Let’s give credit where credit is due: Twins ownership approved a plan to go out and get two relievers and a starting pitcher for the team’s stretch run, and now it’s up to Manager Derek Shelton and the players to deliver on that additional support.
And right now that is not happening.
The Twins lost again 8-2 on Tuesday, their second straight loss to Royals pitcher Randy Dobnak, their third straight loss overall and their fourth straight game in which they have allowed two runs in the first frame, forcing the team to play from behind again.
And there’s one more unpleasant factor: All-star pitcher Joe Ryan continues to struggle. He was the losing pitcher of record on Tuesday to fall to 6-8 on the season with a 3.65 ERA. He needs to get back on track.
In fact, the whole team needs to put it together. And it needs to be more than series wins, but sweeps; even better the Twins need to put together winning streaks of four, five and six games. The time is now.
Newly acquired Dean Kremer gets the ball Wednesday. He has a career ERA of 2.96 versus the Royals across 27-plus innings, according to Baseball-Reference.com.
Extra innings….
–With the loss, the Twins fall to 56-58. They are four games out of the AL Central division lead and a game behind in the wild card race.
–Ryan’s line: Five runs allowed (four earned) on seven hits with two walks and three strikeouts across five-plus innings. Relievers Travis Adams and Taylor Rogers stunk it up late in the game and allowed the three additional runs.
–You know who isn’t stinking things up? Lefty reliever Kody Funderburk who secured five outs with two whiffs in Tuesday’s game.
–Royce Lewis had a 4-for-4 day at the plate and Josh Bell, Mr. 3-iron, hit one deep for his 14th dinger of the season. The Twins, though, were otherwise 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and stranded nine base runners.
–The Philadelphia Phillies acquired ex-Twin Luis Arraez at the trade deadline from the San Francisco Giants, and fans there must be happy with the early results. The three-time batting champ had a 2-for-4 day at the plate with a run scored and two RBI in a 5-0 win over the Nats. Arraez is hitting .325. That’s how it’s done, folks.
Comments