MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins are in desperate need of a spark at the plate.
In a game where a stiff breeze would have knocked over the reeling Tampa Bay Rays, the Twins struggled to hit. Again.
The team’s offense failed to register a dent, as the lackluster effort left the Twins pitching staff vulnerable to a tough loss. Tampa Bay’s offense finally took advantage of that against the bullpen in the 10th inning and rode it to a 4-1 victory over the Twins at Target Field in front of 13,659.
Not only does it mark the fourth time in nine games that the Twins have been held to one run, but the effort also leaves the team in search of its first series victory with difficult challenges ahead against the Detroit Tigers and at the Toronto Blue Jays. It’s the first time since the 103-loss campaign of 2016 that the Twins lost each of their first three series.
“We’re a little in between right now, and I think that’s showing,” Twins manager Derek Shelton said. “I think that’s why we’re not getting a lot of hard contact. … We need to make some hard contact. If I had a solution for it, it would be a lot easier. But right now, we’re just … in a little bit of a funk. We need to figure out.”
The simplest solution — and a trend that should end eventually — would be to get Byron Buxton and Luke Keaschall going. The team’s biggest sparkplugs are offering little to no jolts thus far.
Buxton returned to the lineup after missing Saturday’s game with a forearm contusion and went 0-for-4, dropping his OPS to .415. Last year, the two-time All-Star finished with an .878 OPS.
Looking to follow up on an energetic rookie season filled with promise, Keaschall went 0-for-4 to drop his OPS to .506.
They’re not alone.
Regulars Kody Clemens (.561 OPS), Ryan Jeffers (.494), Victor Caratini (.547) and Brooks Lee (.417) are all struggling to start the season.
Overall, the Twins are in the middle of the major leagues in runs scored, but are hitting .192/.298/.331 as a team.
“Guys are just trying to have a really good start, and maybe it’s a little bit of that rather than just trusting yourself and not trying to do too much,” said Clemens, who batted leadoff and went 0-for-4. “… We’ve got to just put the ball in play and kind of work from there.”
Aside from a second-inning solo homer by Matt Wallner, the Twins couldn’t generate any offense against Rays starter Nick Martinez. Trevor Larnach was the only other Twins hitter to reach base against Martinez after drawing a one-out walk in the fifth inning. Martinez allowed a hit and a walk over six innings, striking out four.
The Twins put a runner on in the seventh and two on in the eighth, but Griffin Jax retired Clemens on a grounder to first base to end the latter threat.
With no offensive support, Twins pitchers were susceptible to one mistake spoiling their series finale. After nine outstanding innings from Simeon Woods Richardson and the bullpen, Justin Topa couldn’t stretch the game into the 11th.
Tampa Bay second baseman Richie Palacios greeted Topa with a two-run homer to start the 10th inning. Topa also allowed a single and a walk before giving way to Taylor Rogers, who allowed another runner to score when he forced one in with a bases-loaded walk.
“We’re not extending innings with hits, and that’s where we’ve got to go,” Shelton said. “We know Buck and Keaschall are going to get going. In that interim, we’ve got to figure out a way to get more baserunners. It looks like we just have too many guys that are in between right now.”
Minnesota reliever Justin Topa’s big mistake ended up sinking the Twins after the lineup failed to produce. (Matt Krohn / Getty Images)
For a second straight outing, Woods Richardson did everything he could to keep the Twins in position to win. Showing improvement off a solid first outing in Kansas City against the Royals on Monday, Woods Richardson put forth the best effort by a Twins starting pitcher so far this season.
Working efficiently and quickly, Woods Richardson became the first Twins starting pitcher to record an out in the seventh inning this season. He got out of a fifth-inning jam and stranded runners on the corners by striking out Yandy Díaz. He also struck out Jonny DeLuca with two men in scoring position in the seventh. Kody Funderburk took over and induced a comebacker to end the seventh.
The only run Woods Richardson allowed occurred when Junior Caminero went well below the zone to swat a two-strike pitch into the upper deck in left for a game-tying solo homer in the fourth inning.
“I’m glad I attacked the strike zone,” Woods Richardson said. “They’re a contact team, so try and get them to put the ball in play as much as possible. Try and give our team a chance to win, come back in the dugout. Their guy was throwing the ball really well, too. Seemed like a very efficient game from both guys. When games like that happen, my job is to come back out, come back in the dugout, keep going.”
Twins celebrate Buxton in pre-game ceremony
Several hours before the game began, the Twins honored Buxton for reaching what has become an important achievement to modern baseball players: He officially accrued 10 years of service time.
The first of three Twins expected to reach 10 years in 2026, Buxton is one of roughly 7 percent of all major-leaguers in the sport’s history to reach double-digit full seasons. Whereas reaching 10 years previously wasn’t considered quite as big of a deal, players now treat it as such because fewer and fewer hit the benchmark.
“A little over 24,000 guys (have) ever put on a major league uniform,” said Rogers, who delivered a speech in Buxton’s honor. “(Only) 1,700 have made it 10 years. And it’s even less of a number than that post-2000. When you put the number to it, it does need to be recognized because it’s such a small percentage.”
The Twins bestowed several gifts on Buxton, who will be joined by Rogers in the 10-year club later this month. Josh Bell is also expected to reach the achievement this season.
Buxton received a Ben Labuzzetta painting featuring key moments sprinkled throughout his career. Twins owner Tom Pohlad also presented the center fielder with an engraved Rolex watch, while teammates bought a bottle of Ace of Spades champagne before autographing it and giving it to Buxton.
Not only did Buxton briefly get emotional before giving his teammates a speech, but he still had tears in his eyes as he addressed reporters afterward.
“To be able to have this jersey, and to wear this jersey only for those 10 years and counting, that probably means more to me than anything else,” Buxton said. “It’s hard to put into words. … You’d think there’d be a lot more (players) to reach this number than what it is. This game is hard for a reason. It’s hard to get the 10 years, stay healthy, play 162 games, whatever it is. Whatever it is to do it, it’s hard. The support system, your work ethic, your mentality, as long as it’s strong and you’ve got that support, you can get through anything.”