The Twins lost 9-3 to the Nationals on July 27 after a costly error by Brooks Lee and an injury scare for Byron Buxton doomed Joe Ryan's start. Read more.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a night that felt all too familiar at Target Field. The hope of a weekend series win quickly evaporated into a frustrating cocktail of defensive miscues, squandered opportunities, and yet another injury concern for a star player. The Minnesota Twins fell 9-3 to the Washington Nationals, a loss defined by a single, game-breaking error and the worrying sight of Byron Buxton leaving the field early.
The defensive miscue was a turning point in the game, as the Nationals capitalized to break it open.
The game turned on its head in the fifth inning. With All-Star Joe Ryan on the mound, what should have been a routine out became a catastrophe. Second baseman Brooks Lee dropped a pop-fly in shallow right, a mistake that loaded the bases and seemed to suck the air out of the stadium. The Nationals pounced immediately, with CJ Abrams lacing a three-run double that turned a tight game into a runaway. For Ryan, who finished with four earned runs over five innings, the error was a back-breaker, turning a manageable outing into a loss on his record (10-5).
Adding injury to insult, Byron Buxton exited the game after the sixth inning with what the team described as 'left side soreness.' Before leaving, Buxton was 0-for-3, and his early departure immediately sent waves of concern through the fan base. While the team has listed him as day-to-day, any injury for the dynamic center fielder is a major blow. All eyes will be on the pre-game report for Sunday's finale, as the team can ill-afford to lose its sparkplug for any significant amount of time.
The box score tells a tale of frustration. The Twins managed 12 hits but could only push across three runs, courtesy of Royce Lewis and Ty France. Leaving runners stranded has become a painful theme, and Saturday was no exception. The team's struggles weren't limited to the field, either. Earlier, the club placed promising RHP David Festa on the 15-day IL with a right shoulder issue, a significant blow to the pitching depth. The corresponding recall of RHP Travis Adams from St. Paul is a necessary stopgap, but it underscores the strain on a pitching staff that needs to be near-perfect to overcome the team's defensive and offensive inconsistencies. The minor league signing of shortstop Shai Robinson adds organizational depth, but offers little immediate help for the big-league club's current woes.
Now sitting at 50-54 and fourth in the AL Central, the Twins are running out of time to right the ship. Sunday's series finale is more than just another game; it's a chance to stop the bleeding and prove they can play clean, fundamental baseball. But the bigger questions loom: How serious is Buxton's injury, and can this team overcome its self-inflicted wounds before the season slips away entirely?
