What caused the Twins to lose the game in extra innings?

Twins’ Defensive Lapses Cost Them in Extravagant Extra-Inning Loss to Mariners

Trailing for much of the night, the Minnesota Twins squandered their slim lead in the late innings and ultimately fell to the Seattle Mariners 3-2 in extras on Friday, a result largely determined by some costly defensive mistakes.

A Pitchers’ Duel Gone Awry

The night began as a tantalizing matchup between two formidable starting pitchers, Logan Gilbert for Seattle and Bailey Ober for Minnesota. Both hurlers showcased their dominance early on, keeping the opposing batters at bay. Ober particularly impressed with his pinpoint control, allowing only two baserunners through the first four frames.

Mariners Strike First

However, the Mariners broke the deadlock in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs and Mitch Haniger aboard on a walk, Josh Rojas sent a double into the gap, plating Haniger to give Seattle a 1-0 advantage.

Twins Respond, Then Stumble

The Twins responded swiftly in the sixth. After Willi Castro was hit by a pitch, Carlos Correa launched a towering home run to left-center field, putting Minnesota back in front 2-1.

But the Mariners would soon draw even. In the bottom of the eighth, Julio Rodríguez hit a grounder to third baseman Jose Miranda, who bobbled the ball and missed a potential tag on the runner before making a wild throw past first baseman Carlos Santana, allowing Luke Raley to scamper home with the tying run.

Defensive Woes Haunt Twins

The Mariners continued their rally in the bottom of the tenth. After a leadoff walk, Cal Raleigh hit a fielder’s choice to third, but the throw to home was wild, allowing J.P. Crawford to score the winning run.

Twins manager Rocco Baldelli lamented his team’s defensive lapses, which proved costly in the end. “We have to find ways to pull out some of the tight ones,” he said. “We’ve been winning some games by some margins, but we have to do a little better job making all the plays when it matters in the tight games.”

Ober’s Strong Outing Overshadowed

While Ober’s impressive performance was overshadowed by the Twins’ defensive struggles, his six innings of two-hit, two-run ball showcased his growing talent.

What’s Next?

The Twins will look to rebound when they face the Mariners again on Saturday at T-Mobile Park. Pablo Lopez will take the mound for Minnesota against Mariners’ right-hander Bryce Miller.