The Minnesota Twins’ pitching was sorely tested at Coors Field on Sunday as they fell 6-4 to the Colorado Rockies in a high-scoring slugfest that highlighted their ongoing struggles on the mound. Despite moments of offensive promise, the Twins’ pitching staff failed to contain a Rockies lineup that continues to find pockets of power in a tough season, leaving Minnesota’s postseason hopes hanging in the balance.
The game got off to a fast start as the Twins capitalized early, with first baseman Kyle Clemens tripling in the second inning, bringing home Ryan Jeffers to put Minnesota up 1-0. The offense followed swiftly with back-to-back hits Carlos Correa doubled to drive in Clemens, and Matt Wallner singled in Correa to jump ahead 3-0. The Twins were firing on all cylinders offensively, but their pitching could not maintain the lead.
Rockies starter Connor Van Scoyoc settled down after a rocky start and managed to hold Minnesota scoreless beyond the second inning, while Colorado’s bats gradually found their rhythm. The turning point came in the fifth inning when rookie sensation Ezekiel Tovar launched a three-run homer, breaking the 3-3 tie and igniting the Rockies’ late rally. “That homer shifted the game’s momentum,” said Tovar. “We needed that, and it energized us.”
Minnesota’s starting pitcher Zach Matthews struggled with command, surrendering five runs in just four innings while giving up eight hits and one walk. Despite striking out six, Matthews could not escape the pressure Coors Field imposes on pitchers, with the thin air favoring long balls. “It’s a challenging environment,” Matthews said. “You have to be precise, and tonight I couldn’t find that rhythm early.”
The Twins bullpen attempted to limit the damage, but relief pitchers Jace Stewart, Justin Topa, and Andrew Misiewicz combined to give up additional runs, contributing to the Rockies’ final tally of six. Notably, Misiewicz allowed two runs in the eighth inning, further widening the gap. Despite the pitching struggles, Minnesota showed resilience at the plate late in the game.
In the eighth, the Twins rallied with back-to-back doubles from Clemens and Harrison Bader, bringing in two runs and narrowing the deficit to 8-5. Harrison Bader’s double scored both himself and Will Castro, who had earlier contributed with an RBI single. The Twins chased closer Cleveland “Hunter” Goodman with a motivation to stage a comeback in the ninth, as Bader doubled again leading to a run by Bobby Lee, making the score a tense 10-6.
However, it was too little, too late. The Rockies’ defense and bullpen held firm, securing their first home series win of the season by staving off Minnesota’s late charge. “Our guys kept battling,” Rockies manager Jay Johnson said. “It wasn’t pretty all night, but that’s baseball. We capitalized when it mattered.”
From an offensive perspective, the Twins had bright spots, with Kyle Clemens finishing 2-for-4 with three RBIs and Harrison Bader contributing two doubles and a run scored. Carlos Correa showed his usual clutch hitting, going 2-for-3 with an RBI. Nonetheless, these efforts were overshadowed by inconsistent pitching and untimely errors in the field.
The Twins, now 47-51 on the season and 19-31 on the road, face a critical stretch ahead as the division race tightens. Manager Sean McClenahan admitted his pitching staff needs to tighten up moving forward. “We have to figure out how to pitch better, especially in hostile ballparks like Coors,” he said. “Our offense is capable, but that won’t be enough without consistent pitching.”
As Minnesota prepares for a pivotal series back at home, the focus will be on stabilizing the mound and limiting big innings, particularly on the road. Without improvements, their postseason hopes will face an uphill climb.
Overall, the 6-4 loss at Coors Field was a reminder of the Twins’ pitching vulnerabilities, despite flashes of offensive potency. Addressing those weaknesses will be essential as they navigate the remainder of the season.
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