Brewers 8, Twins 7: Ta-Ta, Twins

Box Score

Starting Pitcher: Corbin Burnes - 6.0 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 99 pitches, 59 strikes (59.6%)
Home Runs: William Contreras (13), Willy Adames (21), Tyrone Taylor (5)
Top 3 WPA: Willy Adames, (.572), Brice Turang (.337), Tyrone Taylor (.168) 
Bottom 3 WPA: Corbin Burnes (-.392), Elvis Peguero (-.299), Victor Caratini (-.126) 

Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)

Corbin Gets Crushed
In one of his rougher outings of the season, Burnes gave up runs in four different innings. He started the game by giving up three singles and a sacrifice fly, allowing the Twins to take a 1-0 lead. In the third inning, he gave up a two-run home run to Royce Lewis, his fifth of the season. 

The damage continued in the fifth inning when a double by Ryan Jeffers and a home run by Michael A. Taylor gave the Twins a 5-3 lead. 

To end his outing, Kyle Farmer hit a solo home run to score Minnesota’s sixth run of the game.

So what happened? The main culprit was Burnes getting behind in counts. Often down 2-0, Burnes was forced to alter his pitch sequence to be more hitter-friendly, allowing a lot of hard contact and long balls. 

Corbin Burnes currently has a 3.65 ERA and 1.08 WHIP over 158.0 innings pitched.

Homer For Homer
While the first game was decided by putting balls in play and hitting for contact, this game was a little different. To match Minnesota’s mashing tendencies, the Brewers hit three home runs of their own. 

William Contreras got the party started with a solo home run to center field that just kept carrying until it hit the seats.

In the sixth inning, Willy Adames hit a two-run homer to center field and continued his recent offensive onslaught. He’s slashed .379/.419/.724 over his last seven games.

Finally, to tie the game at six runs a piece, Tyrone Taylor hit a solo home run to left center field.

Bullpen (Almost) Blows It
After two lockdown innings by Abner Uribe and Joel Payamps that saw them combine for one hit and three strikeouts, Devin Williams toed the slab in the ninth inning to give the Brewers a chance to walk it off. 

Things started off shaky, with Williams issuing a walk to Jorge Polanco and hitting Matt Wallner with a pitch to put two runners on base before recording a single out. Fortunately, Williams got two strikeouts and a flyout to escape the inning unscathed.

In the tenth inning, Elvis Peguero conceded a go-ahead single that put the Twins on top, 7-6. With the game on the line, all eyes fell on the Brewers offense.

Willy Adames led things off with a game-tying single. After two outs, it seemed like the game would go into the eleventh until Brice Turang’s walk off one-run single allowed the Brewers to complete the sweep. Just barely beating out the throw to first, his speed was on full display.

What’s Next? 
The Brewers will get an off-day before hosting the San Diego Padres in a three-game series. Brandon Woodruff will make the first start and the Brewers will aim to maintain their lead in the division.

They are currently 3.0 games ahead of the Chicago Cubs.

Postgame Interviews

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

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