Thrown Away

Cardinals 3

Twins 2

The Twins and Cardinals had their rubber match on a steamy Sunday, and the Twins did something they hadn't done all season. 

They were 59-0 in games they were leading after 8. But in a week where they blew 2 other late leads (just before the 9th), they delivered another damaging gut punch to their hopes of ever catching Cleveland.

Zebby Matthews made his 3rd career start, and pitched very well. 5 innings, 7 Ks, just a solo homerun allowed.

The only run support came with the 1st batter of the game, when Willi Castro launched a homerun. The Twins' bats were ice cold. They managed to load the bases once on a HBP and a couple walks, but Manny Margot left them loaded.

The game got into the bullpen, and then in the 8th, the Twins finally looked to take control. Castro walked, then Royce Lewis pinch hit and drove a double into the gap to put the Twins in front.

They maybe could have added some insurance, but for some reason, Rocco pinch hit Farmer for Wallner, and that extra run never came.

Jhoan Duran came in. He got a K, then gave up a single. Then the next batter hit an easy grounder that looked like a textbook 4-6-3 game.ending double play...until Edouard Julien made an unthinkable wild throw that missed Castro by probably 10 feet at least and went sailing into left field. 

So instead of the game being over, the Cardinals had 2 in scoring position. Duran got the next out, but then something called Lars Nootbaar punched a 2 run single through a puzzling large gap on the left side.

Ballgame. Twins drop another game they should have won, a game that you simply can't lose if you want to be taken seriously. 

But I don't think we really can take the Twins seriously. They haven't put together a stretch of playoff caliber baseball in a while. They always seem to be on the precipice of doing something, only to not do it. They should have swept a 4 gamer from Cleveland a couple of weeks ago, yet only split it. Now, this is 3 losses in a week with a late blown lead. They're going the wrong way.

I'm sure the injury excuse will be used, cause Correa, Buxton, Brooks Lee, and various pitchers are out. But I tire of this excuse year after year.

This just is not a playoff team. The only reason they still could BE a playoff team is that the 2nd and 3rd wild card spots in the AL will go to some pretty mediocre teams. But you can forget about catching Cleveland. The Guardians have been pretty average lately, but the Twins can't make up ground because they keep being their own worst enemy.