Yankees 5, Twins 4 (12 innings): Varland Dazzles in Debut, but It’s Not Enough

[Thiéres Rabelo]

In a four-hour marathon, the Yankees walked off the Twins in 12 innings at the Bronx. Louie Varland had a lovely big-league debut, but the bullpen relinquished the lead twice.

Image courtesy of Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

Box Score
Starting Pitcher: Louie Varland, 5 1/3 IP, 3H, 2R, 2ER, 1BB, 7K (80 pitches, 55 strikes, 68.8%)
Home Runs: Jose Miranda (14)
Bottom 3 WPA: Trevor Megill (-.570), Griffin Jax (-.254), Gio Urshela (-.201)
Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)

Varland is sharp in his major league debut (pulled too early?)
There probably isn’t a much tougher way to start your major league career than the one Louie Varland had to. Called up for the first time on Tuesday, the St. Paul native had been the most anticipated Twins prospect since… what? Byron Buxton? Some might go even a little further and say… Joe Mauer? Either way, the amount of expectation this kid had to burden was enormous.

Then, you look at all the elements surrounding today’s game. The Twins have been constantly crushed by the New York Yankees for the past two decades; they have been Minnesota’s perennial foes in the postseason in that same span; they haven’t lost a single series against the Twins since 2018, and not one at home since 2014. The list goes on.

This game, in particular, is even more crucial short-term, as the Twins started the day a game and a half back from the Guardians for the division first place. Not being competitive in this Bronx series could be the end of the season for the Twins. Is that pressure enough for the 24-year-old Minnesotan?

Before Varland even stepped on the Yankee Stadium mound, the offense made a good effort to relieve some of the pressure and perhaps calm him down. Luis Arraez jumped on the game’s second pitch and doubled against starter Domingo German. After a Carlos Correa strikeout, José Miranda hit a laser to the deep left corner for a home run, making it 2-0 Twins early.

Whether or not the run support made a difference for Varland at that point, making him less nervous, we’ll never know. But the fact is that he had a nearly perfect first time through the order to begin his big-league career, retiring the first eight batters he faced. He also struck out three of those batters, including American League MVP frontrunner Aaron Judge for his first-ever MLB strikeout. That’s a heck of a greeting card.

Varland’s first hit given up was an Oswald Peraza two-out double in the third, but he responded to that with an inning-ending groundout, his third of the game. Then, the offense came through for him again with some more run support. In the top of the fourth, Germán got two quick outs, but the bottom third of Minnesota’s lineup did some two-out damage.

Jake Cave, Gary Sanchez, and Gilberto Celestino hit three consecutive singles, and, with that, another run scored, making it 3-0 Twins. The Yankees responded quickly, though, with Judge getting back at Varland in the bottom of the same inning with a leadoff home run, cutting the Twins’ lead to two. Varland displayed some impressive nerves after that, retiring batters three through five of the Yankee lineup, including back-to-back strikeouts following the Judge home run.

Varland pitched into the sixth, facing two batters: he lost Peraza for a leadoff single but came back to strike out Oswaldo Cabrera. Before he could face Judge (the tying run) a third time in this game, Rocco Baldelli decided to call it a game for him. Griffin Jax was brought in, and he got Judge to pop out for the second out, but before he could finish the inning, Gleyber Torres hit a two-run home run that tied the game.

Baldelli’s decision to pull Varland when he did cause mixed feelings throughout Twins Twitter. Twins Daily’s writers Nick Nelson and Seth Stohs, for example, had opposing views of Baldelli’s call (here and here). Do you think Varland should’ve stayed to face Judge and Torres? Use the comment section to give your opinion.

Bats quiet down, bullpen trio takes the game into extras
The Twins’ offense couldn’t bother the Yankees again for the better part of the game, with the only exception coming during the eighth inning. Miranda snapped an 0-for-9 skid with a one-out single, and Nick Gordon followed him up with a single of his own, posing the first Minnesota threat since the fourth inning. Unfortunately for the Twins, both runners ended up being stranded.

Fortunately for them, though, the bullpen did a fine job maintaining this a tied game for the remainder of regulation. After Jax blew the lead in the sixth, Caleb Thielbar, Jorge Lopez, and Jhoan Duran did a fantastic job preventing New York from scoring. With Duran pitching in the ninth, Sánchez made a huge play catching Tim Locastro trying to steal second with a laser throw for the second out that Jermaine Palacios somehow caught and kept the tag on as Locastro came off the base. Then, after Isiah Kiner-Falefa singled and reached third with a steal and a throwing error, Correa ended the inning with a crucial defensive move.

Celestino puts the Twins ahead, but the Yankees tie it, walk it off
With Celestino starting the 10th inning at second base, Arráez hit a single to shallow right, and the outfielder was waved around. However, he hesitated a bit heading from third to home and was caught by catcher Jose Trevino with plenty of time. Duran pitched a scoreless 10th, and the game headed for the 11th. After the offense went down in order in the top of the inning, the Yankees loaded the bases in the bottom after an intentional walk to Judge and a walk to Torres. A beautiful 3-2-3 double play prevented the winning run from scoring and paved the way for another inning.

Came the 12th inning, the Twins put some pressure on reliever Ron Marinaccio, with Cave drawing a leadoff walk. With a Sánchez strikeout, New York had a double play in order, but Celestino had other plans. He hit a sharp groundball to right, deep enough to score ghost runner Jermaine Palacios from second, snatching the lead back for the Twins. Arráez drew a walk to load the bases before the inning was done, but Correa and Miranda couldn’t take advantage.

That lead didn’t last long, though. Kiner-Falefa hit a ground ball off Trevor Megill to lead off the bottom of the 12th, and former Twin Marwin Gonzalez scored from second. Trevino then hit a one-out single that sent Kiner-Falefa to third and, despite getting Peraza to fly out for the second out, Megill couldn’t retire Cabrera, who hit a grounder to short, past a diving Gordon, to bring Kiner-Falefa home and end the game.

What’s Next?
Game two of the doubleheader is about to start with Joe Ryan (3.88 ERA) on the mound for Minnesota and Gerrit Cole (3.28 ERA) starting for the Yankees. Currently, Minnesota still has the chance to split the series, as both teams are back on the field tomorrow for game four of the series.

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

	SAT	SUN	MON	TUE	WED	TOT
Sanchez	70	0	0	0	0	70
Duran	0	20	0	0	28	48
Megill	0	0	27	0	20	47
Fulmer	0	14	0	0	16	30
Thielbar	0	15	0	0	11	26
Pagán	0	0	22	0	0	22
Jax	0	8	0	0	12	20
López	0	0	0	0	15	15
Davis	0	0	11	0	0	11
Moran	0	0	0	0	0	0

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[Beast]

Unfortunately for Varland, he’s stuck in one of the most incompetent organizations in the game.

I have every confidence they’ll run his career into the ground.

[Otto von Ballpark]

  

Classic 21st century Twins/Yankees matchup!

Rumor has it the ghost of Mike Trombley was warming up in case the game went into the 14th inning...

 

[USAFChief]

Simply awful. 

Find ways to lose, rather than ways to win.

4 errors. Celestino thrown out at home by 30 feet with none out in the 10th.

Jax finds a way to throw a dinger to Glayber frigging Torres to cough up a 2 run lead. 

Based loaded one out in the 12th, Correa pops up on the 1st pitch, not even a strike. 

Megill has a another, what?...2 hits given up on 0-2 pitches? More rolling curves.

Twins have not 1 but TWO Yankees caught off base in the 12th and Correa gets neither. 

For some reason Hamilton is in left field by the 6th inning. What? That results in a three pitch K for pinch hitter Kepler, who can't play the field, leaving Gordon in left and Palacios hitting 6th.

It's tough being a Twins fan some days. 

 

[Monticore]

Megill is the kiss of death. Very disappointed in Correa's last AB.

[jun]

This team is not going to make the playoff this year. FO and the manager need to be let go.

[AceWrigley]

Congrats to Louie Varland, exceptional job.

[Vanimal46]

The lone positive was Louie Varland pitching well in his debut. Happy for him. 

Tim Laudner said on the post game “I don’t know if it’s in their heads…” talking about the Twins’ lack of success against the Yankees. I don’t know how it isn’t all in their heads at this point. They are 2-20 at Yankee Stadium since 2015. Likely 2-21 later tonight. Laying eggs against the Yankees is a tradition that hasn’t been overcome by hundreds of players, multiple FO regimes, or 3 managers. 

[DocBauer]

Still love my Twins, of course, but am going to have to beg a little forgiveness here due to a combination of 5 game frustration and my first battle with covid has had me out of the loop a little bit for the past 6 days. (Been on my back pretty much until making it back to work today). I didn't watch the game, only followed along with GameDay. 

Looks like Varland did a tremendous job. Very happy for him and proud of his performance. I'm not in a position to debate whether Varland should have remained in, but, rookie debut, it SEEMS it was the right time to pull him before facing Judge a 3rd time.

Considering how good Jax has been, a rookie when the season began and making such a good transition to the pen, I have a hard time blasting him for giving up the run he did.

Really, the bullpen did their job for most of the game it appears. My goodness is Duran a weapon! From what I've read and the box, feels like the undermanned offense still had chances but didn't come through?

I hate laying the blame on one guy, especially when we get to the 12 inning, but I really wish Megill wasn't the guy in that spot. I thought the Twins might have found something in him for a while, but he's been as un-reliable as Pagan for weeks now. And I know with all the injuries the pickings are slim for the last few spots in the pen right now, but I would have rather seen a kid like Sisk up, and the veteran Peacock to help fill those last spots for a good week or so now. Not saying the outcome would have been different today, but when guys aren't getting it done, why not give the talented prospect and the experienced veteran looking good again a shot?

Tip of the cap to Varland. I wouldn't be surprised to see him finish the year with the Twins.

[Game7-91]

8 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

Laying eggs against the Yankees is a tradition

Yes indeed. But let's face it, this is all relative. From the Yankees perspective, seeing the Twins on the schedule is like early Christmas twice a year, tradition with a big T. Somebody's happy with this state of things, its just not us.

[3balls2strikes]

The Yankee's dominance over the Twins has reached such monumental proportions that it has to be a featured entry in psychology textbooks and the focus of research papers & symposiums on behavioral science. As a Twins fan it has been brutal to endure, but I must admit that it has also become quite fascinating to behold. 

[mikelink45]

Yes he should have pitched more - two games, BP already used up from the last few games - Trevor Megill and Pagan ready to throw HRs if Lopez doesn't.  I was listening to Falvey talk to Dan Gladden tonight.  Sorry, but the third time through the lineup might be less productive, but so is going to the BP a third time each game.  

Once again the offense is weak - Arraez, Gordon, Miranda, Celestino and nothing.  

At least we get to participate in the Aaron Judge HR contest.

[tony&rodney]

Varland was the only bright spot in a poorly played game. It was fine to lift him with Judge coming up. Next outing (the Twins would be incompetent to not have him take his next turn in MLB) Varland should be allowed to throw 100 pitches. Just going on his pace today, he has the strength to pitch innings.

[milkytoast]

We had Moran, Davis, Pagan and Megill available in the 12th. For me Moran is the obvious first choice, followed by Davis, then Pagan then Megill dead last. They guy who just blew the previous game and is consistently not good. How do these decisions happen? It's Pagan against Cleveland all over again.

[Aerodeliria]

I'm just checking the score. The loss was a given.

[D.C Twins]

In related news.... The Baltimore Orioles now leads the Central division by 1.5 games....

There may indeed be a central division 'race' ongoing, but unfortunately it is running in the opposite direction than the other division races in the MLB

[D.C Twins]

 An Image of the current Central Division Race 

[Brandon27]

Hate to say it but this team ain't going to the playoffs and rocco is not going to be the manager and Thad Levine is not going to be the GM next year 

[jimbo92107]

Excellent debut by Louie Varland, who looks like a rotation horse. If his arm is okay, I see no reason he can't finish the season in the starting rotation. Who ya got that's better?

Note to Megill: Please learn to finish your follow through in position to field a ground ball, rather than doing an embarrassing little dance to avoid the ball hitting you in the ass. 

[Rosterman]

Mismanaged game.

I'm sorry, but getting tired of pulls of a starter. A starting pitcher can give up 1-2-4 runs in a start. That is NOT a bad thing. Six hits, a couple fo walks. 100 pitches.

Hamilton is a pinch runner. You want him, especially if you get to an extra inning, to be that runner on second.

The love of Megill. Put on the 40-man in the off season. Managed to be gone, then back on. Okay bullpen arm, but not when contending. Sorry. Placesetter. I would've gone with Moran, or Davis.

[bean5302]

Yes. Varland was pulled too early, putting the Twins into a situation the bullpen didn't need to be in and the Twins lost. I don't have any faith in Falvey, Levine and Baldelli at this point. 

[h2oface]

So what if Judge was coming up! Varland struck him out and Judge hit a homer.... off the rookie, too, like 54 other homers off someone. 80 pitches and you bring in Jax to ruin the debut. May as well let him ruin it, or really pitch in the Big Leagues. 80 pitches. Had just given up only his 3rd hit of the game to the lead off batter in the 6th, in the 6th! and followed that up with his 7th K on a swing and a miss - 2 swings and misses, a called strike and a foul. 80 pitches. And you pull him. Still crusing, and you pull him. 80 pitches.

Who is afraid?

Not the rookie. He is ready. Baldelli is so desperate right now. The desperation is right in front of him. 80 pitches and you pull the new guy, too. Ahead 3-1 in his debut, and cruising..... and you are afraid of Judge, who he has already struck out 149 times this season and once to Varland, and he can only tie the game with  homer, a game Varland has basically owned, and sit him down. Damn. He got to watch Jax tank his game. I bet that was a lesson.

[TwinsDr2021]

I find it very confusing on what the hell the Twins are doing. I would have been fine with Varland being taken out after the 5th with Judge coming up, but if you bring him out for the 6th let him f'n pitch.

[Swing Batter-Batter]

12 hours ago, USAFChief said:

Simply awful. 

Find ways to lose, rather than ways to win.

4 errors. Celestino thrown out at home by 30 feet with none out in the 10th.

Jax finds a way to throw a dinger to Glayber frigging Torres to cough up a 2 run lead. 

Based loaded one out in the 12th, Correa pops up on the 1st pitch, not even a strike. 

Megill has a another, what?...2 hits given up on 0-2 pitches? More rolling curves.

Twins have not 1 but TWO Yankees caught off base in the 12th and Correa gets neither. 

For some reason Hamilton is in left field by the 6th inning. What? That results in a three pitch K for pinch hitter Kepler, who can't play the field, leaving Gordon in left and Palacios hitting 6th.

It's tough being a Twins fan some days. 

 

I agree with every point made here. Baldelli pulling Varland when he did was 100% predictable. First guy coming out of the bullpen giving up the lead was too. 

[Alex Schieferdecker]

Can't fault Jax, the pitch he gave up the HR on was a 96 mph fastball that dotted the top right corner of the box. Wasn't a bad pitch.

However, I've got big problem with continuing to treat Megill as more reliable than Moran. If Moran had been used in the 12th, or maybe even Fulmer for a second inning, we would've had a better chance to keep the lead.

When are we going to cut bait on these bad relievers and call up Peacock, or give Sisk and Schulfer a chance? Maybe they are all terrible, but the back end of the bullpen is always full of question marks. Let's move on from guys who we know don't have it.

[Karbo]

Another loss on the coaching staff! The coach sending Celestino with 0 outs after he had slowed down? Terrible decision. Put the blame where it is deserved.

[wabene]

5 minutes ago, Karbo said:

Another loss on the coaching staff! The coach sending Celestino with 0 outs after he had slowed down? Terrible decision. Put the blame where it is deserved.

Yeah what did happen there. All I saw on TV was the 3rd base coach halfway down the line and a few paces back from it. Not the position you would expect of someone applying the stop sign. They did let him go there? I just don't get that, he had no chance. Celestino was getting a talking to on the bench I have to believe he ran on his own? 

[terrydactyls]

If Torrez would have flown out, then there would be no complaining about Varland being pulled.  20-20 hindsight management would be wonderful but it ain't real. 

HOWEVER,  I am an old fart and I believe that starting pitchers should last until at least the 7th inning.  The current method of short starts followed by four more innings by relief pitchers boggles my mind.  To do that effectively, you need ten solid relievers to make it through a season.  Because the front office hasn't done a good job of bringing in solid relievers, then the current method is doomed from the beginning.  

[terrydactyls]

6 minutes ago, wabene said:

Yeah what did happen there. All I saw on TV was the 3rd base coach halfway down the line and a few paces back from it. Not the position you would expect of someone applying the stop sign. They did let him go there? I just don't get that, he had no chance. Celestino was getting a talking to on the bench I have to believe he ran on his own? 

If the third base coach is watching the play develop before signaling the runner whether to stop or continue, then down the line and away from the line is where he should be so he can be seen by the runner.  

[Sparky55]

So you have a double header and your starting pitcher in game 1 has given up 1 run through 5.1 inning and what 80 pitches and you take him out so you can use your bullpen up for the rest of the day? Of course it was the dreaded 3rd time through the order and no one can pitch through the order 3 times right? I hat the way Rocco handles the pitching staff. I suppose it's all analystics bs