Rather than conduct his postgame interview at a podium like starting pitchers normally do, Simeon Woods Richardson spoke to reporters in front of his locker, sitting on the floor.
Why?
After pitching through an Extreme Heat Warning — it was 89 degrees at first pitch and the temperature kept climbing into the afternoon — Woods Richardson was dealing with some cramping.
“It felt like I was back at home (in Houston) in 105 degrees weather,” Woods Richardson said. “My jersey was soaked, everything was soaked. … First inning took a little while, but as the game went on, I’d say I got progressively better.”
Coming off a start in which he needed just 53 pitches to completely shut down the Houston Astros in five innings, Woods Richardson — who was not particularly helped by his defense in the early innings — issued a couple of walks and allowed four hits in his first two innings of work.
It took 52 pitches to get through those innings, by which point the Brewers had scored four of their nine runs in a 9-0 win over the Twins on Saturday afternoon at Target Field. But then he settled in, did not allow another hit and worked six innings.
“I think everything kind of got better as the game went on,” he said. “I started hitting my stride in the third inning. I was like, ‘OK, now we’re getting somewhere.’ But, yeah, those first two innings, it took a little time to get going. (I was) missing the strike zone with pretty much every single one of my pitches.”
Woods Richardson was even given the opportunity to face the lineup the third time through, a rarity for him as the Twins have typically lifted him early. He handled that opportunity well, too, and finished his day by retiring 13 of the last 14 batters he faced.
The starter began the season in the major leagues but was demoted in mid-May with a 5.02 earned-run average at the time. With injuries to Pablo López and Zebby Matthews, he re-entered the rotation earlier this month.
“He gave us six innings when we needed it,” manager Rocco Baldelli said. “First couple innings, I think what happened was he didn’t have the feel for the breaking balls that he was looking for and he ended up having to throw a bunch of fastballs. … He found those pitches. He competed well.”
Larnach out again
Trevor Larnach was scratched from the lineup on Friday, a day after being hit by a pitch by Reds pitcher Nick Martinez. He remained out of the lineup on Saturday when the Twins faced left-hander Jose Quintana, but Baldelli said Larnach’s right hand was improving and he thought the outfielder might be available to help late in Saturday’s game if needed.
Larnach did not wind up appearing in the game.
“(Friday) it was still bothering him pretty good,” Baldelli said. “And then he woke up the next day, showed up and it was a little swollen and sore and he really wasn’t able to swing the way he needed to. So, he’s getting treatment.”
Briefly
The Twins will send David Festa to the mound on Sunday against the Brewers. Festa gave up four runs — two earned — in his last start, which lasted just 3⅔ innings. … Emmanuel Rodriguez, one of the Twins’ top prospects, began a rehab assignment on Saturday in the Florida Complex League. Rodriguez has been out all of June with a hip injury. … Brewers left fielder Isaac Collins, who hails from Maple Grove, finished the day 2 for 4 with two runs scored and three RBIs on Saturday.
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