Box Score
SP: Josh Winder 4 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K (67 pitches, 44 strikes (65.6 strike %)
Home Runs: None
Top 3 or Bottom 3 WPA: Kyle Garlick -.249, Jermaine Palacios -.186, Carlos Correa -.123
Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)
Sunday saw Josh Winder starting on the hill for the Twins after getting recalled from St. Paul. He made his first appearance with the team since July 12th. The right-hander gave up a lead-off double to Steven Kwan but was the first Twins starter to not surrender any runs to the Guardians in the first inning in this three-game series.
Even with a scoreless first, the Twins still fell behind early when Winder surrendered a solo home run to Andres Gimenez with one out in the second.
The Guardians, more specifically Kwan, got the better of Winder again with another home run that put Cleveland up 2-0.
Max Kepler was removed from the game after fouling a ball off his right leg in his one and only at-bat of the game. Gilberto Celestino came in to take his batting spot while Jake Cave moved to right field.
Shane Bieber dominated the Twins through the first four innings and kept them to one hit. Josh Winder was done after four full innings. Winder only made two mistakes with two home runs surrendered but only allowed two additional hits and a walk on 67 pitches.
It is not a surprise that Rocco Baldelli pulled Winder after four innings, but only two runs were surrendered on solo homers, one has to wonder why they couldn’t have let him go one more inning.
Caleb Thielbar was the first out of the pen for the Twins and kept the Guardians scoreless in the fifth. Nick Gordon led off the bottom half of the fifth with a double off the scoreboard. Gordon scored on a pinch-hit from Gary Sanchez when Sanchez’s single bounced off third base and over Jose Ramirez’s to make it a 2-1 game.
The Guardians mounted a threat in the seventh off of Michael Fulmer. Fulmer was removed with runners on first and second and two out in favor of rookie phenom Jhoan Duran. Duran walked Ramirez but retired the next batter to end the threat.
The Twins responded with a threat of their own in the bottom half of the seventh with back-to-back singles from Gio Urshela and Nick Gordon and no one out. Unfortunately, no one advanced from their bases and the Twins wasted their best chance since the fifth to get the game tied.
Already behind by a run, the Twins had Jorge Lopez in for the ninth. Lopez’s struggles only mounted in his relief appearance as he allowed two singles before recording an out. They intentionally walked Ramirez to load the bases for Josh Naylor, who followed up with a single driving in two more runs. Lopez intentionally walked Andres Gimenez as well before getting the final out, but the damage was done as Cleveland led 4-1 going into the bottom of the ninth.
James, the hair flipper, Karinchak got the save opportunity for the Guardians in the bottom of the ninth. Karinchak continued his obsessive hair flip in this outing as he did Friday night (and always) during this outing as he now carries the title of the modern-day human rain delay as former Guardian Mike Hargrove was best known for.
Celestino received a lead-off walk to start the ninth and Gordon reached base on a one-out walk later in the inning. The Twins failed once again to get these runners home as Karinchak struck out Jermaine Palacios for the final out. In the words of Patrick Reusse, “This was a bad loss.” Which can be said for the whole series.
What’s Next?
Monday is an off day for the Twins as they will start a three-game series at Target Field against the Royals. Joe Ryan is the scheduled starter for the Twins against Kris Bubic of the Royals with a game start time of 6:40 p.m. CT.
Postgame Interview
Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet
MORE FROM TWINS DAILY
— Latest Twins coverage from our writers
— Recent Twins discussion in our forums
— Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email
— Become a Twins Daily Caretaker
Recommended Comments
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.