Ball can’t come out of glove & runs don’t come out of bats
On Friday night, the Minnesota Twins defeated Paul Skenes. On Saturday afternoon, Byron Buxton went nuclear. As such, today marked an opportunity for a clean sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
For the third consecutive series it didn’t happen—largely due to a lack of offense and one extremely unfortunate break.
Nick Wosika-Imagn Images
After an uneventful first inning, the Buccos got on the board in the 2nd when Tommy Pham hammered a Simeon Woods-Richardson offering onto the CF berm for a 1-0 PIT lead.
Photo by David Berding/Getty Images
It looked like the Twins might answer back right away in their half of the second after a ringing Carlos Correa double—but C4 never advanced past that station.
This was remedied in the 3rd when after a Bader Bomb Bloop, the Buck Truck sounded by doubling off the LCF wall to tie it at 1-all!
Photo by David Berding/Getty Images
After the horn diminished, the offenses decided to get an early jump on the All-Star break (managers emptying bullpens before the absence also likely played a part).
Not even base knocks from Christian Vazquez and Buxton (of course) in B8 could put a toe on the irregular pentagon.
Nick Wosika-Imagn Images
Unfortunately, this game turned on a really bad break: with the bases full of Buccos in the top of the 9th and one out off Jhoan Duran, Brooks Lee speared a Spencer Horowitz smoker (106.5 MPH exit velocity) and tried to turn two. But the sphere appeared to be stuck in the webbing of Lee’s glove and by the time he could pry it loose the only play was to 1B—meaning a 2-1 Pirates booty.
A Correa crack to lead off B9 rendered cautious optimism, but Lee, Royce Lewis, & Ty France were set down in order by David Bednar.
Photo by David Berding/Getty Images
Your Final: Pittsburgh Pirates 2, Minnesota Twins 1.
The good news: For the third consecutive series, the Twins win the first two games and take the tilt early!
The bad news: For the third consecutive series, the Twins fail to finish the sweep.
Our boys of summer will head into the All-Star break at 47-49, 11.5 GB Central-leading Detroit and roughly 4.0 GB the final Wild Card slot.
Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
I will be posting an All-Star festivities game thread tomorrow in case we want to follow the Atlanta exploits of Buxton and other MLB stars this coming week!
Studs
- Buxton: Kirby Puckett vibes right now (2 more hits an even an out at 100+ MPH exit velo)
Photo by David Berding/Getty Images
Duds
- Matt Wallner: Tough day in RF and lost at the plate (0-2, 2 K)
- Lee’s fielding implement
Comment of the Game
- BH-Baseball knew exactly what was needed—and came oh-so-close to getting it.