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Twins drop series finale to Nationals
WASHINGTON D.C. — The Twins’ bullpen has gotten its fair share of heat in recent days — and for good cause. On Wednesday, for example, the bullpen gave up 10 runs as the Twins were rocked by the Nationals.
The bullpen wasn’t without fault on Thursday, but there was plenty more blame to go around in a 7-5 loss to the Washington Nationals in the series finale at Nationals Park.
The Nationals took the lead for good in the seventh inning when rookie John Klein allowed a solo home run to Keibert Ruiz, untying a game that pinch hitter Josh Bell had knotted up a half-inning earlier.
It wasn’t the crispest of days for the Twins, who ran into two outs on the bases — Kody Clemens at home and Austin Martin in between third and home — and saw a ball drop in between Luke Keaschall and Matt Wallner in the fifth, bringing home the Nationals’ fifth run of the day.
And it wasn’t the easiest of starts for Simeon Woods Richardson, who remains winless on the season. The Twins are now 1-7 in games he has started. Woods Richardson was unable to make it through five innings for the fourth time in eight starts this season, chased out during a three-run fifth for the Nationals during which they collected just one hit.
The starter gave up two runs in the third to tie the game after Brooks Lee’s single to left had put them up in the second. And after the Twins scored in the fifth to take the lead, Woods Richardson was unable to hold it again.
The Twins chipped away at the Nationals’ 5-3 lead, using a Ryan Jeffers solo shot and Bell’s tying hit in the seventh, but they never led again after the fifth.
Injury updates
Mick Abel, who has been on the injured list since April 20 with right elbow inflammation, had a cortisone shot after feeling soreness during a simulated bullpen on Saturday, assistant general manager Alex Hassan said.
Hassan said the soreness Abel felt was more in the triceps area. He will be re-evaluated on Tuesday after the Twins return home from their road trip.
Reliever Garrett Acton, dealing with a right shoulder strain, received a second opinion from Dr. Keith Meister. The diagnosis was the same, but the recovery timetable Meister laid out was “probably a little bit longer,” than the Twins originally thought, Hassan said. Acton will not throw for two more weeks and then will be evaluated.
Top prospect Walker Jenkins, out with a Grade-2 AC joint sprain, had a cortisone shot and will be doing physical therapy for the next two weeks, Hassan said.
“We’re going to use the next two weeks to let him rest and rehab, and then begin building him up from there,” Hassan said.
Fellow top outfield prospect Emmanuel Rodriguez was placed on the injured list at Triple-A with a thumb injury, but the Twins still believe it to be short term.
Briefly
The Twins will travel to Cleveland for a three-game set, which kicks off Friday night with Connor Prielipp (1-0, 3.86) on the mound facing off against Guardians lefty Parker Messick (3-1, 2.40 ERA). The game will be aired on Apple TV and will start at 6:15 p.m. CT.
