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Snapshot (chart via FanGraphs)
Kyle Gibson: 49 Game Score, 6 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 5 K, 3 BB, 61.9% strikes
Bullpen: 3.0 IP, 7 ER, 9 H, 4 K, 1 BB
Lineup: 0-for-2 w/RISP, 3 LOB
Bottom three per WPA: Pressly -.143, Mauer -.085, Grossman -.072
This game didn’t end well, but you can’t be too sore about the Twins taking two out of three from Boston. Speaking of sore, the bigger concern at the moment is some ailing Twins. Just think, what’s the worst thing that could happen to this offense right now? Being Ed-less, right?
Well, Eddie Rosario was scratched from this game due to shoulder soreness and Eduardo Escobar was forced to leave after he was hit by a pitch. The good news is it sounds like Paul Molitor expects Rosie to be available tomorrow and Escobar only suffered a bruised elbow and is considered day-to-day.
Down their two hottest hitters, there was little the Twins could muster against Rick Porcello. He pitched seven one-hit innings. Altogether, the Twins got only four hits and scored both of their runs in the bottom of the ninth inning.
It was too bad, because Gibby pitched well once again. He got into some trouble, giving up seven hits while walking three batters and hitting another, but limited the damage to two runs over six innings. He’s now given up two or fewer runs in 10 of his 15 starts on the season. He also accomplished that feat 10 times in 2017, but that was in 29 starts.
Entering this game, the Twins hadn’t given up more than six runs all month and the pitching staff had a 3.17 ERA, good for sixth best in the league. The bullpen had been particularly strong in June, ranking fourth in all of baseball with a 2.60 ERA.
Ryan Pressly was charged with three earned runs while recording only one out and Matt Belisle also gave up three runs in his inning of work. Matt Magill even gave up a run.
Molitor has already demoted Addison Reed from setup duties, at least temporarily, so Pressly’s continued struggles are especially worrisome. He hit a snag earlier this month and gave up two earned runs in three consecutive appearances. But since that bump, Pressly had strung together three scoreless innings in a row. Just when you thought he might be out of the woods, another rough outing pops up.
Pressly closed out May with a 2.22 ERA on the season, but so far this month he’s surrendered nine earned runs in just 6 1/3 innings. On the other hand, Magill hadn’t surrendered a run in more than nine innings. He gave up a run on three hits in the ninth inning.
It was a disappointing end to what had been a great series for the Twins. Next up, Texas comes to town. The Rangers are off to a poor start, but carry a five-game winning streak into Target Field.
AL Central Standings
CLE 40-33
DET 36-39 (-5)
MIN 33-38 (-6)
CHW (24-49 (-16)
KC 22-52 (-18.5)
Next Three Games
Fri vs. TEX, 7:10 pm CT: Mike Minor vs. Fernando Romero
Sat vs. TEX, 1:10 pm CT: Yovani Gallardo vs. Jake Odorizzi
Sun vs. TEX, 2:10 pm CT: Bartolo Colon vs. Jose Berrios
Last Three Games
MIN 4, BOS 1: For Grossman and Kepler, The Price Was Right
MIN 6, BOS 2: Bats Get to Boston Bullpen
CLE 4, MIN 1: Lots of Traffic, Just One Run
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