SP: Joe Ryan 5.0 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 4 K (97 pitches, 62 strikes (63.9%)
Home Runs: N/A
Top 3 WPA: Byron Buxton (0.233), Ty France (0.163), Kody Clemens (0.044)

Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)

The Minnesota Twins have had one flaw in their blueprint for winning games the entire 2025 season. That flaw is that they have not been able to score runs consistently. The pitching has often put the Twins in position to win games, but the bats have not picked up their end of the tab. Monday evening in Sacramento demonstrated just how important those runs are for the Twins to achieve sustained success.

Joe Ryan has been on a tear since the start of May. Over that stretch, Ryan started five games, and the Twins went 4-1 in his starts. He held opponents to a low six earned runs and a 1.86 ERA over 29 innings while stringing out 33 and only walking five. Ryan had a test Monday night to continue that sort of output in a ballpark that has showcased plenty of good offense.

Second-Inning Explosion

The Twins exploded for six runs in the second inning—a number that would prove to be needed to be competitive in the game.

Carlos Correa got the hits going with a pulled double down the third-base line that he created with his legs as much as his bat. Willi Castro followed up with a hustle infield single to put runners on the corners.

Kody Clemens was next to reach base, by wearing a pitch and loading the bases with one out for the Twins. As it has been so often this season, Ty France stepped into the batter’s box with runners in scoring position and delivered once again. France laced another RBI single to bring home Correa and Castro to make it 2-0 Twins.

Byron Buxton skied a deep fly ball to left field that was misplayed. That gave Buxton a 2-RBI double to extend the Twins lead to 4-0. Trevor Larnach then singled to bring Buxton home, and Brooks Lee doubled to score Larnach, building that 6-0 lead.

Ryan Tested

Ryan finally ran into some turbulence beginning in the third inning. The A’s first took Ryan through a long and grinding third inning that resulted in a run. It was the fourth inning that led to the A’s pulling the Twins closer courtesy of a 3-run Lawrence Butler home run and maybe a missed strike call in the previous at-bat, with Denzel Clarke up to bat.

With the lead 6-4 for the Twins, Ryan got tested once again. Ryan had to figure out how to get out of a no-outs, bases-loaded jam. Somehow, he figured out how to do that in a place where it seemed sure that more of that six-run buffer that was built up would slip away. Instead, two infield flies and a ground out later, Ryan could make his way back to the dugout with the score still 6-4.

Twins continue scoring

A frustrating trait of recent Twins teams has been their tendency to score runs early and then fail to score again for the rest of the game. Monday night, the Twins offense found a way to extend their lead after the A’s got to Ryan. Buxton again brought two more runs in to extend their lead to 8-4 in the sixth inning.

Brooks Lee spent Monday night rewarding his manager for his confidence in the young infielder. Lee’s appearance as the number three hitter came with plenty of scrutiny, but he came through with two hits and two RBIs to keep the Twins rolling. The second of those RBIs came in the 8th inning to give the Twins some more insurance and a 9-4 lead.

Buxton would drive one more run in on a sacrifice fly to give himself a five-RBI night and the Twins a 10-4 lead.

Kody Clemens continues to contribute

Kody Clemens made his way as a mainstay in the Twins lineup, with his bat sitting north of a 1.000 OPS for several games. While his bat has cooled off and that number has settled to the south again, Clemens continues to come up in big spots and significant ways. While Clemens did come through with a hit and a run in the sixth inning Monday night, it was his glove at second that proved to be key in the Twins efforts.

Clemens first saved a run in the first when he threw out Lawrence Butler at home off of a Brent Rooker ground ball. Then in the fourth inning, Clemens saved a run by keeping a grounder up the middle from reaching the outfield. It didn’t produce an out, but it caused Drew Avans to stay at third. Avans would ultimately score on Butler’s home run, but the play shows how Clemens has continued to find ways to succeed with a Twins uniform on.

What’s Next?

Tuesday is Pablo Day. Pablo Lopez will look to bounce back after giving up four runs against the Rays last time out. Jacob Lopez (while unofficial currently) appears to be in line for the A’s start Tuesday which will be his fourth of the season. The Twins offense will look to continue to roll against the left-hander and put some more crooked numbers on the board.

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet