Series Recap: Twins swept by Cincinnati to End Homestand

(Anthony Soufflé/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

The Twins came into a weekend series with the Reds as the top team in the American League. Minnesota could not step up against Cincinnati and dropped all 3 matchups, losing the final game in a brutal fashion. Let’s take a look at what went wrong for the Twins and what comes next.

Game One: Reds Win 2-1

W: Brandon Williamson | L: Joe Ryan | S: Emilio Pagán

Joe Ryan opened the series for the Twins, taking on Fairmount, Minnesota native Brandon Williamson. The two starters battled with no runs scoring through 3 complete innings before Elly De La Cruz reached double and Sal Stewart made his way onto the basepaths off a Ryan Kreidler throwing error. Eugenio Suárez then made his way into the batters box, scoring both runners with a double to the gap in left-center field to give Cincinnati the lead (0-2). In the following inning, Lee, Kreidler, and Buxton all walked to load the bases. Austin Martin then floated the ball to right-center field where Will Benson made a sliding catch, but there was enough distance to score the runner from 3rd with the sacrifice fly (1-2). Neither club would score another run in the showdown. Former Twin Emilio Pagán notched the save for the Reds in a ballgame that saw the Twins leave 9 runners on base. 

Game Two: Reds Win 5-4

W: Kyle Nicolas | L: Cole Sands | S: Tony Santillan

Taj Bradley and Andrew Abbott started game 2, though neither would become a pitcher of decision in the matchup. The Reds went down in order to start the 1st, giving confidence to Minnesota following the loss. The Twins quickly got 2 runners on following an Austin Martin Walk and Josh Bell single. That brought up catcher Ryan Jeffers, who worked the count 2-2 before lacing the ball to the pull side gap and hustling around the bases for a 2-run triple (2-0). Tyler Stephenson gets credit for the lone run scored in the 2nd inning with his sacrifice fly to center field that scored Sal Stewart (2-1). Minnesota rescinded with a one-run inning of their own in the 3rd when Luke Keaschall tapped a ball into shallow right field to score Austin Martin from 2nd base (3-1). Tyler Stephenson added another RBI to his day in the top of the 4th with a single sending Eugenio Suárez home to cut the lead to 1 (3-2). Josh Bell reached on a single in the 5th with Trevor Larnach following him with a walk, this brought up Brooks Lee. The Twins 2nd baseman took advantage of the runner in scoring position, pushing a line drive to center field to double the lead (4-2). The 7th inning is where things started to go wrong for Minnesota. Elly De La Cruz added one run here, scoring Rece Hinds who had reached on a lead-off walk (4-3). The Reds tied the game in the 8th with a Rece Hinds sacrifice fly that scored Suárez. The Twins did have heads up thinking on this play, getting a 2nd out by tagging Nathaniel Lowe (4-4). The winning run for the Reds came in the final inning when Spencer Steer came across home via a Dane Myers RBI single (4-5). The Reds are credited with 3 unanswered runs to close the outing. 

Game Three: Reds Win 7-4 (10 Innings)

W: Emilio Pagán | L: Garrett Acton | S: Graham Aschcraft

With the series in hand, the Reds rotation turned to Brady Singer, Minnesota saw Bailey Ober make his 5th start of the young season. Minnesota scored the only run in the opening frame with Byron Buxton coming home from a Victor Caratini sacrifice fly to center field (1-0). The Twins added 2 more runs in the 3rd after RBI singles from Josh Bell and Victor Caratini (3-0). The game sat at stand still until the 9th inning after that. The groups went back and forth with Bailey Obert pitching 6.1 innings allowing only 3 hits notching 10 strikeouts. The Reds took advantage of rookie Andrew Morris in the 9th, putting 4 on the board with a Tyler Stephenson RBI single and TJ Friedl 3-run double (4-3). Minnesota needed a response in the bottom of the inning. James Outman came up being in the lead off spot with a double to left field. Austin Martin then came up, hitting a double of his own to score Outman and tie the ballgame (4-4). Elly De La Cruz went to 2nd as the runner to start extra innings and quickly scored after a 2-error break down from the Twins that saw both Brooks Lee and Austin Martin fumble with a ball hit by Suárez (4-5). Rece Hinds put the nail in the coffin with a 2-run double scoring Suárez and Will Benson (4-7). 

Wrapping up the Series

Two one run losses and an extra-innings breakdown plagued the Twins against Cincinnati as Minnesota suffered their first sweep of the season. The Twins were hurt by poor defensive play, and lack-luster offense, which combined, led to a drop in play. Minnesota will head on a road trip to New York and Tampa Bay to take on the Mets and Rays. The Twins have fallen to 3rd in the Central, 7th in the American League, and 16th in Major League Baseball.

If you're interested in being notified when the next article comes out, be sure to scroll down to the "Free Subscription" form and subscribe, we hope you enjoyed!