Brewers 10, Twins 4: Tellez Is Too Rowdy for the Twins

[Thiéres Rabelo]

First baseman Rowdy Tellez drove in six runs on two home runs and almost single-handedly catapulted the Brewers to another win and the series sweep. Chris Archer struggled with his command and had one of his worst starts of the year.

 

Box Score
Starting Pitcher: Chris Archer, 3 IP, 3H, 6R, 6ER, 6BB, 2K (78 pitches, 36 strikes, 46.1%)
Home Runs: Jose Miranda (9), Kyle Garlick (8)
Bottom 3 WPA: Chris Archer (-.309), Jharel Cotton (-.191), Luis Arraez (-.067)
Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)

Things did not look good at all for Minnesota after the first inning of this game. Reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes cruised through the top of the inning on 16 pitches, with the only Twins baserunner coming after a fielding error on the outfield. Then, Chris Archer struggled badly, allowing each of the first four batters he faced to reach. After a Christian Yelich leadoff walk and a single by Willy Adames, Rowdy Tellez crushed the first pitch he saw for a three-run home run.

The Twins provided a quick response, though. At the top of the second, José Miranda homered off Burnes in the very first pitch of the inning, putting Minnesota on the board, and starting Burnes’ nightmare inning. The Twins lineup made the All-Star starter work twice as hard to get through the second inning – it took him 32 pitches to complete the frame.

After the Miranda home run and an Alex Kirilloff groundout, Minnesota’s bottom third of the lineup got three consecutive hits that scored two more runs and tied the game. Kyle Garlick doubled to right and scored after Nick Gordon did the same thing. Gordon himself scored too on a Gary Sanchez liner to center. The Twins were back at the top of the lineup with only one out and a man on, but they couldn’t capitalize.

In fact, Burnes really settled down starting right there, in the second inning. He struck out Luis Arráez and Carlos Correa to get out of the jam, but that wasn’t all. Those two strikeouts began a hot streak for the Crew’s ace, as he went on to retire thirteen straight Minnesota batters.

Archer, bullpen give up seven runs on two home runs
Archer tossed a couple of scoreless innings, in the second and in the third, but the Brewers ambushed him again in the fourth, and he was done. Despite facing the bottom half of the Milwaukee lineup, he struggled to throw strikes and surrendered three consecutive walks. Jharel Cotton took over, trying to put out the fire, but he ultimately couldn’t do it. After a strikeout, he gave up a loaded bases walk to Yelich that gave the Brewers the lead.

Then, Adames hit a sac-fly to left to score Luis Urias from third, making it 5-3 Milwaukee. He was one out away from keeping the game open. Then, Tellez happened. Again. After a hard-fought seven-pitch at-bat, the big man destroyed a changeup at the heart of the plate (111.8 MPH exit velocity) for a three-run dong that blew the game wide open.

Making his first appearance since July 14, Yennier Cano took over in relief of Cotton in the fifth. Since being sent down to Triple-A Saint Paul, Cano improved very much, maintaining a 3.85 ERA through eleven appearances and allowing only one earned run in five appearances (six innings) in July for the Saints. He got called up last Friday and got his first look back at majors today.

He retired Hunter Renfroe to start the fifth, but he was really shaky for the remainder of the inning. Kolten Wong hit a double off him, and Urías blasted a two-run shot to make it 10-3 Milwaukee, basically putting the game out of reach. Cano continued in the game for the sixth inning, and things looked much smoother for him. He tossed a scoreless frame on 16 pitches, pitching around a leadoff walk to Tellez.

Twins get one back but can’t spark a rally
Minnesota’s second home run of the afternoon was also leadoff fashion. Garlick took Jake McGee deep in the first pitch of the seventh inning, cutting the Brewers’ lead to six. Following that homer, Gordon drew a four-pitch walk off the same McGee, with the top of the lineup coming up. But the Milwaukee reliever managed to retire the next three batters faced to end the threat.

Miranda got his third hit of the afternoon in the eighth inning, making it three-consecutive games with at least three hits. His season numbers are now up to .281 AVG and .799 OPS, but he’s even better in his recent games, slashing .377/.431/.642 (1.073) in his last 15 games. The YouTube broadcast fellows said he doesn’t stand a chance at winning rookie of the year. Could they be wrong?

What’s Next?
Tomorrow the Twins have their second off day this week as they head for South California, where they’ll start a three-game set against the Padres in San Diego. Game one is scheduled to start at 8:40 pm CDT on Friday, with Joe Ryan (2.89 ERA) taking the mound for Minnesota and Blake Snell (4.75 ERA) toeing the rubber for the Padres.

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

	SAT	SUN	MON	TUE	WED	TOT
Moran	28	0	0	0	21	49
Cano	0	0	0	0	46	46
Cotton	0	11	0	0	33	44
Duran	11	0	0	32	0	43
Duffey	11	0	0	25	0	36
Smith	0	16	0	17	0	33
Jax	0	13	0	12	0	25
Pagán	2	0	0	20	0	22
Megill	7	0	0	0	10	17

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[h2oface]

So throw Tellez another change up, eh? The first 3 run homer wasn't a clue, Sanchez? (So to correct the article, that was 6 runs, - 2 three run homers - on 2 home runs, not 7 runs.) 10 walks by our staff, 5 scored. The top of our batting order, Arraez, Correa, Buxton, and Polanco - 0/16 with 8 Ks. Ouch.

But the pitching is again the story. Tic Toc. Trade deadline coming up. This FO has really let this team down, in the off season and so far now. 35 million on Correa and no pitching. Great strategy, eh? 

Jose Miranda is hot now!

[mikelink45]

My but we look good against playoff teams!  Archer and Bundy remind me of a  couple 2021 signings.  Archer has kept his ERA down because we treat him as a RP and use him as a SP.  HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When does Winder get well?  Did anyone happen to see OBER?  Ryan and Gray and hope to survive another day.

Miranda is doing amazing.  So pleased with his bat - this is what Kiriloff is supposed to do.  

[mikelink45]

Nice to see Caleb get into a game.  Based on performance Sanchez might not be calling the best games for the pitchers although when they have talent like Ryan and Gray it does not show. 

[HerbieFan]

Dear Mr. Falvey.  Your analytics-driven method for building a competitive pitching staff is failing.  Your analytics-driven method for building a championship level pitching staff is completely non-existent.  I'm 54 and not getting younger...please go get this solid offense some pitching help!!!!!

[MplsFan]

Didn’t watch it and I guess I’m glad I didn’t.  Going to need some legitimate pitching help before the deadline for me to get enthused again

[Blyleven2011]

The twins come out of the break and win the 2 game series  against Detroit  ...

Twins move on to Milwaukee  and Sano is activated for first game , goes 0 for 2 ,,,,

Twins have lost 2 games in a row to brewers since Sano was activated  ,,,  I think he came into the game today and played first base and had a couple at bats , not really sure , I didn't pay much attention  after the second 3 run honer by Rowdy....

On to San Diego  for a series this weekend  ,,,, not expecting much  so if they do win the series I'll be that much more excited ....

 

[D.C Twins]

I just saw a few hubcaps roll past.... that didn't come from our car did it?!

[bighat]

Nothing about this particular game upsets me - but what does grind my gears is that this is exactly why you can't give away games like they did on Tuesday.

The Twins were soundly beaten by the Brewers in every department yesterday, they were going against Milwaukee's best pitcher, it was just a baseball game where they got smoked. It happens.

But to leave this series 0-2 instead of 1-1 is unforgiveable, and this is exactly the type of thing that could very well keep this team out of the playoffs.

[Whitey333]

I believe this bullpen is accountable for 20 losses.  They have given up a league leading 58 homeruns ouch!  Twins also need a starter or two, or at least find someone that can pitch to the 6th or 7 the inning on occasion.  Or a manager that should have stretched out the starters long ago.  Most of these pitching problems were not adequately addressed this off season.  Top 4 guys in batting order yesterday went 0-16.  They are starting to look like last year's crummy team.  

[umterp23]

Archer is just plain brutal when you have to take into account you have to tax your bullpen everytime he gets the start.  He is 2-5 on the year and will most likely may get one win rest of the year.  Pretty easy to say that because he has only pitched thru 5.0 innings three times all year in 17 starts.  Three Times!  The front office basically promising him a starters bonus won't move his spot to the bullpen. He averages 4.0 innings a game.  Perfect spot for him to be long relief when Bundy is the starter.  Time to move on from the Bundy/Archer experiment and thank them for their service along with Pagan.  Move them by Tuesday, don't care how they leave

[BH67]

"Spahn and Sain" again this weekend in San Diego -- whew. 

[USAFChief]

29 minutes ago, BH67 said:

"Spahn and Sain" again this weekend in San Diego -- whew. 

...the problem is "and pray for rain."

Everyone knows it never rains in Southern California.