The Twins lost 7-2 to the Los Angeles Dodgers Tuesday night in a game that seemed to conspire against them at every turn.
First, it rained, and it rained most of the game, finally resulting in a 90-minute weather delay in the bottom of the eighth inning AFTER the Dodgers had busted open a 1-1 tie with six runs in the top half of the inning. Then after they resumed play, it was still raining! Why was this game played at all? It seemed to be drizzling from the get go.
Not only was it wet, but let’s be honest: home plate umpire Jerry Meals had a terrible game. His strike zone was all over the place, so combine a wet ball with an off night from the man in blue and Twins pitching issued nine walks. Throw in a key error and it’s no wonder the flood gates opened in the eighth inning.
Starting pitcher Chris Archer looked good, but in keeping with recent practice for starters, he was limited to four innings and little more than 60 pitches. He exited allowing only two hits with three strikeouts.
Both teams scored in the fifth inning, then Twins reliever Emilio Pagan gave up the go-ahead run (and took the loss), but it got much worse from there.
Minnesota native Caleb Thielbar couldn’t get an out in his inning, allowing one hit with two walks to load the bases for Jhon Romero. Romero, who appeared furious with home plate ump Meals, gave up two runs — but only one earned run because of an error — on four hits.
Jharel Cotton followed Romero with three walks and a strikeout to end the game.
The bullpen struggled and didn’t get much support from the lineup. The Twins scored two runs on five hits, getting three extra-base hits from Carlos Correa and Max Kepler. Otherwise, the Twins were 1-for-14 with runners in scoring position and left eight men on base.
Newly acquired pitcher Chris Paddack gets the ball Wednesday, the final game of a short two-game series with the Dodgers.
Extra innings…
-Twins slugger Miguel Sano is 0-for-16 to start the season.
-The hot-hitting Byron Buxton fell to earth a bit on Tuesday, striking out three times in five at bats.
-The Twins split their four-game series with the Mariners, winning the final two games 10-4 and 4-0. In the shutout victory, Twins starter Dylan Bundy one-hit the M’s over five innings.