Joe Ryan pitches a 6-inning gem as the Minnesota Twins blank the Seattle Mariners 2-0 on June 26, 2025. See how Ryan & Buxton snapped the 5-game skid.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Exhale, Twins Territory. The losing streak is finally over. In a game that felt like a must-win, the Minnesota Twins delivered a masterclass in pitching and timely offense, shutting out the Seattle Mariners 2-0 at Target Field on Thursday. Led by a brilliant Joe Ryan and fueled by a little classic Byron Buxton chaos, the team found the winning formula that had been missing for nearly a week.
Six innings, zero runs. Joe Ryan was simply untouchable, delivering the ace-like performance the Twins desperately needed to stop the bleeding.
The weight of a five-game slide can feel immense, but Joe Ryan shrugged it off with ease. From the first pitch, he was in complete control, carving up the Mariners' lineup for six dominant, scoreless innings. It wasn't just a good start; it was the kind of tone-setting, ace-level performance that can change the entire mood in a clubhouse. For a team that has struggled to get quality innings from its rotation, Ryan's outing was a massive sigh of relief and a clear blueprint for success.
For five innings, this was a classic pitcher's duel. Then, Byron Buxton decided to take over. Getting on base in the sixth, Buxton used his signature speed and aggressive leads to rattle Seattle's George Kirby. That pressure led to a defensive miscue and allowed him to scamper home on a Willi Castro single for the game's first run. It was a perfect example of how Buxton can change a game without a big hit. An inning later, Kody Clemens provided the thunder, launching a two-out solo shot to left-center. That blast gave the bullpen some much-needed breathing room and proved to be the final nail.
With a slim lead, the bullpen needed to be perfect, and they were. Louis Varland navigated a tricky seventh, Griffin Jax was ruthlessly efficient in the eighth (needing just nine pitches), and then it was time for Jhoan Duran. Securing his first save since June 8, Duran looked like his old self, closing the door with authority. He capped off the night by striking out a familiar face, former Twin Jorge Polanco, to secure the victory. It was a welcome sight for fans and a huge confidence boost for the back end of the 'pen.
This 2-0 win was more than just a notch in the standings; it was a much-needed reset. The formula was clear: dominant starting pitching, manufacturing runs, and a lockdown bullpen. Now, the challenge is to replicate it. The Twins won't have long to celebrate as they immediately turn their attention to a crucial divisional series against the Detroit Tigers, with Simeon Woods Richardson getting the ball in the opener. Can they build on this momentum and start climbing back in the AL Central race?
