The Astros crushed the Twins 10-3 on June 14, 2025, as Chris Paddack imploded on the mound. See how Jose Altuve and Houston dismantled Minnesota's pitching.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Well, that was one to forget. The Minnesota Twins rolled into Houston hoping to make a statement but instead got a harsh reality check, getting dismantled 10-3 by the Astros in a game that was over almost before it started. A disastrous start on the mound and a sputtering offense left the Twins searching for answers after a brutal series opener.
Chris Paddack's final line tells the whole story: three innings, eight earned runs.
The game was essentially lost in the first three frames as starter Chris Paddack couldn't find his footing. The Astros jumped on him immediately, plating three runs in the first inning and never looking back. By the time Paddack was pulled after the third, the damage was done: eight earned runs on the board. Houston's offense, led by Jose Altuve and rookie Jacob Melton who each drove in three runs, looked unstoppable, turning the contest into a blowout early.
While the pitching was the main story, the offense didn't do much to help its own cause. The only runs came via solo home runs from Willi Castro and Royce Lewis, which felt like minor footnotes in a lopsided affair. The real backbreaker came in the top of the third. Trailing 5-0, the Twins managed to load the bases with a chance to climb back into the game. But Carlos Correa grounded out to end the threat, extinguishing any hope of a comeback and sealing the team's fate for the night.
Perhaps sensing a need for pitching depth, the Twins officially activated left-handed reliever Joey Wentz before the game. Claimed off waivers from Pittsburgh just days ago, Wentz brings a 4.15 ERA and gives manager Rocco Baldelli a second lefty option alongside Danny Coulombe. While he's expected to start in low-leverage spots, nights like Friday show exactly why a team can never have too many fresh arms ready to eat innings when a start goes haywire.
After a blowout loss, the pressure now falls squarely on the shoulders of the team's ace. Joe Ryan gets the ball on Saturday, and the Twins desperately need him to play the role of stopper. Ryan has been brilliant this season, posting a 7-2 record with a 2.96 ERA. He'll need that ace-level stuff against Houston's own standout, Hunter Brown, who boasts an incredible 1.82 ERA. It's the matchup the Twins need to get back on track.
Friday night was a clunker, plain and simple. But the beauty of baseball is that you get to wipe the slate clean the next day. With Joe Ryan on the mound, the Twins have their best shot to bounce back and even the series. They'll need him to be every bit the ace he's been all season to get back on track against a tough Astros squad.
