Final: Mariners 3, Twins 2: Minnesota Misplays Cost A Victory

Box Score
SP: Bailey Ober 6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 9 K (88 pitches, 59 strikes)
Home Runs: Carlos Correa (9)
Bottom 3 WPA: Christian Vazquez (-.214), Griffin Jax (-.212), Cole Sands (-.196)

Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)

Ober, Correa, Go Deep
Through the first five innings of the game, Minnesota and Seattle struggled to get much of anything going offensively. The Twins managed just three hits with the Mariners recording a pair. It wasn’t until the bottom of the fifth inning that Josh Rojas doubled to score Mitch Haniger. He should have been out by 20 feet, but Christian Vazquez booted Willi Castro’s relay to the plate.

The Twins had a quick response when Willi Castro provided a sixth inning baserunner by again getting hit by a pitch. Carlos Correa, back in the lineup after being hit on Thursday, just like he said he would be, launched a two-run dinger. His ninth blast of the season made it a 2-1 game. 

Bailey Ober turned in another great start, and his one allowed run came on two hits and a trio of walks. He struck out nine and turned it over to Jorge Alcala.

Jax Jumped Late
Griffin Jax took over for the eighth inning and needed to hold the slim lead. Walking Haniger to start the inning, Luke Raley came on to run. A throwing error by Jose Miranda allowed him to score and the game was tied late. Intentionally walking Cal Raleigh, before getting Mitch Kepler to fly out. Dominic Canzone struck out and the Twins needed to win it in the ninth inning.

Jhoan Duran took over for the bottom half after the Twins couldn’t score. Seattle pushed runners to second and third with just one out, but got a strikeout of Rojas before J.P. Crawford flew out to end the inning. He didn’t touch more than 100.3 mph on the night, but made it work.

On To Extras
Facing Ryne Stanek with Miranda starting at second base in the tenth, Max Kepler began the frame with a fly out. Manuel Margot moved the runner with a fly out, but the Twins were working with two outs. Christian Vazquez grounded out and dropped his OPS to a truly astonishing .465. Beyond giving up the first run, and continuing to be an automatic out at the plate, he has become a substantial problem for Minnesota.

Cole Sands came on for the bottom of the tenth inning and Julio Rodriguez moved Crawford to third base for the first out. Raleigh grounded back behind Sands and Crawford raced home to walk it off for the Mariners.

Correa was the only player to record a pair of hits with Minnesota totaling just six on the evening. The Twins struck out only four times but didn’t draw a walk. Bad defense down the stretch was the story that sank Rocco Baldelli’s club.

What’s Next? 
Pablo Lopez starts for the Minnesota Twins, and gets to do so at a place in which he always enjoyed seeing fellow Venezuelan Felix Hernandez’s Kings Court. He’ll be opposed by the Mariners Bryce Miller.

Postgame Interviews

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet