There is no shame in losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers, particularly in dramatic fashion and especially with Shohei Ohtani starring in a dual role, but there also are no consolation prizes in big-time sports.
At the end of a 5-2 loss in Los Angeles on Monday, the Twins’ record was the same as it would have been regardless of the style of defeat: 48-52, a well-earned slightly below-average mark through 100 games.
In some ways, the defeat served as a microcosm of the Twins’ larger struggles this year. I talked about that on Tuesday’s Daily Delivery podcast, and I’ll explore the idea further at the outset of today’s 10 things to know.
- Byron Buxton led off the game with a home run off Ohtani, a rare feat that fired up the Twins dugout. But Ohtani answered back with a two-run homer in the bottom of the first. The last three times Buxton has led off a road game with a home run, the Twins have given up two runs in the bottom of the first (June 18 and June 19 at Cincinnati were the other examples). Buxton is trying his best to carry the team, but more often than not the Twins just refuse to be carried.
- Young pitcher David Festa, being relied upon along with Zebby Matthews to provide rotation depth this season in case of inevitable injuries, gave up four runs (three homers) in 5⅓ innings. Neither he nor Matthews have been good enough this season. They might be in the future, but they just weren’t ready to contribute to a team with AL Central aspirations this year.
- Some fans were critical of Rocco Baldelli for not removing Festa after five innings and three runs allowed. At least that was a refreshing change from complaining that Baldelli removes starters too early, but it was still part of a season-long theme of decision discontent.
- Carlos Correa nearly tied the game with a three-run homer with two outs in the ninth, but his blast to center field was caught right at the top of the wall. His WAR (wins above replacement) remains at 0.0. His SAR (salary above replacement) remains at around $36,000,000.
- If Correa has been the Twins’ biggest disappointment this season, Royce Lewis is a close second. He is showing signs of life lately with two homers Sunday and three hits Monday. He was on deck when Correa made that last loud out. Kody Clemens — acquired midyear for virtually nothing — batted in the ninth, though, since he hit ahead of both Correa and Lewis in the order. It’s nice that Correa and Lewis have been showing signs of life lately. It’s also probably too late to make a difference.
- Moving on from that game, how about this: Rich Hill, who was already old as a 40-year-old lefty five years ago when he pitched for the Twins, has been called up by the Royals and is slated to start tonight.
- Walk-off catchers interference? Yep.
- The Lynx missed out on signing coveted free agent Emma Meesseman, who instead is slated to join the rival New York Liberty.
- Star Tribune sports intern Shelby Swanson and I broke down the Meesseman news and several other Lynx story lines on Tuesday’s podcast.
- Star Tribune Gophers football writer Randy Johnson is expected to join me from Las Vegas and Big Ten football media days on Wednesday’s podcast.
