It doesn’t help that the bullpen is going through a rough patch. Jorge Alcala, pitching for the first time since blowing a four-run lead at Texas last Sunday, allowed a home run to Brendan Donovan on the fifth pitch of his outing. In his last two outings, he has allowed three home runs and two walks.

Trevor Richards, the Twins’ only new addition, walked three batters, including one with the bases loaded in the eighth inning. In 11 innings since joining the club, he has allowed 10 walks and six wild pitches.

All five of the Twins’ pitchers walked at least one batter. Their nine walks were their highest total in a game since August 19, 2023.

The Twins led 1-0 in the second inning. Singles by Ryan Jeffers and Max Kepler loaded all bases with one out and Edouard Julien walked. Austin Martin followed with a slow chopper to third base, which he beat with an infield RBI single.

Willi Castro followed almost the same formula and bounced a ground ball to first base, but Kepler was thrown out at the plate. Kepler decided to slide feet first rather than continue through the plate, and his front foot jumped up and he didn’t touch the plate, even though it was a touch faster than Paul Goldschmidt’s throw.

Trevor Larnach ended the threat in the second inning when he got a strikeout, one of his three strikeouts against Pallante. The Twins didn’t have another runner reach second base until Matt Wallner worked a walk in the ninth inning and advanced due to a lack of defense.