Pablo Lopez gave the Twins a chance to win with 7 innings of one-run ball but Minnesota’s offense went silent for a second straight game and the bullpen got rocked in the eighth inning of Miami’s 5-2 win Wednesday afternoon.
Lopez allowed just three hits and struck out eight over seven innings. His one mistake was a pitch that Jorge Soler blasted for a home run in the first inning. Lopez was dominant after that, but Minnesota’s bats had just five hits off Marlins left-hander Jesus Luzardo, who struck out 10 batters in seven innings.
After Trevor Larnach’s RBI single tied the game 1-1 in the top of the seventh, Lopez struck out the side in the bottom of the inning and gave way to the bullpen in the eighth and it didn’t go well.
Griffin Jax struck out the first batter and then gave up back-to-back singles. Twins manager Rocco Baldelli called on left-hander Caleb Thielbar, who proceeded to give up a two-run single to Bryan De La Cruz followed by a 3-run homer by Soler, his second of the game.
@ our mentions.
sincerely, @solerpower12. pic.twitter.com/nLOV8kLf7b
— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) April 5, 2023
The Twins added a run on a wild pitch in the ninth inning but that’s all they got one day after reigning NL Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara pitched a complete game shutout against Minnesota.
The loss drops the Twins to 4-2. They’re off Thursday before Friday’s Home Opener against the Houston Astros.
