Result
Starting pitcher: Joe Ryan 2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K (33 throws, 22 hits (66.7% hits))
Home Runs: None
Top 3 WPAs: Max Kepler .143, Matt Wallner .089, Carlos Santana .034,
Bottom 3 WPA: Trevor Richards -.347, Willi Castro -.100, Austin Martin -.094
Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)
Start running early
Coming off of Tuesday night’s 8-3 loss, the Twins hitters were determined to get on the scoreboard early in this game. Trevor Larnach worked a one-out walk in the first inning, and two batters later, Matt Wallner hit an RBI double to right-center field that brought him in and gave the Twins a 1-0 lead.
That lead was short-lived, but the Twins offense continued to be a thorn in the side of Cubs starter Javier Assad. Carlos Santana and Max Kepler opened the second with back-to-back singles. With one out, Brooks Lee led off. He battled through a 12-pitch at-bat and got an RBI groundout that scored Santana and gave the Twins the lead again.
The Joe Ryan experience ends suddenly
Joe Ryan had high expectations for himself Wednesday afternoon. He would make the Twins’ final start before a four-game series against the Guardians at home, and he had to do his part to ensure a win before a crucial series for the American League Central.
Ryan struck out Ian Happ with three quick throws to start the game. The next batter, Cubs first baseman and Minnesota native Michael Busch, didn’t make it so easy for him. On a 2-2 count, Ryan threw a 94.1 mph fastball straight up the middle for Busch, who smashed it for a solo home run to right-center field.
Ryan had a quick 10-pitch second inning, 1-2-3. But things got worse in the third inning. After throwing just four pitches to Pete Crow-Armstrong, Ryan got a visit from Twins manager Nick Paparesta on the mound. Whatever Ryan felt about the previous two pitches wasn’t right for him, and Ryan took the game off after facing just eight batters. He was diagnosed with triceps tightness, which can mean anything. Now we wait and see.
Unexpected bullpen game
Trevor Richards was the first man out of the Twins bullpen after Ryan left the game. He took a 1-2 count against Crow-Armstrong, threw two balls outside the strike zone and then allowed a base hit to right field, bringing in one of the Cubs’ most dangerous baserunners.
Things didn’t get any easier for Richards, who didn’t dominate the strike zone. He walked three batters in the bottom of the third, including a freebie to Seiya Suzuki with the bases loaded to tie the game. Suzuki’s RBI walk was followed by a sacrifice fly by Isaac Parades that gave the Cubs a 3-2 lead.
Richards didn’t even make it past the third inning after throwing 41 pitches, walking five batters, and only 17 of those 41 pitches landing as strikes.
Cole Sands came in to clean up Richards’ mess, forcing Dansby Swanson to ground out and saving the Twins from further damage when they were only down 4-2.
Sands stayed in the field for the fourth inning, and although he commanded the strike zone much better than Richards, the results were just as bad. After Christian Bethancourt hit a one-out double, Happ slammed a 96.5 mph fastball downfield for a two-run shot that extended the Cubs’ lead to 6-2. Fortunately, Sands was able to regain his composure and avert further damage by striking out the final two batters.
Josh Winder threw just 10 pitches to get the Twins through the fifth inning without letting the deficit get any bigger. He stayed in the game for the second half of the sixth inning and was perfect again, managing a groundout and two strikeouts on just 13 pitches. He allowed a hit in the seventh inning but held Chicago scoreless for the third consecutive inning. Meanwhile, however, the Twins’ scoreboard was piling up with zeroes.
Caleb Thielbar was the Twins’ last man in the bullpen on Wednesday, and things weren’t going well for him. The Cubs managed three hits and scored two more runs against him, all but sealing their 8-2 victory.
After Ryan’s departure, the bats become cold
While the Twins got at least one baserunner on base in every inning from the 4th through the 6th, they managed to keep every runner on base. Kepler managed a walk in the fourth inning and stayed behind, José Miranda had a two-out double in the fifth inning but got no help from Wallner, who struck out swinging. Santana had his second hit of the game in the sixth inning but stayed on base.
This trend continued into the seventh inning: Lee had a leadoff single, but was out of the game by a force out in the second inning by Willi Castro.
Aside from Austin Martin being hit by a pitch early in the ninth inning, the Twins went 0-for-6 without a baserunner in the final two innings, leaving five runners on base after Ryan’s departure.
More information
Ryan’s injury exit from the game was reported as a right triceps injury. This was the first time all season that Ryan left a game due to injury. More details will follow the Twins’ postgame.
What’s next?
The Twins are off Thursday but return home for their biggest series of the summer against the Cleveland Guardians. They will play a doubleheader against Cleveland on Friday with Bailey Ober and Louie Varland as starters. The Twins have not yet announced who will start in which game. Game 1 begins at 4:10 p.m.
Interview after the game
Soon.
Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet
