Twins 8, White Sox 1: Berríos Dominates, Bats Bust Out

[Andrew Gebo]

José Berríos struck out eight batters over six innings of one-run ball while the Twins’ lineup scored eight runs for the first time in 19 games. The White Sox did their part to help things along as well, committing four more errors to end what was an ugly series in the field for Chicago.Box Score

Berríos: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K

Home Runs: Cave (2), Sanó (8), Rosario (8)

Top 3 WPA: Berríos .205, Donaldson .192, Cave .107

Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs):

Download attachment: WinChart.png

 

Quality Start For Berrios

Jose Berrios took the mound for the Minnesota Twins in the rubber match of the series and provided the Twins with the kind of start they were hoping for. Jose was dialed in from the first inning and looked very sharp all night. He ran into a little trouble in the third when he gave up a single and two walks. He could have wiggled out the jam had he gotten some help from his defense but he was able to limit the damage and only allowed one run to score.

 

His final line was 6 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K

 

The effort tonight from Berrios is exactly what this team needed. They finally snapped their losing streak last night and needed a good start from their ace to take the series against a very good Chicago White Sox team.

 

Offense Comes Alive

Josh Donaldson was activated off the IL today and immediately made a positive impact. He singled in his first at-bat and would later drive in a pair with a double to right-center in the second inning. His presence in the lineup had definitely been missed.

 

Ownage is ownage and Jake Cave certainly owns Reynaldo Lopez. His first home run of the season came in the opening series of the year against Chicago when he took Lopez deep. He did it again tonight when he hit a solo shot in the second to put Minnesota on the board early. That wasn’t the only offense Cave would provide tonight. He also singled and drove in Arraez for his second RBI of the game in the fifth inning.

 

Miguel Sano continues to swing a hot bat. He launched a solo home run in the fourth inning and led off the fifth with a double. He would later score on a very ugly defensive play. So ugly you have to see it for yourself.

 

 

Eddie Rosario kept the offensive attack going when he blasted a two-run home run in the sixth inning to propel Minnesota to an 8-1 lead.

 

 

Injury Bug Bites Again

Last night we got Buxton back off the IL, tonight we got Donaldson back but two more Twins left the game early with injury.

 

Max Kepler pulled up limp after scoring from first on the double from Donaldson and was replaced by Marwin Gonzalez. Luis Arraez also left the game early after limping into second and was replaced by Ehire Adrianza.

 

Neither injury appeared to be too serious but the Minnesota Twins can’t afford to be without either player for any extended period of time.

 

Minnesota Bullpen Slams the Door

Jorge Alcala entered the game in the seventh following the quality outing from Berrios. Alcala would toss two scoreless innings, allowing only one hit and striking out two.

 

Devin Smeltzer was called upon in the top of the ninth to put the game on ice and he did exactly that.

 

White Sox Defense Was Bad… Very Bad

The Minnesota Twins would have won tonight regardless but the Chicago defense was downright awful. They committed four errors, including the ridiculous debacle of a rundown play that allowed Sano to score in the fifth (see video above).

 

The Twins will enjoy a day off tomorrow before playing a doubleheader against Detroit on Friday.

 

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

Download attachment: Bullpen.png

 

Postgame Pint

John Bonnes, Seth Stohs and Jeremy Nygaard were joined by Twins Daily's virtual live audience to break down the game (and some crummy injury news).

 

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[JadenPoint]

Maybe Jeffers should become Berrios regular catcher? They seem to be working well together

[Danchat]

It's good to see some life in this team, though this game felt like a freebie since Lopez was starting. We're just 1.5 games back now, and will likely have the tiebreaker over the White Sox since we're 4-2 against them. Not bad, as the Yankees, who have also scuttled lately (lost 7 straight), are 4.5 back on the Rays. 

 

I wonder if Kepler and Arraez will hit the IL after they both pulled something while running the bases. Perhaps Blankenhorn and Rooker will be given a shot?

 

 

[ToddlerHarmon]

 

Maybe Jeffers should become Berrios regular catcher? They seem to be working well together

 

Jeffers seems to be earning the Margo treatment from Baldelli - he finds a way to play his glove as often as possible

 

[curt1965]

If Kepler indeed needs to go on the IL, hopefully they will bring up Kirillof!

He deserves a chance-Twins need to play their best players!

[DocBauer]

Don't care if it turned out to be a blowout of not, couple great innings from Alcala and Smeltzer.

 

Thinking Kepler had a cramp. Hoping that is all it is. Arraez has been playing through a bad knee all season. Again hoping it was a mild tweak of the same injury and not something worse.

 

HATE no Twins game tomorrow while spending father and son time with my dad. HAPPY everyone gets a day off to rest and recuperate.

 

Gave away game 1. Won games 2 and 3. Time to get on a roll.

[twinbythebay]

Rooker seems much more likely to be called up than Kirilloff if Kepler goes on the IL. And if Arraez also goes on the IL, perhaps it's finally La Tortuga time?

 

This entire series featured little-league-level defense from both teams. If the Twins made the plays they should've made tonight, Berrios probably gets through 7 innings. Very ugly to watch, but kudos for the Twins for taking full advantage of the Sox errors. I think this is also the first time in like 10 games that the Twins have had more than one multi-run inning, which is a sentence that just made me very sad to type. I'm not going to check, but I highly doubt that last year's team had such a streak at any point in the year.

 

Also, every time I start thinking that Rosario is awful, he makes me bite my tongue. Tonight was a great example. His OPS for the season is still pretty bad, but still higher than the Twins' overall OPS on the season, sadly...

[MABB1959]

I didn't hear why Buxton was out yesterday?

[IndianaTwin]

 

Rooker seems much more likely to be called up than Kirilloff if Kepler goes on the IL. And if Arraez also goes on the IL, perhaps it's finally La Tortuga time?

 

This entire series featured little-league-level defense from both teams. If the Twins made the plays they should've made tonight, Berrios probably gets through 7 innings. Very ugly to watch, but kudos for the Twins for taking full advantage of the Sox errors. I think this is also the first time in like 10 games that the Twins have had more than one multi-run inning, which is a sentence that just made me very sad to type. I'm not going to check, but I highly doubt that last year's team had such a streak at any point in the year.

 

Also, every time I start thinking that Rosario is awful, he makes me bite my tongue. Tonight was a great example. His OPS for the season is still pretty bad, but still higher than the Twins' overall OPS on the season, sadly...

 

It's also just the fourth time this season and the second time since the opening weekend that they have scored more than seven runs. Last year they did that in about one of every four games. Even the Pirates have done it as many times as the Twins this year, and the Nats have done it five times. 

 

[rdehring]

Now that was better, although the two injuries hurt. If both are going to be out more than a few days, they are going to have to make a move. Will Vargas pass thru waivers and get back on the 40-man and active rosters?

 

Again impressed with Alcala. Gotta believe he will be a big part of future pens beginning next year.

 

As for bringing in Rooker, Kirilloff or other young prospects, just don't see it. They would need to make a 40-man move, plus burn an option year for what...a handful of games this year. Unless someone gets hurt a few weeks down the road so the player isn't likely to be optioned, don't see them adding anyone. With that said, watch for one of them to be called up tomorrow.

[KFEY93]

 

I didn't hear why Buxton was out yesterday?

Yeah what gives? He doesnt need rest..he's been resting for two weeks. Again, Rocco, if they are there and healthy..PLAY THEM!!! He was the only reason we won a game the night before and then you sit him, it makes no sense. He would have caught that ball that Cave whiffed on in center last night too. 

[Alex Schieferdecker]

Love to see a rested bullpen!

[Shaitan]

 

I didn't hear why Buxton was out yesterday?

Easing him back after an injury. 

[Shaitan]

If Arraez can't be counted on to play regularly and he isn't hitting, they may as well put him on IL and let him fully heal. Though he's looked a little better lately.

[bighat]

 

If Arraez can't be counted on to play regularly and he isn't hitting, they may as well put him on IL and let him fully heal. Though he's looked a little better lately.

He's indeed looked better as a hitter lately, it's not been unnoticed.

 

That said, his defense....yikes.

[4twinsJA]

Rooker makes sense, he is on 40 man roster and RH bat. Older prospect, time to see what he can do if Kepler out.

[USNMCPO]

 

Now that was better, although the two injuries hurt. If both are going to be out more than a few days, they are going to have to make a move. Will Vargas pass thru waivers and get back on the 40-man and active rosters?

 

Again impressed with Alcala. Gotta believe he will be a big part of future pens beginning next year.

 

As for bringing in Rooker, Kirilloff or other young prospects, just don't see it. They would need to make a 40-man move, plus burn an option year for what...a handful of games this year. Unless someone gets hurt a few weeks down the road so the player isn't likely to be optioned, don't see them adding anyone. With that said, watch for one of them to be called up tomorrow.

Rooker is 26 I believe. There is no reason to worry about service time with him. If Kepler is injured or even if he just needs a reset I say bring Rooker up and see what he can do. Kepler has not played his normal way for a couple of weeks.

[twinbythebay]

 

Yeah what gives? He doesnt need rest..he's been resting for two weeks. Again, Rocco, if they are there and healthy..PLAY THEM!!! He was the only reason we won a game the night before and then you sit him, it makes no sense. He would have caught that ball that Cave whiffed on in center last night too. 

It's not as cut and dry as that. Rocco has said that they have a detailed plan to ease Buxton and Donaldson back into playing every day in order to minimize the risk of reaggravating any injuries. Ensuring that these guys are fully healthy and back to their normal selves in four weeks is more important than winning the division.

[Trov]

It is crazy the moment you think you have your team back two fall down.  Shows how important depth is in this league because no player plays every game any more.  Plug and play lineups are thing of the past.  

 

The defense for both teams look bad the whole series.  Sano had many bad plays, but he had some great scoops saving some bad throws.  Aarize was just bad out there fielding this series, fumbling the ball on several plays.  The Sox were not any better, in fact worse.  Dropping fly balls, throwing the ball all around.  I found it interesting when coming into series it was talked about good defense of Sox, but in the games I have watched their defense is not doing well.  I do not follow all the metrics so maybe my eyes are not telling me the truth or maybe Sox just play bad defense against the Twins. 

[rdehring]

 

Rooker is 26 I believe. There is no reason to worry about service time with him. If Kepler is injured or even if he just needs a reset I say bring Rooker up and see what he can do. Kepler has not played his normal way for a couple of weeks.

Agree that I would love to see how he does against big league pitching for a couple weeks. But the cost of getting him a couple weeks would be losing someone off the 40-man.

 

So the question is, who do you want to lose for him to get those couple weeks? If you look at the 40-man, there is no longer some cannon fodder on that roster like years past. Losing anyone will have a cost tied to it as it would have to be someone like Wade, Gordon, Astudillo, Thorpe. Is it worth losing someone like that for Rooker to see ten games with the Twins?

[Doctor Gast]

 

 Losing anyone will have a cost tied to it as it would have to be someone like Wade, Gordon, Astudillo, Thorpe. Is it worth losing someone like that for Rooker to see ten games with the Twins?

Why not not boot Vargas, I never understood why we picked him up. They said that they were looking towards the future. IMO his future is worse than his present

[twinbythebay]

 

Why not not boot Vargas, I never understood why we picked him up. They said that they were looking towards the future. IMO his future is worse than his present

They DFA'd Vargas yesterday to make room for Donaldson. I wonder how close Littell and Stashak are to returning... If one of them isn't close to coming back, they could move them to the 45-day IL and add Rooker. But It's probably much more likely that they just call up Astudillo and/or Wade.

[Cap'n Piranha]

 

Agree that I would love to see how he does against big league pitching for a couple weeks. But the cost of getting him a couple weeks would be losing someone off the 40-man.

 

So the question is, who do you want to lose for him to get those couple weeks? If you look at the 40-man, there is no longer some cannon fodder on that roster like years past. Losing anyone will have a cost tied to it as it would have to be someone like Wade, Gordon, Astudillo, Thorpe. Is it worth losing someone like that for Rooker to see ten games with the Twins?

 

Although I'd hate to lose him for nothing, at this point Nick Gordon is fairly superfluous.  If you want Cruz back next year (and why wouldn't you), there are literally no infield spots open for 3 more years or until Cruz retires.  In the outfield, Gordon is definitely behind Kiriloff and Larnach, not to mention Rosario, Buxton, and Kepler who all have at least 1 year of control left.  If the cost to getting a right-handed power bat to use against lefties is letting Gordon walk for free, I am all for it.

[h2oface]

Seems odd and not optimum for the Twins and Tigers to both take the day off today, and schedule the make up game as part of a double header on Friday instead, instead of playing single games on Thursday and Friday. Plus, 7 inning games are little league.

[ashbury]

Plus, 7 inning games are little league.

They played 9 innings last night and it was still little league.