Article: MIN 3, SDP 1: Rosario Hits Walk-Off HR in 10th Inning

[Tom Froemming]

Eddie Rosario blasted a walk-off homer in the 10th inning to deliver a victory and put a happy end to what could have been a frustrating loss. Ervin Santana pitched 6.0 shutout innings and Matt Belisle threw the final 1.2 frames to pick up the win.Snapshot (chart via Fangraphs)

Download attachment: Snapshot913.png

We knew it was unlikely the Twins would explode for double-digit runs again, but one night after slugging seven homers they really struggled to scratch across runs. Their lone run prior to extras came in the second inning. Rosario hit a leadoff double. He scored, but it was thanks to a wild pitch followed by a throwing error.

The first inning ended with a strike ‘em out, throw ‘em out. Jorge Polanco, who had a full count, watched strike three go by and Joe Mauer was easily thrown out trying to steal. Polanco led off the fourth inning with a single, which was followed by an Eddie Rosario walk. But Byron Buxton, Max Kepler and Eduardo Escobar were retired in order.

 

The Twins got their lead off man aboard again in the sixth, as Mauer singled. Polanco bunted him over to second, but that’s as far as Mauer would go. Again, Polanco was the number three hitter tonight. He bunted. This is a regular thing now, I guess.

 

In the seventh, the Twins once again got their leadoff man on. Kepler singled, Escobar followed suit and Jason Castro was hit by a pitch to load the bases with nobody out. Robbie Grossman grounded into a double play and Brian Dozier struck out to end the threat.

 

In the eighth, Polanco hit a one-out single and Buxton dropped a bunt for a two-out hit. With a tough lefty in Brad Hand on the mound, Ehire Adrianza pinch hit for Kepler (.129/.198/.168 vs LHP this season), but could not deliver.

 

But this team, as it has all year, just kept fighting. As much fun as I like to poke at Paul Molitor for the ridiculous bunting, his club has clearly taken heart to his message of no retreat, no surrender. Mauer hit a one-out single in the 10th before Rosario ended it with two down.

 

Postgame With Rosario

Standings

The Yankees beat Tampa Bay, and remain 3.0 games in front of the Twins. At the time this published, the Twins held a 2.5 game advantage over the Angels, but they were beating the Astros 9-0.

 

Bullpen Usage

Here’s a quick look at the number of pitches thrown by the bullpen over the past five days:

Download attachment: Bullpen913.png

Looking Ahead

Thu: Twins (Jose Berrios) vs. Blue Jays (Brett Anderson), 7:10 pm CT

Fri: Twins (Bartolo Colon) vs. Blue Jays (J.A. Happ), 7:10 pm CT

Sat: Twins (Adalberto Mejia) vs. Blue Jays (Marco Estrada), 6:10 pm CT

 

Looking Back

MIN 16, SDP 0: Twins Hit 7 HRs, Set New Record

KC 11, MIN 3: Big Dud from Big Sexy & Co.

KC 5, MIN 2: Molitor Pushes All the Wrong Buttons in Loss

 

Click here to view the article

[jimbo92107]

I was sitting in the Paradise Lounge, a bar in San Diego with a buddy, eating a Cobb salad, watching the last few innings of the Twins / Padres game. When Rosario came up bottom of the 10th, I said to my buddy, "Watch out for this guy. Best hands since Rod Carew." 

 

BOOOOM! Hahahahaha! 

 

I do like how Rosie is laying off the outside stuff now. He's still a little vulnerable to high stuff, but apparently the SD pitcher didn't know about that. Man oh man, did he crank that inside pitch. How the heck did he avoid hooking it foul? Good hands, brother. Good hands. 

[h2oface]

As we celebrate this great victory tonight, I see that our Twins are 6-6 in September. This is all against teams with sub .500 records. I hope the boys can bear down and the manager can field the best team and not worry about checking out prospects for next year. Coming up - 6 of the remaining 17 games are against the Yankees (3 games at Yankee Stadium, and now 3 games back of the first wild card and home field, and in case of a tie, we lead the season series 2-1) and 3 on the road against Cleveland! After the upcoming 4 game series against Toronto at home, 10 games on the road. We have not taken advantage of gaining ground on .500 against losing teams. It will be imperative to be more than a .500 team to close out the schedule. 

[Circus Boy]

Two things...

 

1. During the telly broadcast it was flashed that the Twins are 42-17 this year when their pitchers deliver quality starts. This seems incredible. Do other teams have similar results?

 

2. From the bullpen usage chart, whoever started Monday really gave the relievers a much needed rest. 

[Tom Froemming]

 

2. From the bullpen usage chart, whoever started Monday really gave the relievers a much needed rest. 

The Twins were off on Monday

[gil4]

From the bullpen usage chart, whoever started Monday really gave the relievers a much needed rest.

 

 

The Twins were off on Monday

Last year we would have counted that as a win. And a quality start.

[amjgt]

Did Rogers, Duffy, and Boshers really all just throw one pitch on Saturday?

[Tom Froemming]

 

Did Rogers, Duffy, and Boshers really all just throw one pitch on Saturday?

Yup, used five relievers to throw a total of 16 pitches in that game. 

[Loosey]

 

As we celebrate this great victory tonight, I see that our Twins are 6-6 in September. This is all against teams with sub .500 records. I hope the boys can bear down and the manager can field the best team and not worry about checking out prospects for next year. Coming up - 6 of the remaining 17 games are against the Yankees (3 games at Yankee Stadium, and now 3 games back of the first wild card and home field, and in case of a tie, we lead the season series 2-1) and 3 on the road against Cleveland! After the upcoming 4 game series against Toronto at home, 10 games on the road. We have not taken advantage of gaining ground on .500 against losing teams. It will be imperative to be more than a .500 team to close out the schedule. 

Actually I would assume a .500 record will get them in based on the teams chasing.  9-8 will be 85 wins.  outside of the Angels who have a horribly tough schedule coming up, the rest of the team will need to be about 12-5 to get to 84 wins.

[DocBauer]

That was fun!

 

If I were to pick at anything, it would be failing to score more when we had some golden opportunities. Just a shame Santana couldn't have gotten the win.

 

Blow them out or win in dramatic fashion in the 10th, winning is still winning. Just imagine a little more clutch hitting and a little better pitching. Wow!

[tw1ns]

Who throws a bucket of bubble gum THAT hard at a guy? ....could've poked an eye out Kennys Vargas!!!  

[laloesch]

I can't stand watching the horrible free swinging Rosario.  He's easily replaceable. 

 

TRADE HIM!!!!!! Trade him for pitching already!  LOL

[Mike Sixel]

 

I can't stand watching the horrible free swinging Rosario.  He's easily replaceable. 

 

TRADE HIM!!!!!! Trade him for pitching already!  LOL

 

Here's the weird thing....most of the people saying the Twins should consider trading him think he has real value, and could possibly return a real pitcher and a prospect. It's the other side that says he's not worth that much. 

 

Most of the people saying trade him, not all and not hte OP, are saying it because they think the Twins can get by better with Buxton, Kepler, FA/Wade/Granite and a legit SP, than they can with a FA SP or someone from the minors while keeping Eddie.

 

Because, if you want to get good value back, you have to give up good value.

[Vanimal46]

 

I was sitting in the Paradise Lounge, a bar in San Diego with a buddy, eating a Cobb salad, watching the last few innings of the Twins / Padres game. When Rosario came up bottom of the 10th, I said to my buddy, "Watch out for this guy. Best hands since Rod Carew." 

 

BOOOOM! Hahahahaha! 

 

I do like how Rosie is laying off the outside stuff now. He's still a little vulnerable to high stuff, but apparently the SD pitcher didn't know about that. Man oh man, did he crank that inside pitch. How the heck did he avoid hooking it foul? Good hands, brother. Good hands. 

 

You're burying the lead here.... You went to a bar, and ordered Cobb Salad?! 

No chili cheese fries, burger, or onion rings?!

[Doubles]

Two key underrated elements of last night's game:

 

Busenitz retiring Wil Myers in the top of the eighth, with runners on first & third.

 

Belisle popping up Hedges in the top of the ninth, with runners on first & second.  

 

Humangous big outs, both of 'em.

 

 

[Doubles]

On Rosario-  His AB in the 10th inning is a perfect example of how he's coming around.  Takes the 1-0 pitch just inches off the outside corner, putting himself into a hitter's count at 2-0.  Pitcher Maton grooves one, and Rosario pounds it.

 

No way he lays off that 1-0 pitch last season.  Maybe not even in April or May.  But this is a great example of a guy maturing as a hitter, if you can see that in one single AB.

[John Kelsey]

I was there last night, pretty frustrating game up to that point. 

 

We were about to leave in the 10th and as we were walking towards the plaza I said "lets stick around and watch this half inning." The crowd had thinned out considerably when Rosario hit his bomb but that was the happiest group of Twins fans I've seen in years. 

[gunnarthor]

Eddie is becoming one of my favorite players to watch. He's fun. He hits. He's done a terrific job in cutting down the strike outs and increasing walks. Teams have to throw him more strikes and he's really understanding what they teams are going to do. 

[Dantes929]

 

As we celebrate this great victory tonight, I see that our Twins are 6-6 in September. This is all against teams with sub .500 records. I hope the boys can bear down and the manager can field the best team and not worry about checking out prospects for next year. Coming up - 6 of the remaining 17 games are against the Yankees (3 games at Yankee Stadium, and now 3 games back of the first wild card and home field, and in case of a tie, we lead the season series 2-1) and 3 on the road against Cleveland! After the upcoming 4 game series against Toronto at home, 10 games on the road. We have not taken advantage of gaining ground on .500 against losing teams. It will be imperative to be more than a .500 team to close out the schedule. 

There are losing teams and there are losing teams.   The ones the Twins have played are those that are within a game or so of .500 and also playing for the WC spot and 7 of those were on the road.    Really not so bad when you consider the Twins are barely above .500 themselves.    Odds makers would probably have said we should win 6.5 of the games in September thus far.    We don't know what is imperative to close out the schedule.   There is a very good chance that 8-9 will get it done but always the possibility of someone getting really hot and making 10-7 not good enough.    If I could bank 9-8 I would but like I said we don't know what it will take.  

[jimbo92107]

 

You're burying the lead here.... You went to a bar, and ordered Cobb Salad?! 

No chili cheese fries, burger, or onion rings?!

It gets worse, I'm afraid. It was Steak Night at the Paradise, and they have a really good steak dinner for about $15 bucks. It's just that I had too much meat lately, and I had to stop... Same with the fries, the burger, and the rings. I gotta lose a few pounds before I can't see my feet without a mirror. 

 

The Paradise has surprisingly good food, for a local bar. Except the enchiladas, I'd avoid those. 

[the blade]

 

It gets worse, I'm afraid. It was Steak Night at the Paradise, and they have a really good steak dinner for about $15 bucks. It's just that I had too much meat lately, and I had to stop... Same with the fries, the burger, and the rings. I gotta lose a few pounds before I can't see my feet without a mirror. 

 

The Paradise has surprisingly good food, for a local bar. Except the enchiladas, I'd avoid those. 

What kind of drink specials do they have?  How are the bartenders?  Decent pour? Do they have restroom attendants?  I hate how I spend my time peeing worrying about whether to tip or not...  

[the blade]

 

Here's the weird thing....most of the people saying the Twins should consider trading him think he has real value, and could possibly return a real pitcher and a prospect. It's the other side that says he's not worth that much. 

 

Most of the people saying trade him, not all and not hte OP, are saying it because they think the Twins can get by better with Buxton, Kepler, FA/Wade/Granite and a legit SP, than they can with a FA SP or someone from the minors while keeping Eddie.

 

Because, if you want to get good value back, you have to give up good value.

I agree, and I'd add that you have to give both Kepler and Rosario time to accrue said value.   Young players in the league get better.  Even older ones do as well.  Ultimately we don't know what we have with our corner outfielders, but it sure is fun to watch them grow.  Especially Rosario now, sweet swing, better at bats, and a flair from the dramatic.  I don't get how any fan of baseball would want to trade him, he's a delight to watch.  He's one of the best players on the team and the Twins are not where they are without him.  And quite frankly he's got some swagger, something the Twins could use.

[Doomtints]

If Rosario isn't the Twins best hitter this year he is in the top 2 or 3. This is just more proof that going with the herd mentality is tomfoolery. Always ignore all noise from anyone wanting to ditch young, promising players, regardless of how loud it gets.

 

Now if he can just get his defense back on track....

[USAFChief]

 

On Rosario-  His AB in the 10th inning is a perfect example of how he's coming around.  Takes the 1-0 pitch just inches off the outside corner, putting himself into a hitter's count at 2-0.  Pitcher Maton grooves one, and Rosario pounds it.

 

No way he lays off that 1-0 pitch last season.  Maybe not even in April or May.  But this is a great example of a guy maturing as a hitter, if you can see that in one single AB.

I also like that when he got to 2-0, he was looking for a specific pitch to turn on and hit onto the plaza.

He wasn't looking to take that pitch, or slice it to left for a single.  Two outs, favorable count, chance to end the game with one swing, and he took that chance.  It doesn't always work out, but that's exactly what a hitter should be looking to do in any similar situation.

[Mike Sixel]

 

If Rosario isn't the Twins best hitter this year he is in the top 2 or 3. This is just more proof that going with the herd mentality is tomfoolery. Always ignore all noise from anyone wanting to ditch young, promising players, regardless of how loud it gets.

 

Now if he can just get his defense back on track....

 

I guess if we also ignore all the young players that don't turn out....sure. I'll mention Danny Santana here as an example...

[ThejacKmp]

 

I also like that when he got to 2-0, he was looking for a specific pitch to turn on and hit onto the plaza.

He wasn't looking to take that pitch, or slice it to left for a single.  Two outs, favorable count, chance to end the game with one swing, and he took that chance.  It doesn't always work out, but that's exactly what a hitter should be looking to do in any similar situation.

 

Agree to a point. I think you need to understand who you are as a player.

 

Joe Mauer, Professional Hitter, is the guy he is because he treats every single at bat the same. He's not chasing or sitting on a pitch because it's the 9th - he's giving you the same at-bat every time. He's castigated for walking in big moments but that's who he is and that's what makes him good.

 

Eddie Rosario is a guy who swings and falls down, who steals 3B with two outs in the eighth. He's an energy, high-risk guy. He's a guy who needs to feel that adrenaline and use it in a constructive manner. Love that he's swinging for the fences there but wouldn't want Mauer to. Wouldn't work for Mauer.

[nytwinsfan]

Please please please I'm begging of Paul Molitor, no more bunting. Please. Especially from the middle of your lineup hitters early in a game. PLEASE. Just say no to bunting.

[ThejacKmp]

 

There are losing teams and there are losing teams.   The ones the Twins have played are those that are within a game or so of .500 and also playing for the WC spot and 7 of those were on the road.    Really not so bad when you consider the Twins are barely above .500 themselves.    Odds makers would probably have said we should win 6.5 of the games in September thus far.    We don't know what is imperative to close out the schedule.   There is a very good chance that 8-9 will get it done but always the possibility of someone getting really hot and making 10-7 not good enough.    If I could bank 9-8 I would but like I said we don't know what it will take.  

 

Agreed. .500 is such an arbitrary number, like dividing a player up by months (what if they're really good from August 15 to Sept 15 but terrible before and after?) All of the coverage on ESPN etc. talks about above .500 and below .500 teams like that's a boundary that matters. Playing Toronto is really different than playing the Tigers or the Padres (God that Padres lineup was terrible - Myers was the only guy you were afraid of).

[ThejacKmp]

 

Please please please I'm begging of Paul Molitor, no more bunting. Please. Especially from the middle of your lineup hitters early in a game. PLEASE. Just say no to bunting.

 

It's crazy, we should all be aboard the extend Molitor train and I get the feeling that we all would be if he would just stop with THE FREAKING BUNTING. There are some issues with handling the bullpen but given the pen he's working with, there really isn't a great decision much of the time. We think about Dozier hitting third but generally get that if it ain't broke, don't fix it and maybe it's what helps the rest of the guys. But the bunting . . . we just can't get past the bunting. It's so patently absurd.

 

Maybe it's time to start complaining about the FO? At this point, they are confederates in Molly's I'm-going-to-bunt-every-chance-I-get-no-matter-the-batter-or-situation conspiracy.

[DaveW]

Yeah Molitors obsession with bunting and his over using guys in the pen is frustrating. The twins are winning in spite of it IMO. Which is good,