Mr. Softee

Making his sixth start (seven if you count the Justin Topa opener game in Atlanta), Simeon Woods Richardson played a soft contact game. He easily ran through the top of Baltimore’s order with a pair of harmless pop-ups and a groundout to begin the game, and then induced two easy outs in the second before walking Jackson Holliday. Before that could spell trouble, Ryan Jeffers gave his hurler an assist by catching Holliday on a steal of second (in part thanks to a challenge initiated by Joey Casey, in the video room).

That proved essential, as Ramón Laureano returned to the plate in the next inning and launched one deep to center field off Wood Richardson’s curveball. Thankfully, the pitcher remained steadfast, easily pushing through the next two innings. The Baltimore Orioles have the league’s worst strikeout rate since April 24, at 28,.2%, but Woods Richardson relied quite evenly on his various off-speed pitches to work grounders and easy fly balls.

Buck Around and Bang OutByron Buxton continued to prove himself the team’s heart and soul, with Rocco Baldelli putting the hot hitter at the top of the lineup even against a right-handed starter. Charlie Morton allowed a single to Willi Castro and then clipped Kody Clemens on what would have been ball four to start the third inning. Buxton then stepped up to the plate (after striking out to begin the game) and hammered one to the second deck, making it three straight games with a dinger. Since the end of his slump to start the year, his slugging percentage sits at a mammoth .652.

Morton entered this game with an ERA nearing 10.00, which ticked over that brightline after the smash hit. The 41-year-old continued to touch 96 mph with his fastball and limited his walks, but manager Brandon Hyde had seen enough after four innings and 70 pitches. Buxton promptly scored another hit off reliever Bryan Baker, though was left stranded at first.

Bullpen Acrobatics

It was a short start for Woods Richardson, who had cruised through 4 2/3 innings at only 50 pitches before three straight hits added a run. With a 3-2 game and runners on the corner, Baldelli called upon lefty Danny Coulombe to clean up the mess—and the trusty lefty did, with a strikeout against Cedric Mullins. Columbe returned for the sixth, getting two outs before missing a cover of first base that pushed Ryan O’Hearn onto first.

Things then looked like they were up for an ugly turn with Louis Varland on the mound. Ryan Mountcastle edged out a single on a slow dribbler to Brooks Lee, and Jackson Holliday rolled one over to the right side that would have loaded the bases. But the former wrestler-turned-pitcher dived, rolled, and tossed the ball into Ty France’s glove to beat out the hustling Holliday. As Justin Morneau commented, “Who said pitchers aren’t athletes?” (Provus reminded him that Mourney had said it “many times”.)

Swap Meet

After Royce Lewis walked to start the seventh, Baldelli began moving his chess pieces by subbing DaShawn Keirsey Jr. to run for the still-recovering slugger, in hopes of a steal; and swapping left-hander Kody Clemens for Harrison Bader to face the southpaw Keegan Akin. Bader only needed two pitches to launch a 408-foot homer to up the lead to three.

That would be enough to finish the game. Bader would make a nice catch to help keep extra traffic out of Griffin Jax’s way as he took the eighth, while Castro—moving into 2nd after beginning in the outfield—made a nice double play to assist the set-up man. Jhoan Duran cleaned up the ninth with three strikeouts.

News & Notes

—The Twins are now on a four-game winning streak, which is the longest the team has had since a four game steak than began on July 31st.

—NBA Broadcaster Brian Anderson joined Cory Provus and Justin Morneau during the game to talk Wolves. Anderson asked when Provus would get his statue; Provus suggested he should get one above a urinal.

—Twins players are participating in a Week of Service and spent the day packing meal kits. Former Twin Kyle Gibson joined his old team to help put together the meals and invited various Orioles to participate as well.

What’s Next? 

The Twins look for a sweep to the three-game series, with Joe Ryan (2-2, 2.93 ERA) facing off against Dean Kremer (3-4, 5.73 ERA) at high noon—before the Giants come into town on Friday, coinciding with other battles amongst Minnesota and the Bay Area.

Postgame Interview

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet