Twins fall to Rangers behind Griffin Jax's control problems in ninth inning

Before Griffin Jax threw a full-count pitch to Robbie Grossman with the bases loaded in the ninth inning, catcher Christian Vázquez called time, walked to the mound and put his arm around the pitcher.

This was a chance for the Twins to keep the score tied in a game started by Rangers ace Max Scherzer and an opportunity to grow their American League Central Division lead to its largest of the season.

The Twins, and Jax, failed to meet the moment. Jax issued a bases-loaded walk to Grossman and the next batter as well. After Dylan Floro replaced Jax, the Rangers scored two more runs through a hit batsman and a sacrifice fly as the Twins were handed a 6-2 defeat Saturday at Target Field.

"Griff's been excellent for us," Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. "Very good lately. Has pitched in some big situations lately as he normally would. I've really liked what I've seen from him. Today wasn't his day."

The Twins opted to use closer Jhoan Duran in the eighth inning of a tie game to face the top of the Rangers lineup. Duran permitted a leadoff single to Marcus Semien, but he struck out the next two batters, which included an inning-ending "strike 'em out, throw 'em out" double play.

One of the reasons why Duran pitched in front of Jax, Baldelli said, is he wanted to use the fresher pitcher first.

"If you do put someone like Griff out there in the eighth and the ball never gets to Duran, then you have Griff, who's pitched a ton in a short period of time, and Duran, who's pitched in one game," Baldelli said. "I'd prefer not to go in that direction if possible. That's some of the thinking."

The Twins have four primary relievers when they have a lead: Duran, Jax, Caleb Thielbar and Emilio Pagán. They acquired Floro at the trade deadline, but he hasn't ascended to a high-leverage role. Brock Stewart remains on the injured list and hopes to return in mid-September.

Do the Twins, a team in the driver's seat for a playoff spot, have enough late-inning bullpen depth?

"We have what we need," Baldelli said. "Like every team, when your guys have thrown a lot, you're going to have to move in different directions and make some different decisions. That's the adjustment of playing every day and working with a bullpen. I feel very comfortable."

The Twins' loss spoiled Joe Ryan's return from the 15-day injured list.

Ryan, who struggled mightily before his three-week stint on the IL, looked much more like the version of himself from the first three months of the season. He scattered five hits and one run across five innings, and he struck out seven.

"I'm sitting behind there watching the whole play unfold, and I was like, 'Send him. Send him. Send him.' I'm looking and was like, 'Oh, he's screwed,' " said Ryan, who contemplated making an umpire's strike sign after seeing Correa's throw over the plate.

The Twins produced four hits against Scherzer, a pitcher they haven't beaten in their last eight matchups, and they made them count. Edouard Julien and Kepler hit a pair of doubles in the third inning.

After Adolis García launched a go-ahead homer off Thielbar in the sixth inning — the second consecutive relief appearance in which Thielbar allowed a go-ahead or tying homer — Jorge Polanco drilled a homer off Scherzer in the bottom half of the inning.

Texas left seven runners on base and didn't record any hits with runners in scoring position.