Article: MIN 4, OAK 3: Twins Refuse to Lose Three in a Row

[AJ Condon]

The Minnesota Twins escape, again, from losing three games in a row this season. This was the Twins’ eighth time on the brink of a three-game losing streak, but they continue to show success. A late-inning push and a solid performance from the bullpen was the formula for tonight’s win.Box Score

Starter: 6 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 5 K, 55.9% strikes (57 of 102 pitches)

Bullpen: 6 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 8 K

 

Home Runs: Jorge Polanco (11)

Multi-Hit Games: Garver (2-6), Arraez (3-5)

 

WPA of +0.1: Harper .104, Duffey .135, Polanco .137, Schoop .181, Rogers .195, Garver .265, Parker .269, Arraez .295

WPA of -0.1: Gibson -.110, Buxton -.117, Cron -.175,Sano -.311, Adrianza -.391

 

Twins’ Late Comeback

After not getting a baserunner until there were two outs in the fifth inning, the Twins were able to put together a little comeback to tie the game late and ultimately win the game. The comeback started by getting three singles off Fiers in the sixth to grab their first run of the game. The two outs that followed were balls that almost drove in another run, but a nice play by Laureano and a blooper by Cron ended the threat.

 

The Twins got into the Athletic’s bullpen in the seventh, and were able to score a run right away thanks to an error by Barretto on the throw to first base. Polanco was able to tie the game on a two-out solo shot in the eighth.

 

The Twins were able to take advantage of a pair of one-out walks in the twelfth and took the lead with a go-ahead single by Mitch Garver on a full-count. He delivered a single into left field, and the speedy Byron Buxton was able to hustle around third and score. They failed to extend their lead with the bases loaded and one out on a nice place by Chapman at third to get a double play to end the inning.

 

Lights Out Bullpen

The bullpen came into the game with a 3-2 deficit and made it possible for the Twins to fight back. They have been very solid in the games of late, and continued their success tonight. They threw a combined six shutout innings while only allowing four hits.

 

Blake Parker dug himself into the biggest hole for the bullpen in the tenth with two lead-off walks, but thanks to Sano’s defense, no runs were scored. He worked around those walks and had a relatively easy 11th inning.

 

Taylor Rogers made this game interesting in the 12th, though it wasn’t completely on him. The inning started on an error by Schoop and was very close to becoming a problem. But, Profar tried to extend his single into a double on the throw to third, and the Twins were able to get him out after a challenge and were left with a runner on third with two outs. Rogers was able to close the game out with a strikeout and he picked up his 11th save of the year.

 

Gibson’s Mistake

Gibson had a relatively good start tonight, but his one mistake will be the talking point of his start. This mistake came in the second inning after an error by Cron and a walk to lead off the inning. What followed was an at-bat that almost decided the game, and was the first hit by the Athletics, a three-run home run by Laureano.

 

His struggles came with not being able to find the strike zone early in the count. Out of the 26 batters he faced, he got a first-pitch strike on only 13 of the batters. He had to work behind in the count and was chasing batters throughout the night, which led to the four walks he gave up.

 

After the second inning, Gibson settled in for the most part. He didn’t have any 1-2-3 innings after the first, but was able to keep the score the same as he left it after the second. Even after having a rough couple of innings, Gibson was able to finish six innings. Gibson also had two double plays turned behind him.

 

Gibson was able to pick up the no-decision with some mid-late inning runs that were capped by a Jorge Polanco solo shot in eighth.

 

Fiers Brings Trouble

Mike Fiers came into tonight’s game allowing no more than two runs in five of his last six starts. Tonight, he had a perfect game going into the fifth, and didn’t give up a baserunner until Sano hit a double with two outs in the fifth that ultimately led to nothing. He managed to throw 68 percent of his pitches as strikes as well as getting ahead of 14 out of the 23 batters he faced with a first-pitch strike.

 

The Twins were able to scare Fiers out of the game after they got three hits in the sixth, which led to their first run, and a single to lead off the seventh. He finished with only five hits and one earned run while striking out four and giving no free bases. He set the Athletics for a chance to win the series, but the Twins’ offense had different plans.

 

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

Click here for a review of the number of pitches thrown by each member of the bullpen over the past fiv

 

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[Dantes929]

Six shutout innings by 5 different relievers in a close much needed win.   Just think how much better we could have been tonight with a good bullpen.   Is it my imagination or are the Twins making a lot more errors now than they were earlier in the season?   Nice win.

[CampQ]

Tonight's win was exactly the kind of win one would expect from a good bullpen. Good bullpens stop the opponent from scoring runs.

 

There are other more appropriate threads to complain about the bullpen, and valid reasons to want some fortification. When they go six scoreless innings a week after a seventeen inning game which was a week after an eighteen inning game you could at least tip your cap a little

[jokin]

 

 

 

Is it my imagination or are the Twins making a lot more errors now than they were earlier in the season?  

 

Nice win.

 

Yes. And yes.

 

Mitch Garver in the post-game alluded to where the boys are at physically. Banged up and physically spent... and especially looking forward to recharging the batteries and getting healthy during the All Star Break. In addition, guys are out there playing out of position or coming off the IL a bit rusty, and it shows defensively.

 

He alone caught almost all the innings in these 3 marathons of late, but he still came through when the Twins really needed someone to step up at the plate.

 

Praised the pen, too. They are much-maligned for good reason, but there have been lots of gutty performances recently, tonight being no exception. I thought Rocco played his hand with the relief crew magnificently.... and got a little luck along the way.

 

If Garver can somehow stay healthy, he looks like he can be the heart and soul of this team for the next 5 years- for a guy who was originally touted as just a decent bat, he's doing a lot more than just what shows up in the box score. Rocco sure believes in him much more than the previous manager and FO management did.

[Don't Feed the Greed Guy]

Me a month ago: "Lousy back end of the bullpen! Sign Kimbrel and extend the bullpen..."

 

Last night Craig Kimbrel pitched in his 3rd game for the Cubs. After 2.2 innings, he sports a 16.88 ERA.

 

It's early, but I won't regret being wrong on Kimbrel. Time for me to move on to the next shiny thing while the Twins front office manages the checkbook.

[the_brute_squad]

It's getting to the point that I expect extra frames when Garver is catching! That guy is putting in some innings - and no bi-lateral leg weakness!

[Darius]

Big win. Have to keep salvaging a game here or there to hold off the Indians, who can’t lose these days.

 

Everyone better enjoy being the most prolific offensive club in history for one more day. The Yanks are now within a single run scored (incredible considering how far ahead we were of the field a month ago).

[terrydactyls]

Yesterday was Wednesday, July 3, it was the 85th game of the year and the Twins hit 1 home run.  The Twins are now 52%  of the way through the season.  Out of 59 years, the current team ranks 15th on the all-time list of Twins' home runs in one season and are on a pace to hit 307 home runs this season..

[mikelink45]

One comment asked if we are having more errors than in the past - the answer is yes, by far and with all the IL use and lineup flexibility we should be no more banged up and sore than any other lineup.  Another person mentioned that we have had a lot of players out of position - tonight Schoop at 2B and Cron at 1B - not out of position, just not catching the ball. 

[stringer bell]

Maybe it is the extra-inning games, maybe it is the long slog that is the major league baseball season, but the Twins certainly do seem to need a break as a team. Every team has high and lows, and if this is their nadir, it isn't very low, since their longest losing streak is two. 

 

Yes, the defense hasn't been as crisp of late and there have been a lot more bad at-bats. To name a few, Cron, Polanco, and Schoop have dropped off noticeably. Banged up and recovering injured Buxton, Gonzalez and Kepler could also use the break. 

[Number3]

Pitching and small ball saved the day. 7 runs scored against the Twins in last 2 games on 2 swings. Otherwise pitching has been great. Berrios goes today so lets win the series, come home for Texas, win that series and enjoy the All Star break.

[ChrisKnutson]

Nice win, but the fact that Parker had to pitch 2 innings is crazy, not to mention that he almost cost us the game from the start of his appearance. Sure, he may be one of our best relievers we have at our disposal, but compared to the Yankees or the Astros, Parker is near the bottom of the totem pole. I’m tired waiting, the FO needs to make a move for an actual late inning reliever pretty damn soon.

[USAFChief]

Someone in the game thread last night described watching Parker pitch as like "watching someone juggle chainsaws." I thought that was pretty accurate.

 

Still, good win. Really good win. Sort of...needed, somehow.

[Riverbrian]

 

 In addition, guys are out there playing out of position or coming off the IL a bit rusty, and it shows defensively.

 

 

 

Arraez?

 

[Hawkeye12]

Sano might be home run or bust on offense, but I've been really impressed with his defense this year.  Only a couple errors and has made some really impressive, and often times clutch timed, plays at third this year.  He isn't taking his hitting struggles on the field with him. 

[USAFChief]

In the Strib game story, it appears the failed suicide squeeze last night was supposed to be a safety squeeze. It says "players" mistook the sign, but that can only be Adrianza, who was on third.

 

I dont like either play, but a safety squeeze isnt as bad as a suicide squeeze, if you ask me.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

On the suicide squeeze —as someone in the game thread commented, it was a nice throwback to 1900s baseball Personally I did not like the call there, especially because Buxton has shown over and over he is bad at bunting. Know your personnel.

 

Edit: As Chief said, yeah the runner on third was running with the pitch. I’m surprised the team even has signs for bunting at all, let alone the squeeze play.

 

I also have to ask, in the 10th, I thought the camera showed Baldelli signaling for an intentional walk to Canha. I didn’t have audio at that point so don’t know what broadcasters were saying. But the screen graphics were even updated to show bases loaded. But then Canha batted with runners on first and third. Is this something a manager can change his mind about, or what am I missing?

 

And then Canha grounded into that tag play at the plate, which could have easily went the other way.

 

Good to escape with a win last night. I think escape is the right word.

Edited July 4, 2019 by Hosken Bombo Disco

[Riverbrian]

 

In the Strib game story, it appears the failed suicide squeeze last night was supposed to be a safety squeeze. It says "players" mistook the sign, but that can only be Adrianza, who was on third.

I dont like either play, but a safety squeeze isnt as bad as a suicide squeeze, if you ask me.

 

I once texted a new employee that we were a "safety" first company and auto correct changed it to a "suicide" first company. 

 

I didn't notice it until after I hit send. That auto-correction really changed the meaning of the sentence. 

 

I think the Twins should go back to Nose/Chin/Nose/Ear instead of texting. 

[akmanak]

This is a direct correlation with Rocco being a bad manager. The errors continue to build up because he simply lets the players do whatever. His after game speeches and his lack of emotion on the field is tiresome also.

[Riverbrian]

 

On the suicide squeeze —as someone in the game thread commented, it was a nice throwback to 1900s baseball Personally I did not like the call there, especially because Buxton has shown over and over he is bad at bunting. Know your personnel.

Edit: As Chief said, yeah the runner on third was running with the pitch. I’m surprised the team even has signs for bunting at all, let alone the squeeze play.

 

 

I believe I would have had Buxton swing away in that situation. 

 

However, I will defend the Manager's right to use whatever club he has in his bag (at any time) and I believe the squeeze (Safety or Suicide) is a club that a manager should have.

 

My issue is going to be with the execution of the call once it is made. Misreading the signs is poor execution. Not squaring to get the bunt down is poor execution. 

 

 

 

 

[Aerodeliria]

Boy juggling chainsaws describes Parker to a "T". Is there a special rule that says Parker is not allowed to get the first batter he faces out?

[Shaitan]

 

This is a direct correlation with Rocco being a bad manager. The errors continue to build up because he simply lets the players do whatever. His after game speeches and his lack of emotion on the field is tiresome also.

 

What's his record as a manager, again?

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Boy juggling chainsaws describes Parker to a "T". Is there a special rule that says Parker is not allowed to get the first batter he faces out?

No, but there is a rule that allows the team to leave him off the playoff roster.

[Aerodeliria]

The errors have been on the rise. I have no idea as to the reason, but being banged up is not an adequate excuse and oddly, players being forced to play other positions has contributed minimally to the problem. Most of these errors are from the infielders who are playing their regular positions, and they have come at costly times during the games.

[Dantes929]

 

Tonight's win was exactly the kind of win one would expect from a good bullpen. Good bullpens stop the opponent from scoring runs.

There are other more appropriate threads to complain about the bullpen, and valid reasons to want some fortification. When they go six scoreless innings a week after a seventeen inning game which was a week after an eighteen inning game you could at least tip your cap a little

To be clear, I was defending the bullpen though in a tongue in cheek kind of way.   How can a bullpen do better than 6 scoreless?    .    I have said in those other threads if all we do is add one guy like Kennedy, Giles or Smith or ? I would be ok with that.     I think this bullpen has done a remarkable job this year and could go over game after game to show why.   I would like one more dependable guy to help than continue to do well.  I would not expect that guy to never give up runs.    Every reliever in every bullpen gives up runs.  

[Riverbrian]

 

This is a direct correlation with Rocco being a bad manager. The errors continue to build up because he simply lets the players do whatever. His after game speeches and his lack of emotion on the field is tiresome also.

 

Everybody should have a voice. The internet gives each voice a microphone and not everyone should have a microphone.

 

You remind me that the internet hasn't figured this problem out yet. 

[Dantes929]

 

Nice win, but the fact that Parker had to pitch 2 innings is crazy, not to mention that he almost cost us the game from the start of his appearance. Sure, he may be one of our best relievers we have at our disposal, but compared to the Yankees or the Astros, Parker is near the bottom of the totem pole. I’m tired waiting, the FO needs to make a move for an actual late inning reliever pretty damn soon.

Not necessarily arguing with you though I don't really consider Parker one of our best relievers.    I would rate him 5th or 6th and that is where his ERA (a respectable 3.70) would put him on the Twins, the Astros and the Yankees.    Valuable but not at the top.   Twins are 2nd in the major leagues in save %.   Yankees and Astros have twice as many blown saves and are 13th and 14th in save percentage.   Maybe they should start using some of those top relievers they have in save situations.  

[Dantes929]

 

On the suicide squeeze —as someone in the game thread commented, it was a nice throwback to 1900s baseball Personally I did not like the call there, especially because Buxton has shown over and over he is bad at bunting. Know your personnel.
 

I don't watch every game but my view is different than yours.   I have not seen over and over that Buxton is bad at bunting.    Two years ago it was his best offensive weapon until he got hot swinging away and I wish he would continue to bunt often for base hits.  I'm not saying he is great at it and sacrifice bunting is different but the only sacrifice bunt I remember seeing from him was one right back to the pitcher that he beat out anyway.    

[Riverbrian]

 

 I think this bullpen has done a remarkable job this year and could go over game after game to show why.   I would like one more dependable guy to help than continue to do well.  I would not expect that guy to never give up runs.    Every reliever in every bullpen gives up runs.  

 

I agree with you. The angst toward the bullpen doesn't match what has actually taken place. 

 

Personally, my guess is that the bullpen hasn't really been tested (starters throwing the majority of all innings, lots of offensive run production). 

 

I could be wrong... but more importantly, I don't want to be right. 

 

I'm hopeful we find some guys (plural) to safeguard against the possibility that I am. 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I don't watch every game but my view is different than yours.   I have not seen over and over that Buxton is bad at bunting.    Two years ago it was his best offensive weapon until he got hot swinging away and I wish he would continue to bunt often for base hits.  I'm not saying he is great at it and sacrifice bunting is different but the only sacrifice bunt I remember seeing from him was one right back to the pitcher that he beat out anyway.

 

You may be right. My impression is of Molitor in years past calling for bunt after bunt, and no one on the team able to lay down an effective bunt.

 

Maybe Buxton is a good bunter when it’s his own idea, and not when there’s a play call and it’s not his idea.