Some 9th inning noise would not be enough for the comeback against Kansas City.
Good news! The bullpen has been saved for tomorrow’s game against the Royals. The Twins only used two pitchers in the contest against Kansas City. The bad news: Twins lost 4-2.
The Minnesota Twins have now lost their last four games at Kauffman Stadium. In fact the Twins have now dropped five in a row to their American League Central foe. The starting pitching woes continued early as the Royals ruined NRFI for all with a Vinnie Pasquantino double on a fly ball to Bader, India scored. Kansas City went up 1-0 early. India actually got on base by hitting a double that fell out of Byron Buxton’s glove in center field.
Simeon Woods Richardson pitched 5 2⁄3 innings, giving up 8 hits, 4 ER, 4 BB and 6 K. He threw 107 pitches. While this wasn’t terrible, and it’s nice to see that pitch-count up, it’s not what the Twins needed to win the game.
There were some tense moments, one in particular stuck out.
Near the end of Woods Richardson’s night, with a full count and India at the plate, Twins down 4-1 at this point, two down, Rocco Baldelli got into it with the home plate umpire about his call of a pitch-clock violation. With the 3-2 count, India got first base. It resulted in a “heated discussion,” a kick of home plate and Rocco’s ejection.
Twins manager Rocco Baldelli ejected after a pitch clock violation pic.twitter.com/EZW34URK2B
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) April 8, 2025
“I was a strong ‘no’ on the call as it stood. They were given a free base, and it was not the right call,” Rocco said when asked about the pitch clock call that lead to his ejection.
Simeon Woods Richardson signaled he didn’t hear PitchCom at 7 seconds on pitch clock. Didn’t get call, ruled a pitch clock vio, which results in a walk.
Rocco Baldelli gets ejected. Demonstratively tells the ump, “You (messed) up.” Kicks the plate. Throws stuff. #MNTwins
— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) April 8, 2025
“The umpire could have remedied the situation in a number of ways. It didn’t make sense,” Rocco said after the game.
Rocco was out, and not much happened, until it did get interesting at the end of the game. It all starts on two! Until it doesn’t…
In the top of the 9th Harrison Bader delivered a two-out RBI single to make it a 4-2 ballgame. Edouard Julien pinch hit for Christian Vazquez with the tying runners on base, but he would ground-out to second base.
“Yes, it’s early, but we need to play better,” Rocco Baldelli said after the game.
Matt Wallner and Harrison Bader yet again had nice nights at the plate for the Twins. Wallner went 2-3 in the leadoff position with a double and a walk. He also got thrown out trying to steal when Buxton was at the plate. Bader was 2-4 and is still rocking a .988 OPS.
Scott Blewett finished the game out for the Twins Monday night. He pitched 2 1⁄3 innings giving up one hit, striking out two. We will see if his fate is the same as Randy Dobnak and Darren McCaughan, who both picked up the pitching slack in long-relief, only to be then designated for assignment.
As for the rest of the team, tomorrow’s another day. It’s Pablo day. Pablo López is taking the mound for the Twins and LHP Cole Ragans will pitch for the Royals. First pitch is at 6:40 p.m. again.
Go Twins!