Article: MIN 5, CHW 3: Rosario Lifts Twins to Third Straight Victory

[Tom Froemming]

Things can change quickly in a baseball game. James Shields carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning, by the end if that frame the Twins had the lead. Kyle Gibson turned in a quality start, Eddie Rosario had another big game and Fernando Rodney picked up another save.Snapshot (chart via FanGraphs)

Download attachment: Snapshot56.png Download attachment: WinEx56.png

Rosario’s so hot right now that the American Academy of Dermatology recommends that you reapply sunscreen each time he steps into the box. Rosie drove in the first Twins run of the game in the seventh inning. He also stole second base and scored on a Logan Morrison double in that inning.

 

In the ninth, Rosario hit his seventh home run of the season to give the Twins a nice insurance run, which is always appreciated prior to the Fernando Rodney Experience. Eddie accounted for half of the Twins’ four hits on the afternoon.

That nice three-run rally that Rosario was a part of in the seventh gave the Twins their first lead, but Chicago managed to tie it up again in the bottom half. The Twins took back the lead in the eighth. Actually, it may be more appropriate to say they were given back the lead.

 

Joe Mauer drew a one-out walk, Brian Dozier reached on an error that could have easily been a double play instead and Max Kepler drove in Joe on a groundout. Dick Bremer said it pretty well: “They hesitate all over the place and Mauer comes in to score.” The Twins managed to score that go-ahead run without the benefit of a hit.

 

Gibson allowed three earned runs, but the last of which scored while Zach Duke was on the mound. Gibby gave up only four hits over 6 2/3 innings and struck out eight batters. In 38 2/3 innings this season, Kyle has now racked up 44 strikeouts.

 

Addison Reed had been scuffling of late, but he was impressive in a perfect eighth, striking out two batters. Rodney earned his fifth save in yet another 1-2-3 inning. That was Fernando’s fifth-straight scoreless inning, and he’s only given up one hit over that span.

 

Postgame With Morrison

Bullpen Usage

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

Download attachment: Bullpen56.png

Next Three Games

Mon at STL, 7:10 pm CT

Tue at STL, 12:15 pm CT

Thu at LAA, 9:07 pm CT

 

Last Three Games

MIN 8, CHW 4: Rosario Drives in Five

MIN 6, CHW 4: Twins Slug Four Homers in Victory

CHW 6, MIN 5: Twins Blow 5-1 Lead

 

More From Twins Daily

Twins Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Month - April 2018 (Nick Anderson)

Twins Minor League Starting Pitcher Of The Month - April 2018 (Aaron Slegers)

Twins Minor League Hitter Of The Month - April 2018 (Zander Wiel)

 

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[Brandon]

Were now just 2 games back of Cleveland. Lets hope this winning streak carrys over to the next few series so when i see them play in Anahiem there is nore intensity....

[Han Joelo]

The Yankees "Twinned" the Indians this weekend. Yikes--painful, extra innings loss today (and yesterday?). Twins might be 2 back, but they both have 17 losses.

 

They did a nice job snatching victory from the jaws of defeat today.

[DocBauer]

Good game and even better final result. Don't look now, but some hitters are starting to heat up, the pitchers are rounding in to form, and the team has been playing much better. You can say it's only 3 wins against the "Dirty Sox", but it was on the road and the lowly Reds were at home.

 

Reed looked good as has looked good most all season. But he's been used hard, and RP will have stumbles here and there, and poor days become magnified due to the nature of their role. Ditto for Rodney, who has started rough in years past. Duke has looked much better of late, as has Hildenberger.

 

I really like the way Molitor has adjusted his lineup lately due to injury and slumps. There is no question I'd like to see Buxton and Sano back healthy and in the lineup. But with Rosario and Kepler having fine seasons, along with Mauer and Dozier, (overall), the offense is beginning to show signs of life again.

 

Now, Buxton needs to heat up, and Sano needs to quit pantomining as a windmill, but no question the offensive potential is still there for this team. (Eventually Polanco comes back to deepen the lineup and roster flexibility).

 

Said it before the season began, said it a week or so ago during the slump and will repeat it again: I predicted this team would hover around .500 for the beginning of the season, (not expecting that horrendous streak), and then would begin to tell and take off as the youth and new veterans began to gel as a team. This could be the start.

[TheLeviathan]

Good win with a tougher stretch coming up.  The teams we're about to play are not like these tanking White Sox.

[IndianaTwin]

Gibson was impressive. Reed and Rodney were sharp. Numerous clutch hits.

 

But I gotta tell you, folks — the most impressive performance of the day was undoubtedly those of us who suffered through listening to Hawk and Wimpy do the game. Did anyone else manage that feat?

 

It was painful. I know he hasn’t been doing games with any regularity, but I’m not sure I remember Hawk making a comment about any non-Twins/Sox currently in MLB other than his love-fest with Miggy, Pujols, and Kershaw. But we heard about Elston Howard, Pumpsie Green, and a bazillion other guys with the “nobody could do xxxx better than zzzzz” line. The only analysis on any Twins player was “He’s DANGEROUS.”

 

Reflecting on my life, I’ve completed six marathons, but I think getting through all nine innings today may have been a tougher test of endurance.

[Nine of twelve]

Gibson was impressive. Reed and Rodney were sharp. Numerous clutch hits.

 

But I gotta tell you, folks — the most impressive performance of the day was undoubtedly those of us who suffered through listening to Hawk and Wimpy do the game. Did anyone else manage that feat?

 

It was painful. I know he hasn’t been doing games with any regularity, but I’m not sure I remember Hawk making a comment about any non-Twins/Sox currently in MLB other than his love-fest with Miggy, Pujols, and Kershaw. But we heard about Elston Howard, Pumpsie Green, and a bazillion other guys with the “nobody could do xxxx better than zzzzz” line. The only analysis on any Twins player was “He’s DANGEROUS.”

 

Reflecting on my life, I’ve completed six marathons, but I think getting through all nine innings today may have been a tougher test of endurance.

Couldn't you have turned off the sound and listened on the radio? The Sox' radio guys are pretty good.

[IndianaTwin]

Couldn't you have turned off the sound and listened on the radio? The Sox' radio guys are pretty good.

Had plans in the early afternoon, so I was watching the DVR version.

[kab21]

Hopefully this is something to build on. The last two weeks have been brutal (losing to bad teams) but there are still a lot of games left to play.

[mikelink45]

I am not certain if I give this win to the Twins or the loss to the Sox.  I cannot begin to use this as a measure of the Twins surge to the top.  The Sox look awful and we won despite having to struggle against Shields who has a collective - 1.3 WAR the last three years.  

 

I am happy to celebrate the win, but not excited about projecting much from it. 

[twinsfanstreif]

Small sample size alert! But it looks like Kepler has finally figured out lefties, he is hitting .320 with 4 extra base hits in 25 at bats vs lefties! If he can continue to hit left handers we might be looking at a perennial all star type of guy. I hope the break out continues for Max.

 

Boy Rosario is exciting! He still frustrates me a bunch but hopefully we see more of the last 2 games and less of the last 2 weeks from Eddie. To me it seems like it boils down to patience with him, if he remains patient at the plate he can be super dangerous, if he gets impatient he is a black hole.

[bighat]

Time to bring the pain in St. Louie!

[bighat]

 

 

Gibson was impressive. Reed and Rodney were sharp. Numerous clutch hits.

But I gotta tell you, folks — the most impressive performance of the day was undoubtedly those of us who suffered through listening to Hawk and Wimpy do the game. Did anyone else manage that feat?

It was painful. I know he hasn’t been doing games with any regularity, but I’m not sure I remember Hawk making a comment about any non-Twins/Sox currently in MLB other than his love-fest with Miggy, Pujols, and Kershaw. But we heard about Elston Howard, Pumpsie Green, and a bazillion other guys with the “nobody could do xxxx better than zzzzz” line. The only analysis on any Twins player was “He’s DANGEROUS.”

Reflecting on my life, I’ve completed six marathons, but I think getting through all nine innings today may have been a tougher test of endurance.

 

I lived in Chicago for 12 years before I moved away 5 years ago. I miss a lot about the city - watching Twins v. Sox games and getting stuck listening to Hawk ain't one of them. He's an angry homer who likes to gloat, just about the worst combination for an opposing fan.

[Riverbrian]

 

Reflecting on my life, I’ve completed six marathons

 

You must have had some serious car issues. 

[Riverbrian]

I like trying to be positive but:

 

They can't chase like that at the plate. Shields is not that crafty. 

 

 

[bighat]

 

I like trying to be positive but:

 

They can't chase like that at the plate. Shields is not that crafty. 

 

Yeah. I'm reading "the offense is coming alive", but when I look at the box score I see just 4 hits against the White Sox today. The late defensive miscues were the heroes in this one, not the Twins' bats.

[tbhysgb]

The white sox might be a bottom basement team with alot of issues but don't discount the fact that they really want to beat the Twins, especially in front of their home crowd.  It came down to finally getting timely ABs and taking advantage of mistakes that a young inexperienced team makes. Not gonna read too much into this win and say the Twins have turned a corner but it's baseball and all good stretches start somewhere.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Wishing Gibby had put things together a bit sooner. He's a FA this year, right? He's finally looking like the guy we wanted him to be. 

[jokin]

 

Wishing Gibby had put things together a bit sooner. He's a FA this year, right? He's finally looking like the guy we wanted him to be. 

 

Not a FA until 2020.

[Circus Boy]

Last I looked none of the teams that took advantage of Twins goofs and generally poor play during the losing streak has asked the MLB commissioner to forfeit. I feel especially good about this win because we did it with only four hits. Pitching and defense kept us in the hunt, and for once we got the perfectly timed knocks and jumped on the other guys' errors.

 

We're not dominant. Competence is enough. Now bring on Kid Fernando!

[kab21]

 

Not a FA until 2020.

Perfect time for a massive extension...

[IndianaTwin]

 

I lived in Chicago for 12 years before I moved away 5 years ago. I miss a lot about the city - watching Twins v. Sox games and getting stuck listening to Hawk ain't one of them. He's an angry homer who likes to gloat, just about the worst combination for an opposing fan.

 

Exactly. That was the part that made him annoying. But at least in that fashion, one could understand why a Sox fan could like him. I don't think I would, but certain types of fans might. But yesterday wasn't even that. He really didn't have any enthusiasm for the Sox, and he brought very little attempt to talk about the game.

 

Crummy as it was watching one game, it must be a real bummer for actual Sox fans (like him or not) to put up with that for 20 games this year, particularly when having Jason Benetti (who I really like, despite him being the Sox guy) for the other 142. 

[Number3]

After losing game 1 a split in the Chicago series would have been the most realistic to hope for so winning 3 of 4 after all is cause for renewed hope. Cardinals and Angels will not be quite as accommodating so splitting those 6 will be ok. Anything worse not so ok. Again, the Central may be the Twins salvation and the Yankees did as much to dishearten the Indians as they did the Twins. How the Twins and Indians fare against each other may decide the whole division.

[jmlease1]

Started out looking like it was going to be a very frustrating game where a somnolent offense wasted a fine pitching performance, but we finally managed to grind out a few runs. Logan Morrison definitely seems to have come around after a horrid start; it's a small sample but the last 2 weeks are the kind of performance we were looking for when we signed this guy: .279/.367/.558 triple slash with a HR every 4 games? yes, please.

 

Rosario is absolutely crushing the ball right now, and it's great to see, but I get nervous about the fact that he hasn't taken a walk in a week. and only 2 in a month. guess we'll have to ride this streak as long as we can and hope he doesn't expand the strike zone too much to where guys can just let him get himself out.

 

Escobar also had a marvelous series against the Chi-Sox and just keeps on hitting. He's really stepped up, and we've needed his bat.

 

Chicago White Sox: a cure for what ails you?

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Rosario is absolutely crushing the ball right now, and it's great to see, but I get nervous about the fact that he hasn't taken a walk in a week. and only 2 in a month. guess we'll have to ride this streak as long as we can and hope he doesn't expand the strike zone too much to where guys can just let him get himself out.

I don't worry about guys taking walks when the baseball looks like a beachball to them at the plate. Even Mauer's walks take a nosedive when he goes on one of his patented .400 batting average months.

 

The real test will be if he takes walks after he cools off a bit. That's when he'll need to step back, show more patience, and make the pitcher work to get him out.

[jmlease1]

 

I don't worry about guys taking walks when the baseball looks like a beachball to them at the plate. Even Mauer's walks take a nosedive when he goes on one of his patented .400 batting average months.

 

The real test will be if he takes walks after he cools off a bit. That's when he'll need to step back, show more patience, and make the pitcher work to get him out.

 

I worry a little when it's a confirmed hacker like Eddie, mostly about what happens when he cools off. But agreed, for now we should enjoy the ride.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

I worry a little when it's a confirmed hacker like Eddie, mostly about what happens when he cools off. But agreed, for now we should enjoy the ride.

It's definitely more of a concern with guys like Rosario but he showed improvement in discipline last season. Hopefully that will carry over when he cools off a bit.

[ashbury]

Last I looked none of the teams that took advantage of Twins goofs and generally poor play during the losing streak has asked the MLB commissioner to forfeit.

That's fair. All the wins count.

 

It's just... for me... this team has playoff aspirations. When they get to the post-season, the opponents won't hand them gifts like the White Sox just got done doing. If they are fortunate enough to get there, doing it this way will likely mean a one-and-done.

 

I'll feel better when they clobber the bottom feeders, and reserve the squeaker wins for against the good teams. Even better will be when the good teams are happy to get the squeaker win.

[nokomismod]

First time attending a game/series at Comiskey/Guaranteed Rate and I came away pleasantly surprised. We were able to sit in nice seats for prices that we used to pay at the Metrodome. The it's easy to go to the ballpark via public transit and the Twins played really well. Eddie and Eduardo were on fire all weekend.

[Blake]

Yeah, I'd be wearing sunglasses if I was being interviewed by  Ms. Martin.

 

Again, Gibson deserved a win and didn't get it.