The Twins finally scored some runs, they finally got a decent performance out of the bullpen and they finally prevailed against the Cincinnati Reds 9-2 on Sunday to salvage the final game of the three-game series.
The Detroit Tigers and Seattle Mariners also won on Sunday, but the Twins still have a 2.5 game lead over both teams for the final wild card spot in the American League.
The question now is: Can they do it? The make-or-break week of the 2024 baseball season is here, with the Twins set to play four games at Cleveland, three at Boston and then they come home to play the Miami Marlins and Baltimore Orioles. The Twins are 4-11 against the Guardians, Red Sox and Orioles this season. They have yet to play the Fish.
Game 1 against the Guards is Monday. Pablo Lopez gets the ball.
Extra innings…
-The Twins are 79-70.
-David Festa didn’t bring much to the table on Sunday, but the bullpen sure did, tossing five-plus innings of scoreless baseball. The win went to Cole Sands who improved to 8-1 with a 2.86 ERA. He has had a great season. Sands and Jorge Alcala struck out seven batters across four innings.
-Festa was done after three-plus innings and 72 pitches, allowing two runs on three hits with three walks and four strikeouts. Again, not great.
This is the No. 1 challenge for the Twins down the stretch, having to rely on three young and inexperienced pitchers in Festa, Simeon Woods Richardson and Zebby Matthews to get the job done. And if they can’t, then the Twins have to lean on the bullpen, and how they use the bullpen is going to be huge over the next seven games.
-It was great to see the bats come alive on Sunday. Leading the way was Carlos Santana with three hits, including his team-leading 22nd dinger of the season.
-Royce Lewis, Ryan Jeffers and Brooks Lee each had two hits apiece. Lee tripled and drove in five runs.
-Carlos Correa and Byron Buxton did not play on Sunday, a decision likely tied to the upcoming games. Might as well rest up just a bit more before it gets really serious.
-Looking ahead: Lopez gets the ball Monday, followed by Zebby, Bailey and Simeon to round out the four-game set with the Guards. The Tigers head to Kansas City and the M’s have to take on the Yankees.