The Minnesota Twins' bullpen has been under fire lately, and for good reason. After surrendering a staggering 10 runs in Wednesday's blowout loss to the Washington Nationals, the relief corps hoped for a bounce-back performance in Thursday's series finale at Nationals Park. While the bullpen wasn't entirely blameless in a 7-5 defeat, this time the blame was spread far more evenly across the roster.
The game turned in the seventh inning when rookie pitcher John Klein surrendered a solo home run to Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz, breaking a tie that pinch hitter Josh Bell had just created for the Twins a half-inning earlier. But the damage started well before that. Minnesota's day was marred by baserunning blunders, including Kody Clemens getting thrown out at home and Austin Martin caught between third and home plate. An outfield miscommunication between Luke Keaschall and Matt Wallner in the fifth inning allowed a ball to drop, bringing home Washington's fifth run of the afternoon.
Starter Simeon Woods Richardson continued his frustrating season, remaining winless as the Twins fell to 1-7 in games he's started. For the fourth time in eight starts, he failed to complete five innings, getting chased during a three-run fifth frame where the Nationals managed just one hit. Woods Richardson twice couldn't hold leads given to him by the offense, allowing two runs in the third to tie the game after Brooks Lee's RBI single put Minnesota ahead in the second, then surrendering the lead again after the Twins went back on top in the fifth.
The Twins showed fight, chipping away at a 5-3 deficit with a Ryan Jeffers solo home run and Bell's game-tying hit in the seventh. But after the fifth inning, they never held the lead again.
In injury news, pitcher Mick Abel, sidelined since April 20 with right elbow inflammation, received a cortisone shot after feeling triceps soreness during a simulated bullpen session. He'll be re-evaluated Tuesday. Reliever Garrett Acton, dealing with a right shoulder strain, got a second opinion from Dr. Keith Meister, who confirmed the diagnosis but projected a longer recovery timeline. Acton won't throw for two more weeks. Top prospect Walker Jenkins, out with a Grade-2 AC joint sprain, also received a cortisone shot and will undergo physical therapy for the next two weeks before being built back up. Fellow outfield prospect Emmanuel Rodriguez landed on the Triple-A injured list with a thumb injury, though the Twins remain hopeful about his return.