Jose Berrios forced to leave game after Rocco Baldelli's blunder

April 27, 2021 at 2:24PM
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Jose Berrios leaves the the mound during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Monday, April 26, 2021. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
Jose Berrios leaves the the mound during the sixth inning after manager Rocco Baldelli didn’t realize he was making a second trip to the mound. (Associated Press/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

CLEVELAND — Jose Berrios was solid through five innings on Monday night, giving up only three hits and twice stranding runners on third base. Cleveland scored twice with two outs in the sixth inning, but when manager Rocco Baldelli came to the mound, Berrios convinced him to leave him in to face Josh Naylor.

Or so he thought.

As Baldelli walked back to the dugout, umpire Tom Hallion reminded him pitching coach Wes Johnson had, three batters earlier, jogged to the mound for a quick pep talk for Berrios. By rule, a second visit requires a pitching change, and Baldelli was forced to summon Hansel Robles from the bullpen.

"That's on me. I was locked into something else at the time," Baldelli said. "I actually called down to get Robles going. Not a great moment."

No harm done — Robles ended the inning by getting Josh Naylor to ground out — but it was an awkward mistake for a former Manager of the Year.

about the writer

about the writer

Phil Miller

Reporter

Phil Miller has covered the Twins for the Minnesota Star Tribune since 2013. Previously, he covered the University of Minnesota football team, and from 2007-09, he covered the Twins for the Pioneer Press.

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