One hit and 11 base on balls is some “tough math,” said Twins’ radio play-by-play voice Kris Atteberry during Tuesday night’s game at Yankee Stadium.
Boy, is it ever.
The Twins had the first hit of the game and then came up empty for the next eight innings as they watched team pitching completely unravel with 11 walks in a 9-1 defeat to the Pinstripers.
Rookie pitcher Travis Adams got the ball and struggled right of the gates, lasting all of two-plus innings. He served up four runs on four hits, including two home runs, while also walking four batters. His night was done at 70 pitches and then in came veteran Thomas Hatch who proceeded to walk seven batters across four-plus innings. He allowed four more runs on five hits, including the Yanks’ third home run of the game.
The Twins will try to avoid the sweep on Wednesday. Joe Ryan gets the ball.
Extra innings…
–The Twins are 56-63.
–In the top of the first inning, it appeared the Twins were going to jump all over Yankees’ hurler Carlos Rodon. Austin Martin singled, Byron Buxton walked and Ryan Jeffers was hit by a pitch, and just like that the Twins had the bases loaded. But Royce Lewis grounded out to score a run and Kody Clemens struck out to end the threat.
–Meanwhile, Rodon settled down, allowing just a run across seven innings with two walks and five strikeouts. He improves to 12-7 with a 3.25 ERA.
–The Twins were blown out, of course, but it could have been so much worse because the Bronx Bombers were 3-for-14 with runners in scoring position and left 12 men on base.
–There’s just no explaining the Twins’ futility against the Yankees. I’ve tried to understand it and rationalize it and speculate and theorize about why this head-to-head matchup is so lopsided, but I’ve run out of ideas. I just don’t get it and it makes no sense whatsoever.
–With Tuesday’s loss, the Twins fall to 44-125 against the Yankees, including the playoffs, since 2002.