Minnesota Twins post game report: Twins fall to Mets 3-2

The Minnesota Twins began a short two-game series against the New York Mets taking the loss in the first by a score of 3-2.

Michael Pineda would get the start tonight for the Minnesota Twins as he looked relatively sharp in his first appearance following the All-Star break. “Big Mike” would give up 3 runs with only 1 of them being earned, a good start to the second half for the big right-handed pitcher. Though the game ended with a Twins loss, it was great to see two familiar faces back in the starting lineup in Eddie Rosario and C.J. Cron.

Twin Takeaway – The good

There wasn’t a whole lot to be excited about for the Twins this evening besides the fact that they got two big bats back in Cron and Rosario. Rosario and Cron would bat 3rd and 4th respectively and secured a total of 4 hits with 2 each.

Though it was great to see the pair back in the lineup this evening, it also came with some negative injury news in Byron Buxton heading to the 7-day IL for concussion protocol. Jonathan Schoop left his at-bat late in the game after fouling off a 100 mph fastball from Edwin Diaz. Even when the injury news starts to look better for the Twins, it doesn’t seem to last long.

Twin Takeaway – The not-so-good

The lineup’s inability to hit in clutch situations tonight was a little frustrating to watch. With runners on 2nd and 3rd and nobody out in the bottom of the 4th, the Twins were only able to push 1 run across the board by way of a Max Kepler ground out. In the next inning, the bottom of the 5th, the Twins began the inning with a walk and a hit-by-pitch and were unable to score a single run.

Same story different inning as the Twins had runners on 1st and 2nd with only 1 out in the 9th and eventually left the bases loaded. Even after Arraez came in for Schoop and worked an 11 pitch walk, the Twins failed to do anything with the life they were gifted from Mets closer Edwin Diaz.

With the Indians making the division race a close one, the Minnesota Twins offense can’t afford to leave runners on the bases. The lineup only has 1 player batting over .300 and that happens to be first-time All-Star selection Jorge Polanco who is slowly creeping his way down towards .300 himself.

The Twins look to get back on track and even the season series tomorrow in the last game with the Mets this year. Martin Perez will get the start for the Minnesota Twins as he faces off against a familiar face in ex-Royals starter Jason Vargas.