The Twins are running out of time to prove they’re contenders before the trade deadline.
The Minnesota Twins came out of the All-Star Break and decided to completely discard the idea of momentum, despite Kody Clemens’ best efforts. After another loss to the worst team in baseball, Minnesota is doing little to prove that they’ve turned things around for good, in the latest indictment of a confounding Twins team.
Zebby Matthews made his grand return from the injured list and struggled with his command, missing spots and causing at-bats and innings to extend past their expiration date. He didn’t walk many batters, but Zebby allowed eight hits and five runs by the time his night was over.
The Twins did manage to get the scoring started in this one, with Ryan Jeffers, Kody Clemens, and Carlos Correa getting three extra-base hits in a row to plate the first two runs of the game. A Matt Wallner single put the Twins up 3-0 in the top of the second inning.
The Rockies kept chipping away at Matthews, scoring one in their bottom half of the inning and two more in the third, the latter thanks to a two-run shot by future Yankee third baseman (calling my shot here) Ryan McMahon. After a clean fourth, Zebby was sent back out for the fifth and allowed the first two Rockies to reach before being lifted for Brock Stewart. Beef Stew managed to get the first two batters but light-hitting shortstop Ezequiel Tovar crushed a first-pitch fastball out to put Colorado on top for good.
The Twins would mount a Clemens-led comeback attempt in the eighth inning with a bases-loaded double, but Correa followed up with a quick strikeout, stranding runners at second and third and leaving the Twins down by three. With the comeback coming up short, manager Rocco Baldelli had to turn to Justin Topa and Anthony Misiewicz to pitch the late innings, and both gave up two additional runs to the Rockies, as they are wont to do.
While the Twins were gaining some momentum heading into the All-Star Break, winning their final three series, they’ve now guaranteed a series loss to the league-worst Rockies with a chance to be swept. At 47-51, Minnesota sits 11.5 games out of the division, 5.0 games and 5 teams behind the final Wild Card spot, and have contests against the Dodgers and red-hot Red Sox as they close out July. The Twins tend to play to the level of their competition, but asking for a lengthy win streak with these teams on the docket is far fetched.
STUDS
- Kody Clemens: 2-4, 1 R, 3 RBI, 1 2B, 1 3B
DUDS
- Zebby Matthews: 4 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 1 BB, 6K
- Justin Topa/Anthony Misiewicz: 1 IP, 2 R each
- Byron Buxton will never be a dud. Stop asking.
Despite this roster having a lot of talent I still believe in… at some point, you are what your record says you are, and the Twins have been playing well below .500 for about a calendar year. With just 10 games until the trade deadline, it may be time to start enjoying our last few games with Willi Castro, Danny Coulombe, and Harrison Bader, among potentially others.