Mitch Keller’s afternoon unraveled slowly, then all at once before the Pirates eventually beat the Twins, 10-9, this evening here at PNC Park.
He'd entered the day 5-2 with a 3.65 ERA and looked every bit that pitcher in a crisp opening frame. He fired nine strikes in 11 pitches, punching out two Twins and coaxing a routine grounder to Spencer Horwitz.
But the second inning cracked the door, and the Twins barged through.
Kody Clemens opened the trouble with a laser to the left‑field notch, a ringing double that set the tone for what became a theme: Hard contact -- early and often. Victor Caratini followed with a double of his own, a ball Jake Mangum nearly corralled on a diving attempt. Instead, it skipped past him and tied the game.
The fourth inning, though, was the breaking point.
After a lineout to second, Keller surrendered back‑to‑back singles to Orlando Arcia and Luke Keaschall. Then came the gut punch: A two‑run double hammered to center by Tristan Gray. Keller walked Byron Buxton, got a brief reprieve on a flyout, but the Twins weren’t finished. Josh Bell ripped a two‑run double to left. Clemens -- who tormented Keller all afternoon -- added his third hit, a single to right. By the time Austin Martin lined out to third, the inning had turned into a full‑scale collapse and a 7-7 tie.
"It’s just kind of frustrating honestly. When you get a huge lead like that, obviously want to make it a quick outing and just do the best you can," Keller said. "Obviously, I’m not trying to give up seven to tie the game up."
Six of the Twins' eight batted balls in the inning left the bat at 90 mph or harder, a barrage that forced Keller from the game after just four innings. Including the seven earned runs, he allowed 10 or more hits for the first time in a start since giving up 11 on Sept. 1, 2024 in Cleveland.
He said he'll take a look at how the Twins attacked him.
“Not fastball-wise, but mainly, probably just sliders. Kind of left them up too much in the zone, but the one to Josh Bell, I threw it exactly where I wanted to, about a foot above the zone," Keller said. "He’s a good hitter. I’ll have to just check some more video, see what’s going on and regroup from there.”
THE ASYLUM
Keller's seven runs 'frustrating'
Mitch Keller’s afternoon unraveled slowly, then all at once before the Pirates eventually beat the Twins, 10-9, this evening here at PNC Park.
He'd entered the day 5-2 with a 3.65 ERA and looked every bit that pitcher in a crisp opening frame. He fired nine strikes in 11 pitches, punching out two Twins and coaxing a routine grounder to Spencer Horwitz.
But the second inning cracked the door, and the Twins barged through.
Kody Clemens opened the trouble with a laser to the left‑field notch, a ringing double that set the tone for what became a theme: Hard contact -- early and often. Victor Caratini followed with a double of his own, a ball Jake Mangum nearly corralled on a diving attempt. Instead, it skipped past him and tied the game.
The fourth inning, though, was the breaking point.
After a lineout to second, Keller surrendered back‑to‑back singles to Orlando Arcia and Luke Keaschall. Then came the gut punch: A two‑run double hammered to center by Tristan Gray. Keller walked Byron Buxton, got a brief reprieve on a flyout, but the Twins weren’t finished. Josh Bell ripped a two‑run double to left. Clemens -- who tormented Keller all afternoon -- added his third hit, a single to right. By the time Austin Martin lined out to third, the inning had turned into a full‑scale collapse and a 7-7 tie.
"It’s just kind of frustrating honestly. When you get a huge lead like that, obviously want to make it a quick outing and just do the best you can," Keller said. "Obviously, I’m not trying to give up seven to tie the game up."
Six of the Twins' eight batted balls in the inning left the bat at 90 mph or harder, a barrage that forced Keller from the game after just four innings. Including the seven earned runs, he allowed 10 or more hits for the first time in a start since giving up 11 on Sept. 1, 2024 in Cleveland.
He said he'll take a look at how the Twins attacked him.
“Not fastball-wise, but mainly, probably just sliders. Kind of left them up too much in the zone, but the one to Josh Bell, I threw it exactly where I wanted to, about a foot above the zone," Keller said. "He’s a good hitter. I’ll have to just check some more video, see what’s going on and regroup from there.”
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