Game Score: Tigers 10, Twins 7

[Matthew Taylor]

The Minnesota Twins’ offense put on a show on Thursday night, hitting a combined four home runs on the night. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough as the Tigers plated ten runs, handing the Twins their 88th loss of the season.

Box Score
Ryan: 4 2/3 IP, 6 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
Home runs: Donaldson (25), Buxton (17, 18), Rooker (9)
Bottom 3 WPA: Ryan -.442, Garver -.085, Polanco -.082

Win Probability Chart (Via FanGraphs?

In a game that was started by two promising starting pitching prospects, offense ruled the day as both pitchers struggled to keep the opposing bats in check.

The scoring started quickly for the Minnesota Twins when in the bottom of the first inning, leadoff man Byron Buxton crushed his 17th home run of the season 426 feet to give the Twins an early 1-0 lead.

Not long after, in the top of the third inning, old friend Niko Goodrum hit a solo home run of his own to tie the game.

Things looked like they were coming up Twins in the third inning, though, when Josh Donaldson connected with a three-run home run to left field, his 25th home run of the season. The home run marked the sixth time in Donaldson’s career in which he has eclipsed 25 home runs in a season, and it was the 250th home run of his career.

While Joe Ryan had limited damage for the Twins through the first three innings of the game, the Tigers got to Ryan and opened up the game in the fourth inning when the Tigers converted an RBI double from Harold Castro and another home run from Goodrum to give the Tigers a 5-4 lead.

The Twins offense continued to fight back, though, this time a solo home run from Brent Rooker to tie the game, the ninth of the season for the right-hander.

After Jonathan Schoop and Luis Arraez exchanged RBI singles for each team, Byron Buxton hit his second home run of the night in the bottom of the 7th inning to break the tie and give the Twins a 7-6 lead.

The Minnesota Twins’ bullpen was unable to hold the lead for the Twins as the Tigers scored four unanswered runs in the final two innings of the game to give the Detroit Tigers a 10-7 win over the Twins.

Postgame Interviews

 

 

What’s Next

 

The Minnesota Twins will head to Kansas City tomorrow night as they begin their final series of the season.

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[ToddlerHarmon]

Sign Buxton

[Brandon]

If the Twins take 2 of 3 in Kansas City we avoid 90 losses.  also can Rooker get to 10 HR and Buxton to 20?

[roger]

What a great month/year for Ryan.  And yes, a clunker like last night should be expected.  As he said, a great opportunity and so much to learn.

And it becomes critical to the Twins future that they sign Buxton to an extension this winter.  Build around this young man, including a top 4th outfielder who is solid in center field.  Perhaps that is Celestino.

[big dog]

It feels like Goodrum has 9 home runs this year and 14 of them came against the Twins. When a player only performs well against the team that cut him, it suggests that team wasn't wrong, even if they have take some pain as a result.

Figure it out, Goodrum- play like that against everyone. Provide your own motivation.

[TwinsDr2021]

8 hours ago, ToddlerHarmon said:

Sign Buxton

I can picture him talking to agent, screaming show me the money!

[bean5302]

31 minutes ago, TwinsDr2021 said:

I can picture him talking to agent, screaming show me the money!

I can picture the Twins saying, he's played 92 or fewer MLB games for the 6th season in his 7 year career, his OPS dropped 200 points since his return to the line up on Aug 27th because he had a league average or worse bat over that span of time until last night. Don't call me and scream show me the money every time your player has a good game. By the way, I assume when I get a call about Buxton, he's hurt again. We should probably sit him for the last couple games so he isn't hurt this offseason.

[mike8791]

The only encouraging thing about this year's pitching staff is the late emergence of Ober and Ryan as likely members of next year's rotation.  Up until yesterday, Ryan has appeared to have the highest ceiling of any of our prospects.  I'm not panicking over one stinker, but unfortunately, this is it for 2021 and Detroit is not one of the better offenses in the AL, albeit a little better than Cubs and Indians.  Not having seen the game, what went wrong yesterday?   I know the rx to this question is "don't panic" but still shell-shocked over this abysmal year, I'm wondering if Ryan is the real deal?  

[tony&rodney]

We sure hope Buxton continues as a Twins and plays like a superstar, but his contract situation is difficult to figure. Additionally, it is really hard to know what value he would have in a trade. Someone wrote in a comment elsewhere that the Twins should trade Buxton for C. J. Abrams and Mackenzie Gore. Hmmm? Both of these guys are viewed as potential stars but could also fizzle too. It was fun to watch Buxton play last night and I'm hoping the Twins can find common ground with him. His status is the first piece of the offseason puzzle.

[mikelink45]

At this point there is not much to learn from any one team.  But I am enjoying the rise of the Tigers on the backs of the ex-Twins and a young pitching staff.   Goodrum was like Baddoo, someone plucked from our minor leagues who jumped at his chance.  Of course Schoop was just a one year signing, but we dumped him quick and he too has taken advantage of the opportunity.  Goodrum was never a real prospect and would not have made the Twins but he now has five years and a line of 230/304/398 - 703 OPS  His total WAR is only 2.3, but his versatility has really benefitted the Tigers.   Akil Baddoo has a line of 257/304/438 - 764 and 2 WAR for this year.  

I always like to cheer for former Twins organization players. 

[jmlease1]

not a great outing by Ryan (sure started well, though). Makes me wish he had another start or two this year to see if it was a blip or guys starting to figure some things out against him, but I guess we'll have to wait until next year to find out. With Goodrum being the one that did most of the damage, I'm inclined to think it's a blip: Niko Goodrum is not a particularly good hitter.

I've been on the "Sign Buxton" train all year, injuries or no. I think we need him, and I think we should want him, I think we should pay him. These games won't change my opinion on that one way or the other: he's a great player when healthy. And there's frankly no way to know for sure if he'll be healthy enough to put together the MVP seasons he's capable of. But I think he's special enough to be worth the risk. I love the guy and I want him patrolling CF for the MN twins.

[dex8425]

50 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

We sure hope Buxton continues as a Twins and plays like a superstar, but his contract situation is difficult to figure. Additionally, it is really hard to know what value he would have in a trade. Someone wrote in a comment elsewhere that the Twins should trade Buxton for C. J. Abrams and Mackenzie Gore. Hmmm? Both of these guys are viewed as potential stars but could also fizzle too. It was fun to watch Buxton play last night and I'm hoping the Twins can find common ground with him. His status is the first piece of the offseason puzzle.

Yeah no way the Padres would do that trade. One year of Buxton is not worth that much. Maybe Buxton for Gore, straight up. I'd probably do that too. 

[tony&rodney]

5 minutes ago, dex8425 said:

Yeah no way the Padres would do that trade. One year of Buxton is not worth that much. Maybe Buxton for Gore, straight up. I'd probably do that too. 

Agree. I didn't suggest the trade but just wonder what value Buxton holds for another team. If the Twins cannot sign him they need to allow teams an opportunity to negotiate a contract with Buxton. This then changes the calculus of value to some extent. Back to the Padres ... I have wondered what they value and it is worth remembering that no prospect is a star yet. Buxton is a unicorn of sorts and I am predicting decent health and a strong career from him going forward. Of course, this almost seems foolish given his troubles staying on the field but he is young, strong, has not lost a step, and has begun to gain some real MLB skills. I hope Buxton signs with the Twins but am in the dark as to value to another team.

[VivaBomboRivera!]

Welcome to the Major Leagues, Joe Ryan.

[AceWrigley]

Byron Buxton should play for one team his whole career, and that team is the Minnesota Twins.

[puckstopper1]

1 hour ago, AceWrigley said:

Byron Buxton should play for one team his whole career, and that team is the Minnesota Twins.

It takes two to tango, Ace.  The Twins need to find out what Buxton's bottom line is this offseason.  If he wants Harper/Machado like money, the Twins need to trade him for as much as they can get for him.

He has the tools to be a gamechanger and true superstar when he is on the field.  We all know that being on the field is not something he excels at.