A quiet night at the plate for both sides ended in a bang, with the Twins on the losing end.
The only run the Twins could get tonight against Cleveland starter Tanner Bibee was a solo homer by Ty France in the 5th inning. They didn’t even get a base runner until Carlos Correa’s double with 2 outs in the 4th.
On the flip side, Bo Naylor’s solo homer in the 3rd inning was the only blemish on Chris Paddack’s start. Paddack went 5 innings and Bibee went 7, so the rest of the game was a bullpen contest.
Brock Stewart, Griffin Jax, and Jhoan Duran each tossed scoreless innings respectively. In the bottom of the 9th with Louie Varland on the mound, Kyle Manzardo crushed a change-up down the middle for a walk off solo homer. Turns out its hard to win a bullpen contest with the Guardians.
We had only two decent scoring opportunities tonight, in the 5th and the 8th, and couldn’t capitalize on either one. In the top of the 9th, DaShawn Keirsey Jr. pinch ran for France, and was immediately thrown out trying to steal 2nd. It was a very different game compared to yesterday’s 11-1 blowout.
That ends the Twins winning streak at 4 games, and they’ll try to start a new one tomorrow with Pablo Lopez on the mound.
Studs:
Byron Buxton: Despite going 0-3, he made a couple really nice catches in center field.
Ty France: 3-4, HR
Chris Paddack: 5 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, BB, 2 K
Duds:
Louie Varland: Walk off homer
Edouard Julien: 0-4, 2 K
Ty France: Thrown out at 1st after trying to stretch a single into a double.
Whoever decided to delay this game almost 3 hours for just 5 minutes of rain.