In the wake of Minnesota’s worst start since 2016, twins requested manager Rocco Baldelli requested that his player would not lose their faith in each other.
The message is received at least for a game-with a strong all-round effort on Wednesday. The twins will look to follow it and achieve a split of a series of four games when they play the final against the host Kansas City Royals on Thursday afternoon.
Minnesota won only the fourth time in 12 matches with Wednesday’s 4-0 victory.
The twins got Stellar Pitching from Joe Ryan (seven shut-off rounds), Homers from Ty France and Matt Wallner, and showed strong defense after committing three errors in Tuesday’s 2-1 loss.
“I like how we approached the game,” Baldelli said after Wednesday’s victory. “It wasn’t any kind of slug party on either side of the ball. It was a measured game where you had to have good bats and make things happen that way.”
France had three hits and two RBI and is 5-for-11 with Homer and two doubles in the series. He has had his best career success against Kansas City, as he beats .412 (47-for-114) with six homers and 22 RBI in 30 matches.
France will surely be in a hurry to come to the ball park on Thursday, as he is 10-for-20 with five doubles against Royal’s scheduled starter, his right hand Michael Wacha.
At the same time, Ryan was excellent with seven rounds of two-hit shut-off ball as he improved to 7-0 all the time against Royals.
He also felt that the message from Baldelli came in handy.
“It was a good time for a speech and getting everyone relaxed and feeling good,” Ryan said. “… knowing that we are playing good baseball with good energy.”
The victory snapped Minnesota’s six-game skid against Royals from last season.
Kansas City had won three straight matches before he had only two bats with runners in points on Wednesday. Royals had only three hits.
Royals have received more than just four runs twice during his 12 matches, but manager Matt Quatraro said he will not panic.
“This is an everyday game,” he said. “I can’t sit here and say they will suddenly get hot. You have to go out there and do it one bat at a time.
“Do I like the work they have put in? Absolutely. The confidence we have in these guys as hitters, they will break out of this.”
Wacha (0-2, 4.66 era) lost to Baltimore Orioles last Saturday when he gave up four runs and six hits over 5 2/3 rounds. Royals fell 8-1.
The 33-year-old has been successful for the twins and went 5-1 with a 3.05 era in seven career trips.
Wacha met the twins once last season in its first campaign with Kansas City. He dropped Minnesota over seven rounds and knocked out seven and allowed four hits and a walk in a 2-0 victory.
Christian Vazquez is 7-before-13 and Harrison Bader is 4-for-11 against Wacha. Carlos Correa is 1-for-13 and Byron Buxton is hitless in seven bats.
Twins Right Hander Bailey Ober, Thursday’s start, has fought against Kansas City. He is 0-4 with a 6.50 era in 10 starts and has served 10 homers in just 44 1/3 rounds.
He gave up six homers in 13 1/3 rounds over three 2024 starts against Royals. He went 0-2 with a 9.45 era.
The season has not started well for Ober (0-1, 12.15 era), which was dressed in eight runs while losing to St. Louis Cardinals on March 30 in its first start and hit only four rounds against Houston Astros on his second on Saturday.
Kansas City’s Salvador Perez is 7-for-19 with two homers and two doubles against Ober. Bobby Witt Jr. Is 9-for-19 with a blast while Kyle Isbel (4-For-12), Michael Massey (2-for-9), MJ Melendez (3-For-18) and Mikael Garcia (1-for-7) also have a homer of Ober.
-Field level media
