Target field with these pitching match-ups: 

Friday, April 28, 3:10pm CST: RHP Pablo Lopez (1-2, 3.00ERA) v. RHP Jordan Lyles (0-4, 4.88ERA)
Saturday, April 29, 1:10pm CST: RHP Sonny Gray (3-0, .62 ERA) v. RHP Brad Keller (2-2, 3.96ERA)
Sunday April 30, 1:10pm CST: RHP Joe Ryan (4-0, 3.24 ERA) v. RHP Brady Singer (102, 8.14ERA)

Postgame Interviews

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet