Make It Official! Twins 6, Athletics 5: Max Kepler Walk-Off Punctuates City Connect Debut (2024)

Box Score
Simeon Woods Richardson: 4 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 4 BB, 4 K (For real)
Home Runs: Max Kepler (5)
Top 3 WPA:Max Kepler (.621), Jhoan Duran (.445), Jose Miranda (.153)
Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)

Donned in a uniform that can only be described as the result of the Mariners creating a soccer kit, the Twins entered Friday’s game with a unique pressure. Sure, their rival Guardians appeared incapable of losing, but a real problem underscored the match: they needed to win with their City Connect jerseys. You can’t look weird and play bad. That’s uncouth. Minnesota had to establish an attitude of dominance—and they needed to do it now.

That mandate flailed early. Simeon Woods Richardson pitched perhaps a little too much; his 1st inning was a series of extended plate appearances, dunked changeups, and anxious vibes that clearly rattled the otherwise smooth and collected rookie. He entered the frame with a 2.84 ERA. He left it a few ticks higher. With men on each base, Woods Richardson delivered Shea Langeliers a lethargic cement mixer of a slider and watched in horror as he deposited it 408 feet out to left field. 4-0 A’s. The Twins haven’t even hit.

And so they didn’t, for a time. Minnesota batters thrice hit into double plays against starter Mitch Spence, struggling to turn on his odd cutting-fastball with any sort of authority. With the exception of Byron Buxton—who absolutely clobbered an RBI triple off the righty in the 2nd—the Twins mostly found gloves and false hope in the game’s first five innings.

Perhaps, then, some big thank-goodness-someone-finally-came-through knock was in the works for Minnesota. Runners don’t remain stranded forever; given enough chances, even the coldest batter will find a cookie, some pitch they’ve handled for as long as they can remember, and turn fortunes around.

That hit came in the 6th, and Max Kepler was its architect.

Staring down a .158/.214/.184 month of June, Kepler lit up on the first he saw, whacked a slider, and delivered just enough oomph on the ball to clear the high wall in right-center, tying the game on one critical blow.

Ifthatsomehow wasn't dramatic enough, the rest of the game surely satisfied your unrealistic palate. The Twins immediately surrendered the lead when Brent Rooker—evidently feeling a type of way against his former team—cracked a triple into center to score the go-ahead run. Buxton made a valiant effort. To no avail. Rooker hit it too tall.

Minnesota stayed at bay in the 7th but decided to strike in the 8th; a horrible error, hit-by-pitch, walk combo reminded the team they were indeed playing the Athletics—and the threat coaxed manager Mark Kotsay into smashing his let-Mason-Miller-save-my-ass button, summoning his closer a frame earlier than usual. It kind of worked. The young righty walked in the tying run but lured tepid contact to walk away with nothing more.

The 9th melted into the 10th, and suddenly, we entered a strange present: the Manfred Man zone, where runners earn bases for free. This bizarro baseball could spell disaster for home teams, but the Twins simply let Jhoan Duran, in his second inning of work, cut down Oakland in order. So he did; the free runner didn't even budge.

And—fueled by their pitching dominance—Minnesota culled a win from their fortunes and needed just one pitch to do it: Scott Alexander intentionally walked Carlos Correa, and his opening pitch to Kepler was scalded beyond Oakland first baseman Tyler Soderstrom. Austin Martin, the free runner, booked it around the bases, sliding into home as the throw could only reach the catcher's glove a few ticks too late. Twins win.

Notes:

Max Kepler's homer gave him 81 in his Target Field career, passing Brian Dozier for the most homers hit in the stadium by one player.

Kepler's four RBIs give him 493 in his career, passing Dozier once again, this time for 12th all-time for RBIs hit in Twins history. Kepler is 87 away from tying the next hitter, Michael Cuddyer.

Carlos Santana's 8th-inning walk earned him his 1,045th career RBI, passing Ron Fairly for 264th all-time in MLB history.

Byron Buxton's 24th career triple ties Shane Mack for 21st place in Twins history. Rod Carew claims 1st place with 90 three-baggers.

Post-Game Interview:

What’s Next?
The Twins and Athletics are set to play the third game of their series on Saturday. Bailey Ober will start opposite Joey Estes. First pitch is at 1:10 PM.

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