And I thought Houston’s Framber Valdez had the Twins’ number.
Rockies pitcher Cal Quantrill, who knows the Twins best from his years with the Cleveland Guardians, improved to 6-0 career versus Minnesota on Tuesday after he scattered only three hits across six scoreless innings in a 5-4 win.
The Twins made things interesting against the Rockies bullpen, but still came up short, despite getting two, two-run dingers from Byron Buxton, his fourth of the season, and Carlos Santana, his 10th.
Minnesota native Louie Varland got the spot start and pitched well, allowing just a hit across five innings and yet he was removed from the game after 63 pitches, much to the chagrin of Twins Territory, which has shared its displeasure on social media.
I must admit I am among them. I believe there are times when you stick with the hot hand, despite what the analytics might show. Get another inning out of Varland and perhaps the situation with fellow Minnesota native and reliever Caleb Thielbar can be avoided. Thielbar came into the game in the sixth and couldn’t get an out. In the process, he allowed four runs on three hits, including a home run. Reliever Cole Sands allowed an additional run and that was the game.
Pablo Lopez gets the ball Wednesday.
Extra innings…
-What makes the loss so disappointing? The Rockies are 19 games under .500, the kind of team the Twins need to push aside to pad the win column and stay in the hunt with the Royals and Guards.
-Radio voice and ex-Twin Dan Gladden wasn’t impressed with Rockies reliever and James Bond villain Victor Vodnik. Gladden wouldn’t call him a pitcher, but instead referred to him as a “thrower” and “chucker.” It was about then that Buxton rocked him for a deep home run to center field.
-Reliever Thielbar has had a great run with the Twins, but I’m beginning to think the 37-year-old lefty has just about run his course with this team. Caleb is now 2-2 on the season with a 7.47 ERA.
-Josh Staumont closed out the game for the Twins and didn’t allow a run. He hasn’t allowed an earned run in 13 innings pitched this season.