Article: TB 5, MIN 2: Twins Can’t Complete Sweep in 18-Inning Duel

[AJ Condon]

For the second time in nine days, the Twins were playing into the 17th inning. The bullpen kept giving the offense opportunities to take this game, Martin Perez had a stellar comeback after a rough second inning, and the Twins offense was lifeless after the first.Box Score

Perez: 7 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 65.7% strikes (67 of 102 pitches)

Bullpen: 11 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 5 BB, 11 K

 

Home Runs: None

Multi-Hit Games: Polanco (2-for-6, 2B, BB), Arraez (3-for-7)

 

WPA of +0.1: Duffey .111, Rogers .144, Parker .144, Littell .144, May .144, Gibson .144, Perez .261, Morin .288, Magill .288

WPA of -0.1: Cave -.139, Kepler -.276, Sano -.288, Garver -.306, Cron -.308, Schoop -.364, Harper -.455

 

Bullpen Hangs Tough

The bullpen had a lot of work to do in today’s game, and they were up for the test. After Martin Perez had sent down 16 straight going into the eighth inning, it was time for the bullpen to take over. Tyler Duffey and Taylor Rogers were given the following two innings and made it 22 straight sent down going into the 10th.

 

 

Blake Parker was given the tenth inning, and broke the streak of 22 straight batters sent down. He found himself in a pickle with bases loaded and no outs, and it was Parker’s time to settle in. He got an infield fly, strikeout, and a game-saving stop by Sano for the final out to keep the game tied. Zack Littell worked himself into a jam as well with two two-out walks, but got a flyout to end the threat in the 11th.

 

Mike Morin, Trevor May, and Matt Magill gave five more shutout innings that included only one walk while striking out five. And then things got even weirder as Kyle Gibson came into the game in the 17th inning to pitch. He was only asked to give one inning as Ryne Harper came in for the 18th. Harper had pitched the previous two games which is probably why they waited so long to put him in.

 

Harper found himself in a similar position as Parker was in, in the 10th, as he found himself with the bases loaded and no outs. It didn’t end the same way as Harper gave up three hits and three runs in the 18th.

 

 

Offense Goes Quiet

The Twins’ offense got going right away in today’s game as they were able to get two runs on three hits in the first inning. They were able to jump out in front of the Rays in all three games this series. However, after the first inning, they went completely quiet.

 

They combined for only 11 base runners off six hits and five walks through the next 17 innings, went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position, and struck out 21 times. They also haven’t hit a home run in 28 straight innings going back to Tuesday’s game when Garver hit a home run in the eighth.

 

The bullpen set the offense up inning after inning to finish this game, and inning after inning, the offense put up a goose egg. They hit into three double plays today, two of them coming in extra innings and ending a threat.

 

Perez Settles

Martin Perez came into this game on a very bad slump. Over his last six starts, he is only 0-2, but has an ERA of 6.83 and his ERA has risen from a season-best 2.83, to 4.15 after today’s start. The biggest issue it seemed with Perez was giving up walks. Over those six starts, 28 runs have been scored, 22 earned, on 35 hits and 15 walks!

 

Today, his first, and only, walk came in the second inning after he was ahead in the count 0-2. That walk came back to hurt Perez after two two-out hits tied the game at two. After that second inning, it was looking like Perez was again going to have a rough outing, and maybe time for him to take a break.

 

That inning was enough for Perez as he settled in and sent down 16 straight Rays’ batters to complete seven innings and finish his day. Perez looked very locked in today and was able to see that his fastball wasn’t working and incorporated his cutter and change-up a lot more to get the job done.

 

All-Star Game

Because of the rain delay and 18 inning game, Jorge Polanco figured out mid-game that he would be the starting shortstop for AL in this year's All-Star Game.

 

 

Bullpen Usage

Click here for a quick look at the number of pitches thrown by the bullpen over the past five days.

 

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[Brock Beauchamp]

Ugly game, would have been nice to pull out the win.

 

Gonna be a rough series in Chicago after that one.

[Rosterman]

Well, considering who was on the Twins bench?

 

Now injuries are showing how they can hurt a team. No Buxton AND Rosario. No Gonsalez.

 

Sigh.

 

Who goes abck to Rochester overnite?

 

[mikelink45]

Outstanding game, but the Twins have essentially added to full games to the year with their 17 and 18 inning games.  Tough on the players.  Good time to add back some players, but hopefully Arraez stays.  He is so consistent he is essential in a free swinging roster. 

[Dantes929]

 

Outstanding game, but the Twins have essentially added to full games to the year with their 17 and 18 inning games.  Tough on the players.  Good time to add back some players, but hopefully Arraez stays.  He is so consistent he is essential in a free swinging roster. 

I was thinking the Twins should maybe just intentionally walk 4 guys in a row and be done with it in the 12th.    Sometimes these games have longer lasting effects because of how many pitchers are used and it can't be great for the catchers either.  When teams slump you can often point to games like this and see the ripple affect.   Kind of wish the All Star game was a week earlier.    I was wondering why Harper was not used.   I suspected it was because he had pitched two in a row already and was happy they were leaving him out of it.    Of course, he beat himself as much as the Rays did.   You can't give free bases like the Twins did starting with Harper and expect to escape forever.    

[jz7233]

I believe Twins hitters' aggressiveness and lack of long relievers in Twins bullpen contributed to the loss. One Rays pitcher made 2 pitches and got 2 outs. One Rays pitcher made 23 pitches and got 9 outs. That's because Twins hitters were too aggressive. For the bullpen, look at the Rays, almost half of Rays relievers could go multiple innings any day. Only one Twins reliever was able to get through 2 innings today.

[bighat]

Amazing seasons for both Polanco and Kepler - right after the Twins signed them both to long-term deals. Fantastic both for the players and for the franchise, can't understate how much those contracts help this team. Jorge deserves the nod, glad he got it.

 

How on earth did Lamonte Wade Jr. not get an at-bat this game. It's 18 innings and the team has scored 2 runs...what could you lose by putting him in? Maybe he'd make contact or drill one to the gap, seems like he should have at least got a chance.

 

Nice to see Perez right the ship!

 

The last extra-inning game against the Red Sox had out boys burned out for a week. Let's hope they learned something from the first experience...I don't think they'll have as big of a letdown as they did last time.

 

Who's being reinstated? Buxton? Adrianza? Gonzalez? Corresponding moves? Is the Rochester Bullpen Shuttle leaving the station? Here's hoping we hear something from the Twins on activations and moves soon.

Edited June 28, 2019 by bighat

[Linus]

I was thinking the Twins should maybe just intentionally walk 4 guys in a row and be done with it in the 12th. Sometimes these games have longer lasting effects because of how many pitchers are used and it can't be great for the catchers either. When teams slump you can often point to games like this and see the ripple affect. Kind of wish the All Star game was a week earlier. I was wondering why Harper was not used. I suspected it was because he had pitched two in a row already and was happy they were leaving him out of it. Of course, he beat himself as much as the Rays did. You can't give free bases like the Twins did starting with Harper and expect to escape forever.

Huh? Forfeit the game. You and Dick share the same paranoia about extra inning games

[Dantes929]

 

Huh? Forfeit the game. You and Dick share the same paranoia about extra inning games

Definitely joking but in the past I have seen the domino effect from games like these.   I have defended this pen but the truth is they have mostly had the luxury of being well rested.    A short stint from a starter and then close games lost happen and you can usually see the cause and effect.   I hope I am wrong but I suspect the All Star game break will be very welcome.

[Dantes929]

 

I believe Twins hitters' aggressiveness and lack of long relievers in Twins bullpen contributed to the loss. One Rays pitcher made 2 pitches and got 2 outs. One Rays pitcher made 23 pitches and got 9 outs. That's because Twins hitters were too aggressive. For the bullpen, look at the Rays, almost half of Rays relievers could go multiple innings any day. Only one Twins reliever was able to get through 2 innings today.

Kind of the role I would like Stewart to fill.   I agree it would be nice to have a Swarzak  kind of guy to throw a few extra innings if needed.   

 

[jimbo92107]

Time to start the batting order with Arraez and Polanco. Set the table for Cron, Cruz and Rosie.

[AlwaysinModeration]

The season by tens:

 

6-4

7-3

6-4

6-4

9-1

6-4

7-3

5-5

 

Came thaaaaaat close to keeping the streak alive. Time to start another ten today, with Jose on the mound.

[Linus]

No pressure Jose. All we need is 9 scoreless tonight. Seriously this is a big start - have to stay out of the pen

[Old Twins Cap]

Eighteen innings, two full games, two runs, both in the first inning of the game.

 

One run a game, playing at home, and not a lot of chances either.

 

One of the most disappointing results of the season, even though, at times they hit the ball hard, and, of course, no Rosie, Buxton, Gonzalez, Adrianza, Tortuga, etc.

 

Going to need a lift from someone on this next trip or it will be a long one.

 

 

[Bavarian]

Yeah, such a game has future ramifications on the bullpen and a team can go into a tailspin.  I don't know what the heck happened to Houston recently but I wonder if they met a similar setback.  162 game seasons see a lot of events.  The Twins themselves may have averted a long losing streak with some of the late-game heroics of recent weeks.

[Riverbrian]

It happens. Not worried about anything other than the bullpen.

 

There is enough roster talent to perform well through these injuries. Play Wade tonight... oh yeah and play Arreaz again.

[Number3]

Never seen so many 0-7 and 1-7 in a box score. Oh well, still won the series and on to Chicago. Be nice to see the regular outfield back in tact hopefully after the All Star beak if not sooner.

[terrydactyls]

Yesterday was Thursday, June 27 and it was the 80th game of the year.  The Twins are now 49%  of the way through the season.  Out of 59 years, the current team ranks 21st on the all-time list of Twins' home runs in one season and are on a pace to hit 302 home runs this season.

[AlwaysinModeration]

I was kind of going Gibson could pick up the cheap win, and that Wade would get a key hit in the winning rally.

[Tomj14]

 

No pressure Jose. All we need is 9 scoreless tonight. Seriously this is a big start - have to stay out of the pen

Glad it isn't Gibson going, that last two times they asked him for extra innings, he crapped himself.

[DocBauer]

Tough loss to be sure. But Perez looked his new self again and the pen was outstanding.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

It happens. Not worried about anything other than the bullpen.

Correction: not worried about anything other than the pitching.

 

GIbson had to go out there and throw bullpen innings in a loss. Not awesome.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Glad it isn't Gibson going, that last two times they asked him for extra innings, he crapped himself.

FWIW, Gibson pitched an extra inning just fine yesterday.

[SpicyGarvSauce]

Anyone else think Baldelli sort of mishandled the pen yesterday as far as usage? Why only have Littell go 1 inning? I know he hadn't thrown in awhile, and threw 20 pitches, so maybe they are now fully committed to him being a short relief guy...

 

Thought maybe Gibson would go a second inning as well after he threw just 11 pitches.

[Tomj14]

 

FWIW, Gibson pitched an extra inning just fine yesterday.

yes he did, I am taking about his last start against Boston and Detroit.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Anyone else think Baldelli sort of mishandled the pen yesterday as far as usage? Why only have Littell go 1 inning? I know he hadn't thrown in awhile, and threw 20 pitches, so maybe they are now fully committed to him being a short relief guy...

First, I don't think you want LIttell out that one batter longer than you absolutely have to pitch him.

 

Second, the Rays had two lefties coming up the following inning.

 

My guess is that it was a little of both of those factors.

[Doomtints]

I would imagine people here are more worried about the length of this game than the Twins are.

 

This is one of the tests of a long baseball season, and it was a given this was going to happen.

[Riverbrian]

Correction: not worried about anything other than the pitching.

 

GIbson had to go out there and throw bullpen innings in a loss. Not awesome.

Not ideal but he was probably due for a bullpen session and that inning probably served as such.