The #MNTwins are in a tough spot. They are trying to compete with half of their lineup out. They aren’t going to make any excuses. Injuries are a part of the game. Every team goes through it in one way or another.
The Twins have had to send out a Sunday day game after a night game lineup on consecutive nights. Their pitching hasn’t been good since the All-Star Break and even the rotation has taken multiple hits on the injury (or suspension) front. Tonight’s starter, RHP Kyle Gibson, is coming off the Injured List with Ulcerative Colitis, something he’s been dealing with all season long so, while it’s good to have him back, who knows what kind of a start we’ll see from him.
Well, he gave up a run in the first inning, 2 in the 3rd then 3 in the 5th and was replaced by Cody Stashak with 2 outs in that inning (5th). Gibby allowed 8 hits, 6 runs (2 HR), 5 earned runs and 4 walks while striking out 5.
The Twins tied the game at 1 in the bottom of the 1st inning then scored single runs in the 3rd (making it 3-2) and the 5th (making it 6-3.)
Twins manager Rocco Baldelli brought in RHP Kohl Stewart to pitch the 6th and he gave up 4 runs. He also pitched a clean 7th.
The Twins actually made another comeback and, in the bottom of the 8th, they had the bases loaded with Nelson Cruz at the plate as the tying run but he & Polanco struck out to end the inning. They went down 1-2-3 in the 9th and lost 12-6 (Gomes 2-run HR in the top of the 9th.)
Some fans complained on Twitter about the move to Kohl Stewart with the score 6-3.
Here’s my ‘Take: Rocco has a 13-15-man bullpen right now, depending on if you count Devin Smeltzer & Lewis Thorpe as part of that ‘pen right now. He is trying to get all of those guys innings in the final games of the season so they know what they have in those pitchers. He has to find spots to get these guys in a game. Kohl Stewart hasn’t pitched since August 27th so who knows what you’re going to get with him. Tonight wasn’t good but he’s 24, is a starting pitcher who hasn’t pitched much as a reliever and got his first game action in 2+ weeks. That’s not really a recipe for success.
Also, Sergio Romo & Trevor May were used on Tuesday night & Littell, Graterol, Romero & Dobnak were used last night. Stashak was already used in the 5th so that leaves Stewart, Hildenberger, Harper, Smeltzer & Thorpe. Smeltzer & Thorpe might be used in an Opener/Bullpen-type game on Saturday night.
Could Rocco have gone to any pitcher who had pitched in the last two games? Probably but, obviously, he’s bringing in Stewart thinking he’ll get through the 6th with no to little damage. He can’t see the future. There’s no way to know if there will be a “good time” to bring Stewart in for an inning and he obviously felt the need to get him an inning.
What are your ‘Takes?
The Twins will now head to Cleveland for a 3-game series that very well might decide the American League Central Division. The Twins are up 3.5 games so they’ll be ahead at least a half a game at the end of the series if they lose all 3 games. Then they’ll have 13 games left (3 vs the White Sox, 4 vs the Royals, 3 at the Tigers & 3 at the Royals.)
Here are the pitching matchups:
Tomorrow night: RHP Jake Odorizzi vs RHP Aaron Civale – 6:10pm
Saturday night: TBD vs RHP Mike Clevinger – 6:10pm
Sunday afternoon: RHP Jose Berrios vs RHP Shane Bieber – 12:10pm
It should be a fun weekend as I expect this team to battle hard when it counts and they’ve been great on the road this season, too.
Oh! Also, in tonight’s game, the Twins lost IF Ehire Adrianza to a strained oblique muscle from a swing in the 2nd inning. Hard to imagine he’ll be back anytime soon with that.
We’ll try to keep you up to date on if Max Kepler, Miguel Sano, Marwin Gonzalez, Jake Cave & Adrianza will be available this weekend.
#MNTwins 6, #OnePursuit 12 | F
W-Corbin (12-7) L-Gibson (10-8)
HR-WSH-Rendon (33) Eaton (14) Soto (34) Gomes (10)
MN-Schoop (22) Cruz (36)
