Another winning streak has begun
Stars doing stars things + strong starting pitching = wins.
That was the formula in this one, as Carlos Correa and Royce Lewis were key to the Twins’ methodical but effective offensive attack, and Chris Paddack turned in another solid Target Field start as the home team defeated the Colorado Rockies with ease.
Paddack, who saw his velocity increase last time out against the Yankees, was throwing hard once again. With an average fastball velocity north of 95 miles per hour, the hapless Rockies scattered a few singles, but the only inning in which Paddack allowed two hits was the first one — and on the first two batters of the game.
Charlie Blackmon started the contest with a single up the middle before Ezequiel Tovar singled on a bunt, immediately putting runners on first and second. But Elias Diaz grounded into a double play and Paddack struck out Ryan McMahon to end the inning, and the Rockies never seriously threatened again.
The Twins, on the other hand, didn’t manage a baserunner until there was one out in the bottom of the third, when Manuel Margot lined a double into right field. He got all the way to third base, however, when right-fielder Hunter Goodman bobbled the ball. It was a big miscue, as Christian Vazquez came through by lining a sacrifice fly to Goodman to score the first run of the game.
In the bottom of the fourth, Trevor Larnach lofted a single that dropped in front of Old Friend Jake Cave in left field. Royce Lewis took over at first base after he grounded into a force out, and Max Kepler moved Lewis to second with a soft groundout down the first baseline. Then, Correa stepped up and laced a double to the right-center field gap, doubling the Twins’ lead to 2-0.
Paddack threw his only 1-2-3 frame in the top of fifth, faced the minimum in the sixth, and got a flyout from Brenton Doyle to lead off the seventh inning. He was replaced by lefty Steven Okert, turning Michael Toglia around to the right side of the plate. Okert coaxed a groundout to short, and then retired pinch-hitter Elehuris Montero on a pop-out to end the frame.
Griffin Jax struck out the side in a dominant eighth inning, and the Twins came up with a trio of insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth, ensuring that the rest of the high-leverage relievers were able to get the night off.
Vazquez led off with a double and advanced to third base after Willi Castro squirted a single threw the hole behind shortstop. With runners on the corners and a 3-1 count to Larnach, anticipation for a walk was palpable. Because, of course, Lewis would then stride to the plate for the inevitable grand slam. Instead, Larnach hit a sacrifice fly to left-center to make the score 3-0.
And then Lewis homered anyway.
Seriously, he wasn’t going to go 0-for-4. After he started hitless in his first three at-bats, it was clear that he was going to reach base. And a monster blast to the terrace level above the bullpen in left field accomplished just that.
With the score now 5-0, Jhoan Duran took a seat in the Twins bullpen and veteran Diego Castillo came on in the ninth inning, facing four batters and keeping the shutout intact.
Notes
- It’s good to see Margot continue to play better. After keying the tenth-inning rally against Pittsburgh on Sunday, he scored the Twins’ first run on Monday night after reaching on a solid double and reached base twice again. The Twins need him to come around.
- Speaking of struggling Twins coming through at the plate, Vazquez’s 1-for-2 with a double (that sparked the three-run eighth inning) and a sacrifice fly (that plated the Twins’ first run) was also quite welcome.
- Paddack pitched well. Clearly, facing the Rockies at home is a bit different than the Yankees in the Bronx, but the increased velocity appears to be a thing and he did a great job of not allowing anything to snowball in this game. If Lopez and Ober are going to continue to struggle, Paddack needs to pitch like a No. 3 or 4 starter. He did that on Monday night.
- The only walk from the Twins’ pitching staff came from Castillo in the ninth inning, and the bullpen didn’t allow a single hit over 2 2⁄3 innings.
- Carlos Correa looked great at the plate, with solid contact on both his double to right-center and his single up the middle.
- It felt nice to get a legitimate, safe, comfortable win at Target Field. Good times.
Studs
- Carlos Correa: 2-for-4, 2B, RBI
- Royce Lewis: 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R
- Christian Vazquez: 1-for-2, 2B, RBI, R
- Twins pitching staff: 9 IP, 6 H, BB, 10 K
Duds
- Nobody. Twins win, Twins win!