Twins Video
Box Score
Starter: Beau Burrows 2.0 IP, 5 H, 6 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
Home Runs: Sano (19)
Bottom 3 WPA: Burrows (-.402), Kepler (-.027), Sano (-.019)
Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)
The Twins were riding high as they came into Target Field after a good road trip. All we had to do is look at the pitching matchup for the first game to know that the hot streak had little chance to carry into the first game of the homestand.
With the state of the Twins rotation being what it is, the home team went with an opener/bullpen game Monday night, with Beau Burrows getting the first nod. Coming into the night, Burrows had logged 9.0 innings in the majors and sported an ugly 11.00 ERA. Monday night did not help that situation one bit.
Burrows wound up allowing two home runs in the first inning. One was a lead-off homer by Tim Anderson. Then after a walk to new White Sox second baseman Cesar Hernandez, Eloy Jimenez hit his own home run to put the White Sox up 3-0.
What makes a rough pitching performance worse, you might ask? A fielding error behind him. Burrows should have gotten out of the first by popping Luis Robert up, but Miguel Sano, while back peddling, dropped the easy out, letting in the 4th run of the 1st inning.
The second inning wasn’t any better for the Twins right-hander as the top of the White Sox lineup did damage again. This time with Tim Anderson and Cesar Hernandez on the basepaths, Jimenez again found the seats with a 3-run home run and his second in as many innings as Monday night's game. Just like that, Burrows 11.00 ERA was up to 13.91.
With the game score at 7-0 after two innings, the game was all but over before it even started. There was a bright spot in another recent pick-up for the Twins off the waiver wire.
Edgar Garcia Looks Sharp
July 30th, the Twins acquired Garcia off waivers from the Phillies. After one waiver claim in Burrows that the Twins acquired didn’t do well, Garcia sent down seven batters in a row. His stuff looked good, and the results followed. Garcia was lifted after pitching 2.1 innings and giving up a single to Yoan Moncada.
While Burrows ERA ballooned, Garcia's dropped from 16.62 to 12.15 with his strong performance.
Giolito Tossed a Gem
It wasn’t a perfect game, and a smash up the middle by Luis Arraez prevented it from being a no-hitter, but it was still a magnificent game by the White Sox starter. In the end, he would make one mistake (see below) and would strike out eight Twins batters.
Monday night was a night whereas a Twins fan, we are reminded that Giolito is one of the really dominant arms that resides within the AL Central. While it seemed that Nelson Cruz always brought his best against Giolito, the Twins will now have to figure out how to compete when he is on the mound without Cruz.
Sano Scores Lone Run
Giolito did let one sinker sit too high in the zone. While there is plenty to criticize Sano about, one thing that is certain is that he can crush a pitcher’s mistake. He did just that to end the shutout and notch his150th career home run.
Monday night ends by looking like just one more jab from the White Sox to the Twins. As the White Sox run away with a division the Twins were supposed to be competing with them in; the Sox continued their dominance by taking a page out of the BOMBA squad book.
Postgame Interview
Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet
WED | THU | FRI | SAT | SUN | MON | TOT | |
Barnes | 80 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 68 | 148 |
Burrows | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 64 | 77 |
Minaya | 44 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 12 | 73 | |
Duffey | 0 | 21 | 20 | 0 | 15 | 56 | |
Thielbar | 22 | 8 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 50 | |
Colomé | 0 | 7 | 17 | 0 | 18 | 42 | |
Coulombe | 0 | 17 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 38 | |
Garcia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 32 |
Gant | 0 | 0 | 17 | 13 | 0 | 30 |
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