After a devastating blown-save loss yesterday afternoon, today the again Byron Buxton-less Minnesota Twins looked to at least hold serve in this four-game series with the Kansas City Royals. It didn’t happen—and somehow it didn’t happen in exactly the fashion you’d probably expect (terrible bullpen & no offense until it was too late).
The homesteaders jumped out to a slim early lead in the bottom of the second inning when Kody Clemens singled, stole second base, and was moved to third on the exceedingly-rare Bobby Witt Jr SS error. A fielder’s choice ground-out from Ryan Kreidler plated Big K for the 1-0 advantage.
For 3.2 IP, Twins SP Connor Prielipp was mowing down KC batters like MN residents out in their yards during this current heat wave. But he stumbled a bit in T4 when a two-out Vinnie Pasquantino double was brought around by an immediate Nick Loftin two-bagger. 1-1 tie.
A Maikel Garcia error at 3B allowed the Twins a few two-out baserunners in B4—but then Garcia’s magnificent pick-and-throw to nip Luke Keaschall at 1B ended the scoring threat.
Prielipp exited mid-5th with one out and one man on base—a solid opener-esque outing for the youngster. But in keeping with today’s Toy Story Day theme at Target Field, the entrance of the MN bullpen indeed proved the perfect time to panic.
As soon as Andrew Morris started hurling towards home, two singles followed to give the Royals the lead. Starling Marte then pounded a Morris pitch 441 feet over the CF wall. 5-1 Royals.
In T8, Twins reliever Cody Laweryson surrendered a single safety on a Carter Jensen sac fly, but by then the outcome was fairly academic with the Twins’ offense having fallen silent.
Or was it?! A three-run homer from Josh Bell was followed by a one-out double off the bat of Trevor Larnach. After a Keaschall fly out, Victor Caratini then singled up the middle to make it a one-run game and Tristan Gray would follow suit with a similar single (this time to LF) to provide some real hope to the Twins faithful.
Alas, this bunch is exceedingly good at extinguishing that—a Brooks Lee poke dying on the LF warning track.
Your Final: Kansas City Royals 6, Minnesota Twins 5
A squad with a below-average bullpen at least splits this series. A squad with an average bullpen takes the series against this punchless KC assemblage. Your 2026 Minnesota Twins possess neither bullpen descriptor.
Zach’s Zealot
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Clemens: Continued to have a solid series—two hits today—getting things off on the right foot and starting the late rally.
Zach’s Zombie
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Tom Pohlad: No, sir—your “we’re going to be competitive this year” preseason proclamation doesn’t hold water any longer. Not when two months have gone by and your club is seemingly further from a competent bullpen than on Day One.
Egg-cellent Elocution
Who’s Got Next
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After a much-needed off day Monday—their first since May 21—the Twins hit the road to the Motor City for three games with the Detroit Tigers (Tues. night, Wed. night, Thurs. afternoon).
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