Article: Seattle 6, Twins 5: Kintzler Can’t Close it Out, Zunino Blasts Walk-Off HR

[Tom Froemming]

What’s worse, getting blown out or losing on a walkoff? The past two nights against the red-hot Mariners, the Twins have managed to do both. It appeared Brandon Kintzler was on his way to securing the victory, but a two-out hit followed by Mike Zunino’s second homer of the game gave the Twins a heart-breaking loss.Seattle 6, Twins 5

Box Score

 

Win Expectancy (via Fangraphs)

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Top 5 Plays (via Baseball-Reference)

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Kintzler opened the ninth by quickly getting two groundouts on seven total pitches. Ben Gamel hit a two-out single into center field on a 2-0 count to extend the game. Kintzler then fell behind Zunino 2-0, as well.

Download attachment: ZuninoHR.png

Image via Yahoo Sports

 

The Star Tribune’s Phil Miller shared this interesting tidbit regarding Zunino’s two-homer game:

Adalberto Mejia had a 5-2 lead as he entered the fifth inning, in which he gave up a run. In seven starts, Mejia has now factored into the decision in just two of them (1-1). Tyler Duffey gave up another run in the sixth, but managed to record seven outs. Taylor Rogers got the last two outs of the eighth, and was very impressive, topping out at 96 mph.

Download attachment: Rogers67.png

Image via Brooks Baseball

 

The only Twins hitters who failed to reach base were Robbie Grossman and Byron Buxton, and the team went 3-for-4 with runners in scoring position. Miguel Sano hit his 15th home run of the season, a three-run blast (see below). The only other extra-base hit was an Ehire Adrianza double.

Download attachment: SanoHR.jpg

Image via ESPN’s Home Run Tracker

 

The Twins made a number of roster moves prior to Wednesday’s game. Hector Santiago was placed on the 10-day DL and Jorge Polanco on the bereavement list. Kennys Vargas was recalled from Rochester and Chris Heston was claimed off waivers from the Dodgers. To make room on the 40 man, Nick Tepesch was released.

 

Highlights

 

Postgame With Molitor

 

Today

Kyle Gibson (7.23 ERA) vs. Christian Bergman (4.36 ERA)

In three starts since returning from Rochester, Gibson has a 5.63 ERA. Current Mariners have hit .232./.286/.348 off Gibby, with their only home run coming from Jarrod Dyson, who has gone deep just nine times in 1,740 career PAs. The only Twins hitter who has faced Bergman, a former Rockies pitcher, is Adrianza (1-for-3).

 

AL Central Standings

1. Twins 29-26

2. Cleveland 29-28 (-1.0)

3. Detroit 29-29 (-1.5)

4. Kansas City 26-32 (-4.5)

5. Chicago 25-32 (-5.0)

 

Make sure to check out the Minor League Report from Wednesday’s action. And here's a link to last night's Twins Daily game thread.

 

Click here to view the article

[Darius]

This pitching staff is embarrassing.

 

The difference between the current team, and a playoff contender this year, is the FO (more likely ownerships) unwillingness to fork out a few million bucks (5-10 million) to bring in some competent relievers.

 

Extremely frustrating for loyal fans of this incompetent franchise, who have been waiting a decade to see good baseball, while shelling out their cash to support them. They had a prime opportunity to be a very good team this year....but penny pinching always comes first wth them, no matter who the GM is.

[drjim]

This pitching staff is embarrassing.

 

The difference between the current team, and a playoff contender this year, is the FO (more likely ownerships) unwillingness to fork out a few million bucks (5-10 million) to bring in some competent relievers.

 

Extremely frustrating for loyal fans of this incompetent franchise, who have been waiting a decade to see good baseball, while shelling out their cash to support them. They had a prime opportunity to be a very good team this year....but penny pinching always comes first wth them, no matter who the GM is.

Easy solution is to stop spending money on the team.

[mikelink45]

There is a terrible sinking feeling. After a boost from Berrios our pitching keeps getting worse and the best get over used. How does this stop?

[drjim]

There is a terrible sinking feeling. After a boost from Berrios our pitching keeps getting worse and the best get over used. How does this stop?

The season eventually ends.

 

The combo of minimal moves in the offseason with basically the entire second wave going down with injury doesn't leave many opportunities for good outcomes.

[wabene]

Here I am excitedly reading a gamer on TD! and I get to the comments enter some weird interdimensional warp and end up in the dreaded Strib comment section. Yikes

[Tom Froemming]

 

Here I am excitedly reading a gamer on TD! and I get to the comments enter some weird interdimensional warp and end up in the dreaded Strib comment section. Yikes

Let the hate flow through you ... LOL

 

There were some bright spots if you're a glass half full type (Sano, Duffey, Rogers ... we'll toss Mejia in there, too). And the Mariners entered this series on a roll (this was their fifth-straight win, and they're 9-1 over their last 10), so give them some credit. 

 

But, on the other hand, the Twins have had some really ugly losses over their last 10 games. Sure, there was a nice series against a Trout-less (read: terrible) Angels team sandwiched in the middle, but if people wanna look at things with a glass half empty view, I get that too.

 

For me, the key is avoiding the series sweep tonight. There's no shame in taking 1-of-3 at Seattle.

[goulik]

We have to recognize that what was a thin pitching staff has been decimated by injuries to the MLB club and the MiLB reinforcements. Also, what everyone had expected to be a rebuilding .500 club has been better than expected despite the lack of starters and over extended relievers. Keeping the long view of 162 game baseball seasons, I'm just enjoying that were in first and that we have a legit lineup with good defense to build around.

[Dantes929]

 

This loss was tough. This is what happens when you go to war with roughly half of a competent MLB pitching staff. We just don't have enough and it's frustrating because we don't seem to be able to find reinforcements to solve that problem. The FO thinks the MiLB guys aren't then answer; that's why we are running through retread city to try to get lucky and find a band aid. I'd love to see them try Busenitz, Hildenberg, Turley  and/or Baxendale. We're going to have to kiss a lot of frogs to find our prince(s) so let's pucker up and get started.  

 

Having said all that, this is great fun compared to last year. We can come on here and talk about the Twins like fans of contending teams. It's great that losing a game like last night actually means something because we may wind up in a Wild Card race. This is great. 

It happens with every team and we had who we want in there at the end with the lead.     One bad pitch and give the guy credit for taking advantage of it.   Reminds me of when fans used to say we just didn't have the horses to compete with the Yankees.   While it was true that they were the better team there were games where we had an all star closer in Nathan with a lead in the 9th who was as close as a sure thing this side of the Yankees Rivera himself and he couldn't close the deal.   It ceases to be a matter of not having the horses when you have the guy you want on the mound with a lead in the 9th.    Its not that Kintzler is incapable.    He just threw a bad pitch and not the kind that Blyleven comments on which is results based.    It tailed into the middle of the plate rather than the corner.   It happens.   

Much as I like these game recaps I am a baseball fan so can't help but notice that we are 0-2 since Tom Froemming has started doing these.     Might be a bit of a reach since he writes them after the game but I don;t know what else to blame it on.

[Rosterman]

Kintzler is a ground ball pitcher...most of the time.

 

We still have a tough to swallow offense. Two stinkers right now (Buxton and catcher) plus a Dozier who is what he is, not what he was last year, up the middle. We have one guy performing better than expected (Sano) and another who is coming back but still a far cry from his great years (Mauer) and everyone else is basically...there...getting experience, maybe showing something, but how do we put those pieces together. Of course, you have to shake your head at the bench (what bench).

 

The rotation is still far from consistent. The bullpen remains a mess, with lots and lots of guys who you would keep on the roster mainly because you like them and can drag them out in non-pressure situations.

 

Is Kintzler a closer? I think not. Fine setup guy. But if he is a closer, we are losing him after this season and then what? Who are the twins even thinking of grooming to take his place (the return of Perkins).

 

We are seeing some light in the minors, but the guys are still at AA ball, sadly, so won't contribute until sometime next season.

 

Be interesting to see where the Twins are when they return for their upcoming homestand. Gotta sell those tickets now (full price) or try and wrangle flex packages (if you want post-season preference...wait, too early for that!).

[Tom Froemming]

 

Much as I like these game recaps I am a baseball fan so can't help but notice that we are 0-2 since Tom Froemming has started doing these.     Might be a bit of a reach since he writes them after the game but I don;t know what else to blame it on.

Ha! If they go on a 10-game losing streak or something crazy like that I'll take it as a sign from the Baseball Gods and stop.

 

Something rattling around in my head, and it's absolutely due to hindsight being 20/20, is that Molitor could've totally just left Rogers in for the ninth inning. He had only thrown eight pitches, and two of the first three batters due up for Seattle were lefties. If there was no such thing as saves, or closers, I think that's exactly what would've happened. But "The Book" says you go to your closer there, so hard to make a case against bringing Kintzler in there.

[akmanak]

Blown saves happen. Not the end of the world, but what usually does not happen is when you are almost midway through June and you are still letting a guy who is hitting .198 continue to stay in the game. The experiment is over and it is hurting the team. Trade Buxton.

[wsnydes]

 

Blown saves happen. Not the end of the world, but what usually does not happen is when you are almost midway through June and you are still letting a guy who is hitting .198 continue to stay in the game. The experiment is over and it is hurting the team. Trade Buxton.

Of all of the things wrong with this team, it's Buxton's fault?  The offense and defense are doing their jobs generally speaking, it's the pitching that is losing this team games.  That has very little do with Buxton.  I want him to hit better too, but he's not the problem.

[Jham]

Castro was sitting outside with Kintzler the whole night. Begging him to nibble and fall behind. His ball has crazy run and can bury on the hands of righted. Even just showing that pitch prevents that walkoff home run. Ok pitch, but he threw it 3 times in a row... you can't step out and go with the pitch of you're worried about it boring in on the hands. Poorly called in my mind.

[Kwak]

He only has one pitch--only one finger is needed.