Where have all the good times gone?
Just a few weeks ago this Twins team was riding high with a 13-game winning streak and an 18-8 mark for the month of May.
But now they have lost four straight games, including a sweep at the hands of the Houston Astros on Sunday. They also are 2-8 in their last 10 games, the team’s run differential has fallen to a plus-7 and the Twins are only a game over .500 at 36-35.
The good news: The Cleveland Guardians and Kansas City Royals can’t win either, but it’s a mixed blessing because all three teams, including the Twins, are falling farther and farther behind the Detroit Tigers. Yes, the Twins, incredibly, are still in second place in the division, but they are nine games back of the Motor City.
Not helping matters: Not only were the Twins swept by one of the most loathed teams in baseball, but they also lost in walk-off fashion for the second straight game on Sunday, despite outhitting the Astros 8-4.
A Brooks Lee solo shot got the Twins on the board, but Houston tied the game on a sacrifice fly and then scored the game-winning run in the 10th inning. Jhoan Duran blew the save and Cole Sands absorbed the loss.
David Festa gets the ball Tuesday in Cincinnati to face the Reds and Elly De La Cruz. The Reds have scored 335 runs, fourth most in the National League, according to Baseball-Reference.com. Gird your loins, Minnesota.
Extra innings…
–The Twins had eight hits and six of them belonged to Lee, who has a 15-game hitting streak, and Willi Castro.
–The Twins scored a grand total of six runs across three games. That’s what happens when you go 0-for-15 with runners in scoring position and leave 16 men on base during the series.
–Simeon Woods Richardson pitched better on Sunday, but he also only went five innings on 53 pitches. Not entirely sure that’s a vote of confidence.
–More injuries for the Twins, which plays like a sick joke anymore. Royce Lewis is dealing with hamstring troubles again and Byron Buxton has a left elbow contusion after he was hit by a pitch.