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Jake Odorizzi failed to record an out in the fourth inning for just the second time all season, but he got plenty of support. The bullpen pitched six shutout innings and lineup exploded for 11 runs, all of which were scored in the first five innings. Congrats are in order for Paul Molitor, who picked up his 300th win as manager.Snapshot (chart via FanGraphs) Odorizzi: 27 Game Score, 3.0 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 5 BB, 3 K, 54.7% strikes (41 of 75 pitches) Home Runs: Field 2 (9), Austin (17) Multi-Hit Games: Astudillo (3-for-5), Polanco (2-for-4, 3B, BB), Grossman (2-for-4, 2B, BB), Field (2-for-4, 2 HR), Gimenez (2-for-4) WPA of 0.1 or higher: Duffey .212, Field .200, Austin .163, Grossman .152 WPA of -0.1 or lower: Odorizzi -.320 Download attachment: WinChart926.png This was Odorizzi’s shortest start since June 23 and just the second time all season he failed to at least record an out in the fourth inning. Things got off on the wrong foot right out of the gate, as Odorizzi walked the leadoff man on four pitches then nearly gave up an inside-the-park home run to Christian Stewart. Jorge Polanco made a nice relay throw to nail him at the plate. Odorizzi will end the year with a 4.49 ERA, the worst he’s posted over a full season in his career, but he also recorded 162 strikeouts in 164 1/3 innings pitched. That 8.9 K/9 is his highest rate since his rookie year back in 2014. Odorizzi gives the Twins three pitchers with 160 punchouts this season, joining Jose Berrios and Kyle Gibson. Coming into tonight, the only three Twins pitchers who’ve reached that mark since Target Field opened are Ervin Santana (2017), Phil Hughes (2014) and Francisco Liriano (2010). The last time the Twins had multiple pitchers reach 160 strikeouts was 1987 (Frank Viola and Bert Blyleven). To find the last time they had at least three pitchers reach that mark was in 1967 when they had four guys accomplish the feat (Dean Chance, Jim Kaat, Dave Boswell and Jim Merritt). As soon as Odorizzi exited, this game turned around. The bullpen held down Detroit, and in the meantime, the Twins’ bats heated up. Tyler Duffey earned the win, pitching two no-hit innings. Andrew Vasquez turned in a perfect inning of his own in the sixth and Addison Reed pitched a scoreless seventh before John Curtiss and Matt Belisle each turned in a perfect inning to finish things off. Tyler Austin hit a two-run home run in the first inning. Johnny Field hit a solo blast in the second and added a two-run homer in the fourth. Jorge Polanco capped the five-run fifth inning with a bases-clearing triple. Next Three Games Thu vs. DET, 7:10 pm CT: TBD vs. Francisco Liriano Fri vs. CHW, 1:10 pm CT: Jose Berrios vs. Reynaldo Lopez Fri vs. CHW, 7:10 pm CT: Chase De Jong vs. Lucas Giolito Last Three Games DET 4, MIN 2: Mauer Reaches Milestone, Hildenberger Flops MIN 5, OAK 1: Gibby’s Arm, Cave’s Bat and Adrianza’s Glove Lift Twins to Victory OAK 3, MIN 2: Willians Astudillo Collects Three More Hits Click here to view the article

The Twins managed to end their series in Kansas City on a high note, combining to score nine runs on 18 hits in a victory that avoided a four-game sweep. Both Jorge Polanco and Johnny field collected four hits and were also contributors to the Twins slugging a season-high four home runs.Snapshot (chart via FanGraphs) Gibson: 43 Game Score, 6.2 IP, 11 H, 5 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 68.1% strikes (64 of 94 pitches) Home Runs: Kepler (19), Austin (16), Field (7), Polanco (5) Multi-Hit Games: Jorge Polanco (4-for-5, HR), Johnny Field (4-for-5, 2B, HR), Rosario (2-for-4), Forsythe (2-for-5), Gimenez (2-for-5) WPA of 0.1 or higher: Polanco .240, Rogers .136, Field .130, Rosario .117 WPA of -0.1 or lower: Gibson -.151 Download attachment: WinChart916.png Here are all four of the Twins home runs, which came off the bats of Max Kepler, Tyler Austin, Field and Polanco: Kyle Gibson tied a season high by giving up 11 hits and five earned runs. This was also just the second time all season that he didn’t walk a batter. Taylor Rogers retired all four of the batters he faced and Trevor Hildenberger gave up a run in the ninth. So why the Robbie Grossman picture? It was his 29th birthday today (I also thought it was a pretty sweet pic). To celebrate, Robbie had a single and two walks. Next Three Games Mon at DET, 6:10 pm CT: TBD vs. Jordan Zimmermann Tue at DET, 6:10 pm CT: Jake Odorizzi vs. Daniel Norris Wed at DET, 12:10 pm CT: TBD vs. Spencer Turnbull Last Three Games KC 10, MIN 3: It’s a Hard Road KC 8, MIN 4: OH THE HUMANITY!!! KC 6, MIN 4: Coming Down is the Hardest Thing Click here to view the article