The Twins, somewhat incredibly, earned a series win over the New York Mets and appeared to have a little momentum headed into their three-game series against a struggling Atlanta Braves team.
It seemed like the perfect opportunity to pick up some additional ground in the AL Central. Instead, the Braves got their season back on track with a three-game sweep of the Twins, including Sunday’s 6-2 win, which ended pretty quickly after the Braves went to work on Joe Ryan.
Ryan served up six runs, all earned, on eight hits, including three home runs, across five innings with a walk and five strikeouts.
Don’t say Byron Buxton didn’t try because he had a monster series on Saturday and Sunday. Buck went 5-for-9, with a double, triple and home run, along with two runs scored and two RBI. The problem is that the Twins went 0-for-15 both days with runners in scoring position and left 18 men on base. Ouch.
The Twins are now 7-15. They are off Monday, then welcome the South Siders to Target Field on Tuesday for the Battle of the Bottom, one might say. Bailey Ober gets the ball.
Extra innings…
–The White Sox are 5-16.
–Buxton came into the Atlanta series hitting .215, but he emerges from it hitting about 30 points higher or .244.
–Rookie Luke Keaschall, who made his major league debut on Friday, also had a good series versus the Braves. Kid Keaschall went 3-for-13 with a double, a stolen base, a run scored, a walk and two RBI.
–The Twins on Saturday went with an “opener” in which a reliever starts the game to tee up the actual starter for more success against the opposing lineup. Except in this case it backfired. Reliever Justin Topa allowed a run on three hits in one inning of work, then the actual starter, Simeon Woods Richardson, didn’t appear to benefit from the opener as he allowed three runs on seven hits across four-plus innings in the 4-3 loss to the Braves.
–Very scary moment to see the ex-Twin and three-time batting champ Luis Arraez fall motionless to the ground after a collision at first base in the Padres’ 3-2 win over the Astros on Sunday. I was relieved to read that he rejoined the team after getting checked out at an area hospital.
–How about those Cincinnati Reds? The Reds unloaded on the Orioles on Sunday to the tune of 24 runs scored on 25 hits in a 24-2 thrashing of the Birds.
Former Twins prospect Spencer Steer had a 2-for-6 day at the plate with three runs scored, a walk and an RBI.
But what was really impressive is what the No. 8 and 9 hitters for the Reds accomplished in the game. They went a combined 11-for-14 with five runs scored and 13 RBI!