Twins Video
Box Score
Starting Pitcher: Barnes 4 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
Homeruns: Sano (30)
Top 3 WPA: Barnes .220, Thielbar .098, Duffey .081
Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)
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The Twins opened up their penultimate series of 2021 on Tuesday night in Minneapolis. Charlie Barnes was recalled from AAA St. Paul to start in place of Bailey Ober, who was placed on the IL with a hip strain. The injury brought an end to an incredibly positive breakout season for Ober, who the Twins will rely on for a rotation spot in 2022.
Here’s how the Twins lined up for the series opener against lefty Tyler Alexander.
Offense was hard to come by throughout the game, particularly in the opening frames. Barnes made it through four scoreless innings, giving up three hits and walking three. Meanwhile, Tyler Alexander put on a strong showing of his own, striking out six Twins in six innings of work.
Alexander’s only blemish came in the bottom of the third. Byron Buxton walked, stole second, tagged up to third and then home on back-to-back sacrifice flies, giving the Twins a slender one run lead.
Rocco Baldelli did not give Barnes an opportunity to work through the lineup a third time. Barnes was followed by scoreless innings from Jorge Alcala, Tyler Duffey, and Caleb Thielbar. Only Duffey struggled, surrendering two hits in his inning, although he escaped unscathed.
Miguel Sano added his 30th home run of the year in the bottom of the seventh, increasing the lead to 2-0. A Nick Gordon walk and Willians Astudillo single had men on the corners with no outs. Max Kepler sacrificed Gordon home to increase the lead to 3-0 Twins.
Ralph Garza Jr. pitched a scoreless eighth before Alexander Colome entered to close the game in the ninth. Despite surrendering two runs on three singles, Colome closed the game. The win brings the Twins 2021 record to 70-87 on the season with five games to play.
Bullpen Usage Chart
| THU | FRI | SAT | SUN | TUE | TOT | |
| Garza Jr. | 16 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 19 | 53 |
| Vincent | 13 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 46 |
| Thielbar | 14 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 13 | 44 |
| Coulombe | 0 | 0 | 37 | 0 | 0 | 37 |
| Farrell | 19 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 37 |
| Duffey | 0 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 35 |
| Barraclough | 0 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 33 |
| Colomé | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 31 |
| Minaya | 0 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 |
| Moran | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 19 |
| Alcalá | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 16 |
Next Up
On Wednesday, the Twins will continue their short series against Detroit. Michael Pineda will take the mound against Casey Mize. First pitch is at 6:40 CST.
Postgame Interviews
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