Box Score
Starting Pitcher: Joe Ryan, 7.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 9 K (90 pitches, 58 strikes, 64.4%)
Home Runs: Max Kepler, 2 (4), Ryan Jeffers (2)
Top 3 WPA: Joe Ryan (.322), Max Kepler (.223), Ryan Jeffers (.078)
Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)
Joe Ryan – and his cool turtleneck – picked up where he left off after his previous two outstanding starts. He pitched superbly right from the get-go, tossing four scoreless frames on 54 pitches. The first hit allowed by him came only in the fourth, but by that point, he had already induced nine swinging strikes. Also, in the fourth, he matched his season-high in strikeouts with seven. He did get some help from some excellent fielding, including a great stop from Carlos Correa, but his most important help came from the batter’s box.
Max Kepler kept the hottest streak he’s had in a while going. Facing former teammate Michael Pineda, Max provided Ryan with some run support by hitting two early, solo home runs in his first two plate appearances. He now has four homers in the season, something that in 2021 didn’t happen until May 16. His increased productivity could be one of Minnesota’s most significant uplifts for this season, should it carry on.
Ryan pitched a couple more 1-2-3 innings to reach six scoreless frames on only 76 pitches. That allowed him to become the first Twins starter this year to make it into the seventh. He did so and tossed yet another 1-2-3 innings, completing the brilliant seven-inning shutout. After giving up that Cabrera single in the fourth, he retired ten consecutive batters, almost effortlessly dominating the Tiger lineup.
According to MLB.com's Do-Hyoung Park, Joe Ryan now has 57 strikeouts through his first nine starts, a new club record. Bert Blyleven held that record until tonight, with 50 punchouts.
The offense came through with some more breathing room to make Ryan's evening even better with a four-hit fifth. Trevor Larnach opened the inning with a leadoff double and was followed by a rocket (110.9 mph exit velocity) from Ryan Jeffers, a two-run home run. In that same inning, two more batters reached against Pineda, but they were stranded.
The offense continued to hit the ball hard, producing another run for the Twins in the bottom of the seventh. Larnach hit yet another leadoff double, and he was pushed across in the very next at-bat by a Jeffers double. Both of those hits surpassed 107 mph exit velocity and gave Minnesota a 5-0 lead.
Joe Smith and Danny Coulombe had no trouble whatsoever shredding the uninspired Detroit offense, tossing a couple of clean innings on 30 pitches, making it a memorable, all-around performance by the Twins.
What's next?
Before heading to the east coast for a seven-game road trip, the Twins close out the series tomorrow with Bailey Ober (2.81 ERA) dueling against lefty Tarik Skubal (2.30 ERA). The first pitch is scheduled for 12:10 pm CDT.
Postgame Interview
Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet
| SAT | SUN | MON | TUE | WED | TOT | |
| Winder | 0 | 61 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 61 |
| Thielbar | 22 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 49 |
| Coulombe | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 48 |
| Pagán | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 0 | 23 |
| Smith | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 23 |
| Stashak | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 |
| Duffey | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 19 |
| Duran | 0 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| Jax | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
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