Even the best in Minnesota’s bullpen are prone to disastrous nights, as was the case Saturday in Anaheim when Jhoan Duran served up a homer and Jorge Lopez surrendered a game-tying, two-run triple in the bottom of the ninth inning.
The Twins led 3-0 with Duran entering the game in the eighth inning. The flame-throwing rookie’s dominance met baseball’s most versatile star and Shohei Ohtani made him pay with a solo home run to center field.
Still, Duran got out of the inning with the Twins still leading 3-1. Lopez, the All-Star closer the Twins got at the trade deadline, then blew the save in the bottom of the ninth.
Lopez got the first batter on a groundout before allowing.a single to Jo Adell. Lopez got the second out and was one out away from giving the Twins a big road victory. Instead, Max Stassi singled and Magnus Sierra hit a two-run triple on a ball to left field that Nick Gordon missed on a dive.
Headed to extra innings 💥@Angels | #GoHalos pic.twitter.com/8nvyozxjUc
— FanDuel Sports Network West (@FanDuelSN_West) August 14, 2022
Then in the 11th inning, with Emilio Pagan on the mound, Taylor Ward smacked a walk-off, two run homer to give the Angels a 5-3 lead.
A TAYLOR TANK!!!!#GoHalos pic.twitter.com/0wx49iFjkC
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) August 14, 2022
The loss drops the Twins 1.5 games behind Cleveland in the AL Central.
Up next: Twins at Angels, 3:07 p.m. Sunday
