Game Recap: Angels 10, Twins 3

Box Score

Thorpe: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

Home Runs: None

Bottom 3 WPA: Dobnak -.394, Cave -.178, Garlick -.149

Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs):

Thorpe starts off great, but can’t pitch past the fourth

After an exciting Spring Training, Aussie Lewis Thorpe got called up to step in and take the mound in the series opener. His first impression couldn’t have been much better, as he cruised through the first on only ten pitches, nine of which were strikes. He struck out Mike Trout on three pitches to close out the inning, including a couple of nasty whiffs with his slider.

https://twitter.com/TFTwins/status/1383240052461883401

Something Twins fans were looking forward to seeing in Thorpe’s repertoire was his new, improved four-seam fastball. During his impressive Spring Training, he showcased a much-improved velocity, topping out at 93 mph, after averaging 89.7 mph in 2020. However, that wasn’t the case tonight. Thorpe’s four-seamer averaged only 89.5 mph throughout this outing, topping at 91.5 mph.

To make up for it, Thorpe relied on the next best thing on his arsenal, the slider. Half of his sixty pitches were sliders, a percentage nearly twice as big as his career average. They produced a total of 20 swings, eight of which were whiffs. He managed to pitch three very solid, scoreless innings, allowing only one hit. Then, disaster struck.

After quickly retiring the first two batters in the fourth, Thorpe walked Trout after evening the count 2-2, and the Angels followed up with back to back hits and put the first two runs of the game on the board, Thorpe did get the last out of the inning, but he was done for the night, after having thrown nearly 72% strikes.

After being dominated by Heaney, the Twins offense rallies against an old friend...

Lefty Andrew Heaney had no trouble overpowering the Twins lineup like most lefties have been doing since the start of last season. With Byron Buxton (1.538 OPS against lefties this season) still unavailable due to hamstring mild strain, the Angels starter cruised through the first five innings, allowing only a hit and a couple of walks. He also induced three double plays.

But then Jorge Polanco and Max Kepler both reached to open the sixth, causing Joe Maddon to pull Heaney. To relieve him, the Angels turned to Twins old friend Aaron Slegers, who was having a very solid start of the season. Mitch Garver didn’t care about that, though.

https://twitter.com/BallySportsNOR/status/1383259181575065605

And neither did Josh Donaldson.

https://twitter.com/BallySportsNOR/status/1383260073749667847

...but then the bullpen gives the lead away, and more

Randy Dobnak took over for Thorpe in the fifth and quickly pitched a 1-2-3 inning. Similar to tonight’s starter, Dobnak also had an amazing spring, but so far had failed to replicate that. But that fifth inning was the closest he got to anything resembling a good outing tonight.

Facing the top of the Angels’ order, Dobber gave up back-to-back-to-back hits to open the sixth. The lead was gone after Trout singled to left, bringing home both runners. He retired the next three batters, which caused him to be brought back to the seventh. Nothing worked once again and, after giving up three more hits, including an RBI-single to David Fletcher, Rocco Baldelli decided he was done.

Caleb Thielbar came in and was absolutely burnt by Angels bats. After striking out Shohei Ohtani, he decided to intentionally walk Trout and load the bases, to face Justin Upton with two outs. Bad call. Upton, who has a career .909 OPS against the Twins, mercilessly destroyed Thielbar’s 69 mph meatball, to hit a grand slam. Jared Walsh followed up with another homer, making it 10-3 Angels, after a six-run seventh inning.

At least La Tortuga made some of us smile during this blowout.

https://twitter.com/JomboyMedia/status/1383277917258407941

What’s next?

Tomorrow night, at 8:07 pm C.T., Matt Shoemaker takes on the mound for game two, trying to get the 6-8 Twins back on track. However, the struggling offense will have to face another lefty in José Quintana.

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

Click here to see the bullpen usage over the past five days (link opens a Google Sheet).