The Twins earned a series win over the Kansas City Royals to start the 2024 regular season, but you’d hardly know it after Sunday’s loss. And it was over in a hurry for the Twins and pitcher Bailey Ober.
Ober lasted all of four outs, allowing eight runs, all earned, on nine hits, including three home runs en route to an 11-0 blowout loss to those Royals.
“It’s over with,” Ober told MLB.com. “I can’t really do anything about it. I just need to get ready to go face whoever I’m throwing against next and have a short-term memory and put it behind me.”
The early deficit seemed to knock the wind out of the Twins’ offense because they countered with a grand total of four hits. They’re off Monday and then face the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday. Louie Varland gets the ball.
Extra innings…
-The Twins have struggled in day games, including Sunday. They were 34-35 in day games in 2023.
-Now we know the extent of two key injuries for the Twins: They have lost Royce Lewis for more than a month (no sooner than a June return, according to MLB.com) with a severe right quad injury, and pitcher Anthony DeSclafani has been lost for the season after he underwent surgery to repair a flexor tendon in his throwing arm.
DeSclafani was part of the deal that sent Jorge Polanco to Seattle. With Justin Topa also on the injured list, that trade has officially gone sideways for the Twins.
-The Twins won on Saturday 5-1. They fell behind 1-0, but rallied to tie the game in the eighth and then scored four runs in the ninth to edge the Royals. Byron Buxton smacked two doubles to drive in three runs, and starter and Deadhead Joe Ryan allowed only a run over five-plus innings with a walk and five whiffs. He didn’t figure in the decision, however, which went to reliever Griffin Jax.
-The Pirates, Yankees and Tigers remain undefeated to start the season.
Ex-Twin Kenta Maeda got roughed up in his first start for Detroit — six runs allowed on seven hits over three-plus innings — but the Tigers rallied for a 7-6 win in 10 innings over the Chicago White Sox. And fellow former Twin Nick Gordon hit a pinch-hit home run for the Miami Marlins, but they still fell 9-7 to Pittsburgh.
The Bucs, who are managed by former Twins bench coach Derek Shelton, are 4-0.
-To replace Lewis on the roster, the Twins have called up Austin Martin, a former top prospect of the Blue Jays who came over in the deal that sent Jose Berrios to Toronto. He is still looking for his first hit after an 0-for-3 day at the plate.
Source: MLB.com