The Twins' losing streak hit four in an 11-2 loss to the Mariners on June 24. A 6-run inning doomed Bailey Ober despite homers from J-Rod & Luke Raley.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Another night at Target Field, another lopsided loss. The Minnesota Twins were thoroughly dismantled by the Seattle Mariners 11-2 on Tuesday, extending their frustrating losing streak to four games. What started as a promising evening quickly turned into a nightmare, highlighted by a six-run third inning that felt all too familiar for a team suddenly struggling to keep opponents off the scoreboard.
Since losing starters Pablo López and Zebby Matthews to shoulder injuries in early June, the Twins have allowed a staggering 133 runs in 17 games—an average of 7.8 per game.
The game was blown wide open in a nightmarish third inning. Starter Bailey Ober, who had been a steady presence, suddenly lost command. The Mariners pounced, with Julio Rodríguez launching a two-run homer and Luke Raley delivering the knockout blow with a three-run blast. Before the dust settled, Seattle had plated six runs, effectively ending the contest. In a bizarre stat line that encapsulates the team's current state, Ober managed to go seven innings and strike out seven, but the damage from that single frame was irreversible. Cal Raleigh piled on late with his MLB-leading 32nd home run, adding insult to injury.
It wasn't all doom and gloom. The offense showed signs of life, albeit far too late. Trevor Larnach and Carlos Correa provided a brief jolt of excitement in the sixth inning with back-to-back home runs. The duo, along with rookie Brooks Lee, each collected two hits on the night. It's a small consolation, but seeing key bats make solid contact is a positive takeaway from an otherwise forgettable game. The problem is, you can't win when you're trying to out-slug a touchdown.
Let's call it what it is: the Twins have a pitching crisis. The absence of ace Pablo López and promising rookie Zebby Matthews has created a gaping hole in the rotation, and the ripple effect is clear. The team has surrendered an eye-watering 133 runs in the 17 games since the injuries. That's an average of 7.8 runs per game. It's simply not a sustainable formula for winning baseball. The bullpen is being stretched thin, and while the farm system has some promising arms in the pipeline, injuries to top prospects Walker Jenkins and Emmanuel Rodriguez mean immediate help for the lineup isn't on the way, putting even more pressure on the pitching staff.
The bleeding has to stop somewhere. The Twins will send Chris Paddack (3-6, 4.48 ERA) to the mound tomorrow to face Mariners ace Luis Castillo (4-5, 3.38 ERA). It's a tall order, but it's also an opportunity. Paddack has a chance to be the stopper this team desperately needs and inject some life back into the clubhouse. Can he outduel one of the league's best and finally snap this skid? All of Twins Territory will be holding its breath.
