MIN 10, CHW 5: Kepler Blasts 2 Bombas, Twins Outlast White Sox

[Matthew Taylor]

The very first pitch of the 2020 season was hit for a bomba. How appropriate is that? Max Kepler homered in both the first and second innings, and the Twins managed to fend off a comeback attempt by the White Sox.Box Score

Berríos: 4.0 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 1 K

Home Runs: Kepler 2

Top 3 WPA: Polanco .222, Cave .127, Kepler .089

Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs):

Download attachment: Winchart.png

 

There was some worry that it would take a while for hitters to gain their timing and catch up to pitchers this season after an abbreviated Summer Camp. The Minnesota Twins proved that wasn’t the case as the bats picked up right where they left off in 2019, to the tune of 10 runs on 11 hits under the lights of Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago.

 

Getting the hit parade going was Max Kepler, who took Lucas Giolito deep in each of the first two innings. Kepler became the first player in Minnesota Twins history to hit a home run in each of his first two at-bats of the season (Stat courtesy of @morsecode).

 

 

In addition to Max’s home runs, the Twins got RBIs courtesy of a Mitch Garver sacrifice fly and Jake Cave single to get out to an early 5-1 lead after 2 innings.

 

Minnesota’s lead didn’t last long, though, as Jose Berrios quickly found himself in trouble and allowed the White Sox to tie the game in the bottom of the second on a passed ball and a three-run home run by Yoan Moncada that made it 5-5.

 

After forcing his pitch count high early, the Twins knocked Lucas Giolito out of the game after just 3.2 innings. The Twins were then able to take advantage of the White Sox bullpen, pushing across 2 runs in the 4th inning and 3 runs in the 7th, to get the Twins to double digit runs, a feat they accomplished 22 times in 2019.

 

Aside from the two home runs from Kepler, the story for the Minnesota Twins bats in tonight’s opener was their timely hitting. On three separate occasions, the Twins produced a 2-out, 2-run hit. Jake Cave in the 1st, Jorge Polanco in the 4th and Luis Arraez in the 7th each came through in the clutch.

 

 

Some additional notes:

 

Jose Berrios Struggles

 

Hopes were extremely high for Jose Berrios heading into the 2020 season, entering the prime of his career. While he still has time to become the ace that Twins fans have been hoping for, his first impression in the new decade wasn’t the best one.

 

Berrios pitched just 4 innings, allowed five runs, and only struck out one batter. Berrios had his fastball velocity up early, hitting 96 and 97 MPH in the first two innings, but was unable to have much success with the pitch all night, allowing an average exit velocity of 92.8 MPH off of his curveball from Chicago’s hitters.

 

Berrios was able to get through clean innings in the 3rd and 4th before turning the game over to the bullpen, but was repeatedly unable to put away hitters, generating just one strikeout all night. In 2019, Berrios never had an appearance where he recorded less than two strikeouts.

 

Bullpen Looks Dominant

 

Fortunately for Berrios, the Minnesota Twins bullpen was exceptional on Friday night. After receiving the ball in the fifth inning, the Twins relievers combined to throw 5 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and striking out 7. Trevor May was the first reliever called into action, and he quickly showed just how dominating he can be, flashing a fastball that was consistently hitting the upper 90s. Following May, the Twins got their first look at Tyler Clippard who induced weak contact to quickly work his way through an inning of work. Shutting the door for the Twins were Tyler Duffey and Cody Stashak. Stashak in particular looked really impressive, generating 6 swinging strikes, 3 strikeouts, and improving his career K/BB ratio to 28.

 

Josh Donaldson Debuts

 

One of the cruelest parts of the baseball shut down for Minnesota Twins fans was that it delayed the debut of the biggest free-agent acquisition in club history, Josh Donaldson. Josh didn’t make any headlines tonight, but it was easy to see his impact nonetheless. In five plate appearances, Donaldson saw 20 pitches and drew 2 walks. He put together the kind of great at bats you look for in a number 2 hitter, and showed that he can impact the game even when he isn’t crushing the ball.

 

Luis Arraez: Still Good

 

Arguably the game MVP, Luis Arraez was extraordinarily impressive for the Minnesota Twins. Out of the number 9 spot in the lineup, Arraez was 2-for-4 with an absolutely massive 2-run, 2-out hit 7th inning. Facing the lefty Aaron Bummer, Arraez put together a classic Luis Arraez at bat, and smacked a 2-2 single into right field to bring in 2 runs and all but clinch a Twins victory. Additionally, Arraez looked really solid at second place, making a few different plays and taking away some would-be singles up the middle.

 

 

Game Presentation

 

As the first regular season game back after a 9-month hiatus, playing in front of a fan-less stadium, tonight’s game was going to be weird. The Fox Sports North crew, though, did an exceptional job putting together an extraordinary game presentation that made the game feel as normal as possible given the circumstances. It took the broadcast showing a visual of Dick Bremer and Justin Morenau announcing the game from Target Field to remember that the broadcasting duo wasn’t calling the game from Chicago.

 

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

Download attachment: Screenshot 2020-07-24 at 10.48.51 PM.png

 

Postgame Pint

After the game, Tom, Seth, John and Matthew Trueblood discussed the game and our most encouraging and discouraging developments. It's something we're trying after most games this season, so join us for our next one and check out last night's discussion below. You can also download a podcast of it here.

 

 

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[Twins_Fan_For_Life]

Bullpen! Wow!

[terrydactyls]

Living in Maine, I haven't seen Stashek pitch much. Color me impressed. Wherever Garver put the target, Stashek put the ball. The only hit was on a pitch thrown exactly where Garver wanted it. Quite a performance by the bullpen.

[VivaBomboRivera!]

Two troubling carry-overs for Berrios from last season:

• Good hitters read him like a book.  Is it possible that something in his motion tips his curveball?
• His concentration seems to dip when he is staked to a lead

 

Sunny side:  Nice to see him clock his fastball at 95mph.

 

On 24 July 2019, how many of you would have bet on the bullpen being as good as it looks today?  5 innings, no runs, 2H, 2 BB, 7K and just 3 batters above minimum.  Outstanding.

 

Bats are fine.  Easy to see Donaldson was very eager to get his first hit in a Twins jersey.  Cave deserves better from all of us.

 

Oh, and 2 unassisted at first.  We will not see this again in our lifetimes.

[Jimv]

Interesting to see that May is the WP.  I think this is one of those somewhat unusual games where the Sp left with a lead but didn't have 5 innings, so can't get the win.  In those cases, I think the official scorer gets to pick the WP, based on overall performance.  If that's right, and I'm the official scorer, my choice is the guy that pitched twice as many innings as any other reliever (none of them gave up a run), and also had the lowest WIP of the group.  And best of all, it's the guy who would be getting his first major league win--Cody Stashak.

[rghrbek]

I cannot explain both how awesome it was to have a actual regular season game on tv, while understanding for the first time in baseball history every game is a sprint not a marathon.

 

I am happy to have baseball, but am terrified how our collective community will freak out more during each game, because the weight of each game is actually real.  For baseball. 

 

Want to enjoy the win, which I have, but also, feel like we have to win every series right?  It's kind of stressful in a whole new way.

Win twins!!!!

[ToddlerHarmon]

Stashak was good and all, but disappointing the Twins couldn't finish the Trevor-Tyler-Tyler-Taylor combo. Ah well, there's another game tomorrow.

[twinsfanstreif]

It sucks to have missed the game, I live in the UK and first pitch was 1:10am, there's no way I was staying up for it, unfortunately I'll only be able to catch day games. But it's great to wake up to a victory! Kepler is on pace for 120 home runs! Breaking records baby!!!!! I'm a little worried about Berrios' rough start, hopefully it's just breaking off the rust

[bighat]

Few takeaways:

 

1. Polanco and Arraez are not part of the Big Bopper crew but they may very well be the keys to the offense this season. Great to see them both with 2 hits and multiple RBI.

 

2. Kepler set the tone and showed the Twins offense "we're ready". You see teams like the Braves, Brewers, Rockies, Royals, Colorado all getting shut out on opening day. That's going to plant seeds of doubt. Kepler set the tone, the Twins followed and scored 10.

 

3. The White Sox aren't a joke anymore. Their lineup reminds me of the Twins, frankly. Anderson, Moncada, Abreau, Encarnacion, Jiminez, Robert....wow. Not much breathing room until you get to the 8th batter. They don't have the depth of the Twins, the pitching is a question mark, but they are going to be good. I would HATE to run into those guys in the 1st round of these expanded playoffs. They look like they could beat anyone on any day.

 

 

[pcq]

The Twins are ridiculous and should be banned. Robert hits first pitch 115 which only one Sox hitter did last year. Letting GG Yolmer Sanchez leave might have cost them a chance to win. Never take defense for granted. Wonder if a GG winner was ever released before. Next week Madrigal plays. If the Twins played in the ALE they would be featured on ESPN every day but it's only the ALC.

[Richard Swerdlick]

Great to have baseball again. Is it just me or do some of the Twins such as Berrios, Polanco, Arraez, look like their bodies are filling out ( in a good way)?

[mikelink45]

I am happy to have Cave start instead of Gonzalez - I do not want Gonzalez in the OF when we have Cave and Wade on the bench.

[Old Twins Cap]

Berrios not sharp.  You have to get the #9 batter out in the 2nd inning by throwing him strikes.  Didn't get it done and it cost him four runs.

 

Other hand, glad we aren't the Orioles, who started Tommy Milone on opening day.   Remember those years?

 

Or the Tigers, whose three of first four hitters are former Twins, Goodrum, Schoop and Cron.  Cron did homer for their only run.

 

Twins really could stand out this year, and it would not be a step back to have to go to a "bullpen game".

[highlander]

Did I miss that the Twins have 2 Smeltzers on the team? Or is Delvin double listed on the bullpen chart?

 

Really disappointed I wasn't naked to a crisp watching the Twins in Arlington last week. Sigh, it's good to have the Bombas back in action!

[highlander]

Effing autocorrect, baked not naked. LOL! I bet everyone of you would have been dogging me if that happened at the game.

[jmlease1]

Berrios just didn't have good command of his pitches. The stuff is still good, but it looks like he needed some more time and game play to get sharp. I think he'll be fine, and it's not like the ChiSox are a bad hitting team.

 

Donaldson may not have brought rain last night, but he still made a couple of fine defensive plays along with taking good ABs. He's a great fit and it was great to see him finally make his debut.

 

And what can you say about Kepler? Seemed determined to show that he breakout last year wasn't a fluke or because of juiced baseballs, that's for sure. Keep on with your boomstick, Max!

[Thebigalguy]

I was proud of the pre-game to honor the movement for justice. Jackie Robinson would be proud, too. And then Max’s first pitch homer. The men of summer are back; let’s hope they can play without incident. Could this be the year they get past the Yanks? As for Berrios, this isn’t the first time he’s given up an early lead. With the pen this year, I’m not worried. He’ll figure it out.

[joefish]

Stashek was sneaky good last year too. I like the way he attacks the hitters and the strike zone. Gotta trust your catcher and hit your spots. He does that too. Good looking young pitcher.

[wabene]

I like how when pressed to share what he may be discouraged with, Seth managed some praise and more positivity towards the White Sox.

[puckstopper1]

The Twins lineup is ridiculously deep. Sano batting eight? That likely won't happen very often, but it worked out well for the team as Cave came thru with that clutch hit in the 1st. Well done, Rocco!

 

What other team can score 10 runs when three of their most dangerous hitters (Sano, Donaldson and Garver) go 0 for 10 with 5 Ks?