Twins offense held quiet for much of the night in loss to Dodgers

[ASFN Admin]

Final​

Dodgers 2, Twins 1

Starting pitcher performance​

Zebby Matthews became Shohei Ohtani’s latest victim in the first inning when the Dodgers (50-29) superstar crushed the second pitch of the game, a changeup over the heart of the plate, an estimated 414 feet. But Matthews settled in nicely after that, at one point retiring seven straight batters.

Matthews worked out of a jam in the second inning and another in the sixth, but that came after he had surrendered one more solo home run — that one to Freddie Freeman — earlier in the inning. All told, he threw a career-high 108 pitches while limiting the Dodgers high-powered offense to just two runs on six hits across six innings pitched.

Player of the Game​

The Dodgers opened the game with reliever Will Klein, who gave back the lead almost immediately, allowing Byron Buxton’s 25th home run of the season.

But he departed after the first inning and made way for Eric Lauer, for whom the Twins simply had no answers. The southpaw threw six innings and did not allow a hit in his outing. He did issue three walks, including two to lead off innings, but the Twins (39-42) were unable to advance a runner past first base against Lauer.

The Twins did not have a hit between Royce Lewis’ single in the first inning and Austin Martin’s in the eighth.

Key moment​

Freeman’s home run was the difference maker for the Dodgers in their win. It came after Matthews had thrown a pair of balls to begin the at-bat before leaving a center-cut fastball that the first baseman drove 423 feet.

Up next​

Joe Ryan (5-3, 2.99 ERA) will take the ball for the second game of the series. He will be opposed by Justin Wrobleski (8-2, 2.72 ERA). The game is scheduled to begin at 6:40 p.m.

Related Articles​

• With fellow catcher Ryan Jeffers out, Twins’ Victor Caratini stepping up at the plate
• Saints fall to Storm Chasers in wild series finale
• Twins use late rally to defeat Diamondbacks in series finale
• With Mick Abel setback, the bullpen games continue — sort of
• Twins’ offense explodes in win over Diamondbacks

Continue reading...