On the bright side, Kyle Gibson does this every year — but only once.
Gibson tied his career high with five walks Wednesday, or more than he had issued in his past five starts combined. And against the defending World Series champions, the free passes had a predictable effect: Lengthened rallies, higher pitch counts and, ultimately, a 9-4 Red Sox victory at Target Field.
The Twins' defeat closed an otherwise memorable homestand with a 5-4 record and melted another game off their AL Central lead, now nine games over Cleveland, the smallest margin since May 25.
It should have been better, Gibson said, blaming himself.
"That might have been some of the worst stuff I've had in quite awhile," said the righthander, who dropped to 7-4. "Fastball command wasn't very good. It is frustrating. When I did execute a pitch, it was a base hit somewhere."
Gibson had made cutting down on walks a priority for this season, his final one before free agency, and entered Wednesday's homestand finale with only 17 all season, and a 2.0 walks-per-nine-innings rate that's by far the best of his career. But his control eluded him, and the Red Sox tagged him for a pair of three-run innings.
Gibson has walked five batters in a game six times during his career — once in each of the past six seasons.
"Obviously he was working through it and trying to battle it out and find his release point," Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. "It's a start that we're probably going to learn some things from. Probably one I'm sure Gibby wants to wipe clean, and look back at those good starts he's had and try to regain."