The Twins took a 5-2 lead into the bottom of the 8th inning on Saturday, and then watched it all slip away as the bullpen struggled again in a 6-5 loss to the Los Angeles Angels in 11 innings.
The Twins have been eliminated from playoff contention in the American League Central and are a game away from the same thing happening in the wild card race.
If you’ll recall, I announced the season had essentially ended in West Sacramento after Byron Buxton re-injured his right hip and exited the game in a loss to the A’s on Aug. 25. And I wasn’t wrong.
Reliever Taylor Rogers was tagged with the loss on Saturday, but he was hardly the problem because it began with the suddenly struggling Yoendrys Gomez, who allowed two runs in only a third of an inning.
He was followed by A.J. Minter who blew the save, then Rogers was asked to hold the line in extra innings. He fanned the side in the 10th, then emerged in the 11th and went intentional walk, flyout, hit by pitch, strikeout and then induced a grounder that bounced off his leg and veered toward third base. That allowed the runner to score from third and walk-off the Twins.
Dean Kremer gets the ball Sunday.
Extra innings…
–The Twins are 72-83.
–How bad has Gomez been? Over the last seven games, he has pitched to a 15.43 ERA.
–At least the Twins have top rookie prospect Walker Jenkins. Coming into the Angels series, Jenkins was hitting .089. But since then he has gone 8-for-12 with four runs scored, three walks and an RBI. He’s now hitting .211.
–Starter Joe Ryan did not figure in the decision, but he did pitch a little better with two runs allowed on seven hits across five innings with a walk and five strikeouts.
–The Twins blanked the Halos on Friday, 3-0. Starter Connor Prielipp fanned eight across seven innings, allowing just two hits and two walks. He’s now 6-7 with a 4.94 ERA.