” We didnt lose tonight because of anything that took place with any of the umpires,” Baldelli stated. “Theres some aggravation in specific circumstances, however we have to definitely go out and play better, have much better at-bats, hit balls that remain in the zone when we get the opportunity and pitch much better and make more consistent quality pitches. It comes down to us needing to do a better job.”
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In an ideal world, Byron Buxton would have become the first player in Twins history to hit inside-the-park homers in consecutive video games. Rather, he needed to go for just the one on Tuesday– and later on utilized his speed to make another run.
Because perfect world, the rest of
In that ideal world, the rest of the Twins offense would also have had a little more to reveal for their effort in the first two video games of this four-game fight versus the White Sox for very first place in the American League Central. Instead, the bats fell quiet against rookie right-hander Dane Dunning while tempers flared with the ejections of Rocco Baldelli and Nelson Cruz during a 6-2 loss to the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field.
In a best world, Byron Buxton would have become the very first player in Twins history to hit inside-the-park homers in successive games. Rather, he had to settle for simply the one on Tuesday– and later used his speed to manufacture another run.
– Twins sound off on 2020 playoff schedule
Do-Hyoung Park covers the Twins for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @dohyoungpark and on Instagram at dohyoung.park.
Jiménez appeared to easily pick the ball up and relay it into the infield, the umpires ruled upon replay evaluation that the ball was lodged underneath the cushioning and therefore dead, and Buxtons homer was reversed to a ground-rule double as a result.
The Twins speedster just required to peak at a sprint speed of 29.2 feet per second on his trip around the bases as he connected the video game, 1-1, with his ninth homer of the season. Thats well shy of the “elite” threshold of 30 feet per 2nd, which Buxton has currently topped 14 times this season and 322 times in his profession. According to Statcast, the ball had a 50 percent catch possibility, but Roberts inability to make the play unlocked for Buxton to take full benefit.
Had that call not been overturned, Buxton would have become just the fifth gamer in Twins history (considering that the franchise relocated in 1961) with several inside-the-parkers in a season, signing up with Tony Oliva ( 64), Tom Brunansky ( 82), Greg Gagne ( 86) and Steve Lombardozzi ( 88).
That overturn was simply one of numerous contested plays in this series– consisting of Matt Wislers sixth-inning balk on Monday and a strike-three call to catcher Ryan Jeffers that seemed well underneath the zone– that resulted in frustration in the Twins dugout, culminating in the ejections of the mild-mannered Baldelli and Cruz following that seventh-inning strikeout by Jeffers.
Inside #Bomba. #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/xrw7SLMyM1— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) September 16, 2020
Buxton hit a sharp line drive to left-center field in the 3rd inning versus the White Sox that center fielder Luis Robert could not snare on a leaping attempt, and as soon as the ball caromed off the wall and dripped away from Robert, Chicago had no chance at decreasing Buxton.
” You usually get more disappointed with calls when youre not playing up to your abilities and expectations,” Baldelli stated. “Its on us to go out and play much better and not have to depend on close calls to be the choosing consider these games.”.
Baldelli wasnt sure whether the ejections were any carry-over from the residual disappointments of Monday night, when the Twins had problems with those two calls and stranded a season-high 15 runners on base. Regardless, its on the Twins to play up to their potential as they lastly get healthy.
” Just another screen by Byron, of him revealing us things that we do not typically get the chance to see on a ball park,” Baldelli stated. “We understand how special his abilities are, and watching him run around the bases, its a happiness to view, and we get to see him do things like that all the time. Youre never sure what hes going to do because hes truly efficient in quite much anything.”
” Its a judgment call. You just need to live with it in any case. Theres nothing you can do about it.”
The Twins speedster only needed to top out at a sprint speed of 29.2 feet per second on his trip around the bases as he tied the game, 1-1, with his ninth homer of the season. Thats well shy of the “elite” limit of 30 feet per second, which Buxton has actually currently topped 14 times this season and 322 times in his profession. According to Statcast, the ball had a 50 percent catch probability, however Roberts failure to make the play opened the door for Buxton to take complete advantage.
It marked Buxtons third career inside-the-park home run, a lot of amongst active players. He later on added a single in the fifth and rounded the bases on a wild pitch, a passed ball and an RBI groundout, however the rest of the lineup integrated for only one hit as the Twins never ever installed a serious hazard against Dunning. The White Sox, on the other hand, got homers from Tim Anderson and James McCann, and a clutch two-run single from Robert.
The loss dropped Minnesota to 3 video games back of Chicago, suggesting the Twins cant take control of first place during this series. The Twins magic number to clinch a postseason berth stayed at 5.
” I know he didnt get credit for the very first one, however most likely something we havent seen a lots of,” Baldelli said. “I understand I havent.”.
It marked Buxtons third profession inside-the-park home run, a lot of amongst active gamers. He later added a single in the fifth and rounded the bases on a wild pitch, a passed ball and an RBI groundout, but the rest of the lineup combined for just one hit as the Twins never installed a major threat against Dunning.
Buxton has 4 homers in his previous seven games. The Twins would argue that it needs to have been 5.
” I indicate, it looks like its probably leaning up against the wall,” Baldelli said. You most likely could simply bend over and pick the ball up and toss it in if you wanted to.
In the ninth inning of Mondays 3-1 loss to the Sox, Buxton hit a ball to deep left field that skyrocketed over the glove of Eloy Jiménez and rolled to the wall, settling under to the cushioning of the outfield wall. Jiménez immediately gestured for the ball to be ruled dead, however the umpiring team at first ruled it live, allowing Buxton to round the bases for what seemed an inside-the-park homer.
