I wrote in my preview about Simeon Woods Richardson’s struggles so far this year, and this start was no different. It didn’t matter what pitch he threw, the Nationals saw the ball well, weren’t chasing, and made him work for every one of the few outs he could get. As the titular Chappell Roan once said, sometimes you have to “stand face to face with I told you so.”
The Twins had their Coffee early today, jumping out to score two in the second inning and likely could have had three. Nationals starter (and Bloomington native) Jake Irvin allowed a single, walk, and HBP to load the bases for new clutch hitter Brooks Lee, who delivered a two run single to break the seal. Kody Clemens tried to score on a short fly ball, but two-time Gold Glove finalist Jacob Young made a Femininomenon-al throw to nail Clemens with plenty of time to spare.
A Ryan Jeffers two-out double gave the Twins a chance to add on in the third inning, but forgot that Austin Martin’s Guilty Pleasure is getting thrown out on the bases. Martin blew through the stop sign at third to end their second straight inning with a preventable out at home plate. Regardless of the mistakes, the Twins were off to a good start, hitting the ball around the field and leading 2-0.
Simeon Woods Richardson had something to say about that, though. There wasn’t any individual issues that set him back, but a single here, double there, sac fly over there just kept piling on and his inability to strike batters out meant there was no way out of these jams without allowing runs. The Nats dinked and dumped their way to a 5-3 lead by the time SWR was done and the Twins simply don’t have the relievers to withstand their starter giving up that many runs. It’s like trying to see through a Kaleidoscope.
The Twins had a chance for a big 6th inning, but were unable to capitalize on free bring the game within one. New Nats pitcher Dicky Lovelady (this one isn’t even a joke, it’s just straight up his preferred nickname) hit Matt “cement bones” Wallner and walked Luke Keaschall. A perfect sac bunt by Kody Clemens and Brooks Lee walk juiced the bases with one out for Gray and Buxton, both of whom Casual-ly struck out to end the threat.
Luckily, Minnesota’s Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl (positive) Ryan Jeffers wouldn’t let the Twins die. After crushing a homer and a double in his previous two ABs, Jeffers got on his Pink Pony (Club) and hustled to second on a soft 55 MPH squibber up the first base line. Pinch hitter Josh Bell followed with a double off the left field wall to knot the game at five apiece.
You’ll be shocked to hear this, but the Twins’ bad bullpen almost immediately gave the lead right back. Keibert Ruiz decided that his Kink is Karma and got a slow John Klein fastball down the heart of the plate and ordered it Hot to Go out to the right field bleachers. A double from All-Star James Wood and a couple soft singles gave the Nats one more to put them up 7-5 for good.
After getting hit around and lacking general control of the strike zone all afternoon, SWR was lifted after 4.1 innings and allowing four hits, two walks, and five runs while striking out just two batters. He got just a single swing-and-miss on a non-fastball. His poor results today should drop him below Dodgers’ pitcher Justin Wrobleski for the worst strikeout rate in the league. Among the 125 pitchers with at least 30 innings, he’s also in the bottom five in ERA, FIP, xFIP, SIERA, batting average against, WHIP, home run rate, win probability added, and fWAR. There’s no way to spin it, he’s been downright terrible. Unfortunately, with Zebby Matthews struggling, Kendry Rojas on a strict pitch limit, and Andrew Morris and John Klein transitioning to bullpen roles, there’s no one readily available to replace him.
Time to get Naked in Manhattan.
STUDS
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Ryan Jeffers: 3-4, 2 2B, HR, 3 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB
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Brooks Lee: 2-3, 2B, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB
DUDS
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All pitchers! Not everyone was charged a run, but every pitcher used had a run score while they were on the mound. BUT in particular…
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Simeon Woods Richardson: 4.1 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 2 BB, 2 K
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John Klein: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HR
Comment of the game goes to me because it was way harder to work those Chappell Roan song titles into this than I thought it would be.
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