The Minnesota Twins endured yet another gut-wrenching defeat on Wednesday night, falling 4-3 to the Chicago White Sox at Target Field. The game slipped away in the final moments, and it stings.
Rookie pitcher Zebby Matthews gave the Twins a strong start, and they had multiple scoring opportunities. Still, they watched a two-run lead vanish in the ninth inning — former Twin Michael A. Taylor ripped a two-out, two-run double just inside the left-field line.
This marked Minnesota’s fifth straight loss to the White Sox. Now they’re stuck in a season-worst slump, 15 games under .500, and the bullpen keeps turning wins into painful losses.
Twins’ Bullpen Collapses in the Ninth
For most of the night, Minnesota looked like they had the winning formula: quality starting pitching, some timely hits, and just enough offense to keep Chicago at bay. Zebby Matthews, showing surprising poise, allowed only one run on three hits in six innings and struck out five.
Cole Sands followed, tossing two scoreless, lockdown innings. That should’ve set the stage for a clean finish.
A Familiar Late-Inning Nightmare
But the ninth inning fell apart fast. Kody Funderburk allowed a single and a walk to start things off, forcing manager Rocco Baldelli to go to the bullpen again.
Justin Topa came in but couldn’t stop the momentum shift. Chicago tied it up with a sharp single, and Taylor — facing his old team — delivered the dagger with a double hugging the left-field line.
Historic White Sox Rally
The loss hurt even more because of the history involved. The White Sox had lost 205 straight games when trailing after eight innings, which really says a lot about their struggles this year.
For Chicago, this was more than just a comeback. It was a rare flash of hope in a season that’s mostly been a slog.
Twins Miss Offensive Opportunities
The bullpen’s collapse was tough, but Minnesota’s missed chances early on were just as costly. They left the bases loaded in the fourth and couldn’t score after Byron Buxton led off the fifth with a booming triple.
They kept getting runners on but couldn’t push them across. Those missed chances came back to haunt them once the White Sox made their move.
Standout Individual Performances
Even with the loss, Minnesota fans had a few things to cheer about. Royce Lewis stayed hot at the plate, picking up three hits, swiping two bases, and driving in a run.
Trevor Larnach extended his on-base streak to 14 straight games, showing real patience and discipline every time he stepped up.
Matthews Shows Future Promise
Maybe the biggest long-term bright spot came from Matthews’ outing. His recent run of solid starts gives a glimpse into where the Twins’ rotation could be headed.
He’s got poise and command — those are encouraging signs for the future. But right now, Minnesota just can’t afford to waste good starts when their late-inning pitching keeps letting them down.
Where the Twins Go From Here
This team started the year with real playoff hopes, but dropping to 15 games under .500 brings up some tough questions. The margin for error is gone.
Most nights, it all comes down to whether the bullpen can hang on. If they can’t fix these late-inning meltdowns, it’s hard to see the Twins clawing back into the race.
Key Takeaways from the Loss
This defeat wasn’t just about a single bad inning. Honestly, it felt like the same story all over again.
- The Twins really need a reliable closer or some kind of late-inning strategy to keep those leads safe.
- They’ve got to take advantage of scoring chances—just as much as they need to lock things down in the ninth.
- Rookies like Matthews give fans something to cheer for, but at the end of the day, the veterans have to step up if this season’s going to change direction.
The schedule isn’t doing Minnesota any favors right now. They’re going to need more than a few bright moments to actually turn things around.
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Here is the source article for this story: Twins continue to take punches from White Sox with 4-3 loss
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