Front Page: Twins Game Recap (9/16): Berrios tosses a strong 7.1 innings

[Nate Palmer]

After a big series win in Cleveland, the Twins welcomed the White Sox to town Monday night. The lineup continued to get healthy as Marwin Gonzalez returned to the lineup and Jose Berrios looked good again as the Twins won 5-3.Box Score

Starter Jose Berrios: 7.1 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 8 K, 69% strikes (65 of 94 pitches)

Bullpen: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

 

Home Runs: None

Multi-Hit Games: Luis Arraez (3-for-4), Mitch Garver (2-for-3)

 

Top 3 WPA: Mitch Garver (.205), Jose Berrios (.204), Luis Arraez (.182)

Bottom 3 WPA: Jake Cave (-.197), Eddie Rosario (-.109), Sergio Romo (-.002)

 

It took Jose Berrios some time to get locked in, resulting in the White Sox taking an early 2-0 lead. The first coming off of a sacrifice fly from Jose Abreu and the second from a Jame McCann home run.

 

That lead didn’t last long as the Twins strung some singles together to get runners on base and tie the game up 2-2 after a Jorge Polanco sac fly and a Nelson Cruz single. It was from that point on that Berrios settled in and wouldn’t allow the White Sox to produce any more runs off.

 

A Garver RBI double in the fifth and the strangest two-run single by Luis Arraez put the Twins up 5-2 after six innings. That lead backed Berrios as he continued to pitch well with good velocity and made it into the eighth inning before giving way to the bullpen.

 

 

Romo giving up a home run late is depressing but all in all a solid game by the Twins. It was fun watching Marwin play again especially his reaction to the successful pick-off from Berrios.

 

The big take away as we look to the postseason is that Berrios is looking more and more like a pitcher who can help lead the team in some big games. And apparently the Twins don't need to hit home runs to win games. Who knew?

 

Postgame With Baldelli

Coming Soon

 

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

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

 

Click here to view the article

[terrydactyls]

Today is Monday, September 16.  It was the 150th game of the year putting the Twins 93% of the way through the season.  The Twins hit 0 home runs for a season total of 287 home runs.  The Twins are 1 home run ahead of the Yankees for the new MLB single-season home run record.

[Monticore]

Berrios looking good. Welcome seeing Marwin. Like to see this team win 100.

[Vanimal46]

It's a relief to see Berrios back in a groove. I'm just ready for the playoffs now.

[bighat]

Berrios! Marwin is back! Rogers!

 

Nice comeback win.

[Aerodeliria]

That hit by Arraez looked like one of those hits when I was kid playing at Rocket Park in Anoka, MN. You never knew when a batted ball was going ricochet off a stone or hardened clump of mud.

 

I saw the video from a couple of angles. Moncada completely guessed correctly. The ball just seemed to have a mind of its own.

[akmanak]

Toss a good game against a quality team and I will be impressed. Glad we got the win.

[JadenPoint]

Nice to see Berrios backing up his last start with another solid outing. No Giolito is more good news!

[MMMordabito]

Arraez got to 100 hits in a blink. I can't remember the last Twin to do it so quickly.

[Tom Froemming]

The Twins need Jose Berrios. He appears to be back on track after turning in another strong start tonight.

[Dantes929]

Not sure what is depressing about Romo giving up a homerun.    An error and a walk before the home run would have been depressing.   Everyone gives up runs.  Everyone.  Twins did a nice job of hanging in there to get a big win.

[h2oface]

The pitches had great movement again for Berrios. I hope he can harness that and bring it the rest of the year. That kind of movement will play well against any team.

[MMMordabito]

Nice to see Berrios backing up his last start with another solid outing. No Giolito is more good news!

I'll take that card falling to the Twins as well. Giolito is going to be a thorn for many seasons, so a break with so many of our own ailing is fine with me. The only problem is that Giolito is the type of hurler they will see in the playoffs. It will be quite the jump from Detwiler, Covey, Sparkman, et al. to Verlander and Cole.

[puckstopper1]

 

I'll take that card falling to the Twins as well. Giolito is going to be a thorn for many seasons, so a break with so many of our own ailing is fine with me. The only problem is that Giolito is the type of hurler they will see in the playoffs. It will be quite the jump from Detwiler, Covey, Sparkman, et al. to Verlander and Cole.

 

Don't forget Greinke.

 

Verlander, Cole and Greinke are why I'm leaning towards - *GASP* - preferring to play the Yankees in the Divisional series...

[stringer bell]

 

I'll take that card falling to the Twins as well. Giolito is going to be a thorn for many seasons, so a break with so many of our own ailing is fine with me. The only problem is that Giolito is the type of hurler they will see in the playoffs. It will be quite the jump from Detwiler, Covey, Sparkman, et al. to Verlander and Cole.

Agreed. But I would give a healthy, rested Twins lineup a chance against anyone. Verlander, Cole and Grienke is as good as it gets right now, but I'd still give the Twins a sluggers chance against them.

[MABB1959]

This is getting more and more exciting.  Remember when we couldn't buy a home run.  Dozier was good for quite a few during his good half season but besides him there was never a player where you knew there was a legimate shot.  Now we go a night w/o one and it is noticeable.  That is a good thing!  So looks like we make the playoffs, will we be happy with one and done?  I hope for 87 again but think I will be happy with just one series and this new team.  This team has fighters and they are earning their playiing time which is far different than the last 10 years when the favorites played even when a non favorite was on a roll.  Oh well hopefully now that is over and these guys keep pushing each other knowing there is someone on the bench that could take their spot.  Love it!

[VATwinsFan]

Arraez batting a cool .350.

 

Whoever decided to call him up deserves a bonus.

[Old Twins Cap]

Remember when?

 

D. SpanCF
O. Hudson2B
J. MauerC
D. YoungLF
J. ThomeDH
M. Cuddyer1B
J. KubelRF
    J. RepkoPR-RF
D. Valencia3B
    M. TolbertPR-3B
J.J. HardySS

 

 

Box score from last time Twins played a playoff series in 2010.

[JW24]

Nice game by Berrios last night! Reminded me of a vintage Brad Radke outing; give up 2 in the first and nothing else.

 

Tyler Duffey was awesome last night as well. Currently in the middle of an 18.2 consecutive scoreless innings stretch (30 strikeouts to 5 walks during that time). Thank goodness the Twins bullpen has gotten healthy and incredibly reliable while the lineup has been struggling to stay on the field. Let's clinch the division soon and go into the playoffs at mostly full strength and one of the best bullpens in baseball!

[Only Here in Negative]

Arraez came through with that weird single but I hope that come playoff time, Rocco understands that he should be pinch hitting Schoop against a lefty reliever in a big late situation. Schoop has a .965 OPS against lefties and those numbers are even higher against lefty relievers. Arraez is a big enough threat to summong that lefty and pivoting to Schoop could be the difference in a playoff game. Arraez is only a .707 OPS against lefties so there's a clear platoon advantage to be gained. Its not a defensive downgrade either, they seem about the same to my untrained eye.

 

I guess I would make an exception on situation. Last night the Twins were up and they had one out so contact was preferential to power (though worth noting that if that ball wasn't cursed, it's an easy play for Moncado to cut down the runner at the plate). But if the Twins are down, I want Schoop, destroyer of LHP.

[Riverbrian]

Berrios looking good. Welcome seeing Marwin. Like to see this team win 100.

The most that Cleveland can reach with 12 games left is 99 wins.

 

100 wins for the Twins sounds perfect.

[laloesch]

 

Don't forget Greinke.

 

Verlander, Cole and Greinke are why I'm leaning towards - *GASP* - preferring to play the Yankees in the Divisional series...

 

I agree but it's not gonna matter anyways. The Twins don't have the starters to compete with any of the playoff teams at this point. Anything is possible i guess, but i just don't see it when you have to rely on Gibson and Perez who have both been awful down the stretch here.

[Riverbrian]

It occurred to me this morning that it feels good to be on this side of the magic number for a change.

[Nate Palmer]

 

Not sure what is depressing about Romo giving up a homerun.    An error and a walk before the home run would have been depressing.   Everyone gives up runs.  Everyone.  Twins did a nice job of hanging in there to get a big win.

I will admit "depressing" is a little strong. I originally had some words to soften its impact but took them out. More of "meh, that kinda stinks" then a "the sky is falling!" sort of depressing.  

[SpicyGarvSauce]

 

Toss a good game against a quality team and I will be impressed. Glad we got the win.

 

He did in his last start, against Washington.

[rdehring]

After giving up a couple runs early, Berrios settled down and rolled thru the next 5.1 innings like an ACE should.  Great seeing him back in the saddle.

 

Wasn't the blowout win I always hope for, but, a win is a win is a win.  Now on to game 2 with Giolito in the dugout.  Doubt we can expect the Indians to lose many of the three at Detroit, but every win reduces that magic number.  I want to see it at 2 when the Twins get on the plane Sunday night.

[PDX Twin]

 

Remember when?

 

D. SpanCF
O. Hudson2B
J. MauerC
D. YoungLF
J. ThomeDH
M. Cuddyer1B
J. KubelRF
    J. RepkoPR-RF
D. Valencia3B
    M. TolbertPR-3B
J.J. HardySS

 

 

Box score from last time Twins played a playoff series in 2010.

 

That was a decent starting lineup. Valencia hadn't quite gotten it together yet and Hardy had an off year, but that lineup deserved to be division champs.

[jmlease1]

Berrios looked good last night. It was pretty fun listening to Joe Mays come in the booth and marvel at the movement on his curve, nice little interlude but also added something to the broadcast. (and refreshing contrast to the "in my day, everyone was tougher/better/smarter" stories you sometimes get)

 

Arraez just keeps on hitting. He's not going to be a power bat, but I think he'll be able to shoot enough balls into gaps to maintain a respectable enough slugging % to go with a mighty high BA & OBP. He's an absolute keeper at 2B.

[Dantes929]

 

That was a decent starting lineup. Valencia hadn't quite gotten it together yet and Hardy had an off year, but that lineup deserved to be division champs.

Valencia hit .311 that year.    Hardy was decent as well at .268.   It was a very good lineup but the big bummer was Morneau had an OPS of 1.055 after 81 games before going down with concussion.    

[AceWrigley]

 

That hit by Arraez looked like one of those hits when I was kid playing at Rocket Park in Anoka, MN. You never knew when a batted ball was going ricochet off a stone or hardened clump of mud.

 

I saw the video from a couple of angles. Moncada completely guessed correctly. The ball just seemed to have a mind of its own.

"I am a base hit gosh darn it, and you can't do anything to stop me."

 

The most fun single of the season.