Twins lose to Phillies 3-0 as Jhoan Duran’s ninth inning spoils strong Simeon Woods Richardson start

In an atmosphere that felt more fitting for a game in October than July, the Philadelphia Phillies capitalized with a sacrifice fly and a two-run double from Nick Castellanos after they loaded the bases in the ninth inning Tuesday.

It was especially haunting for the Twins after they left the bases loaded without a run in the previous inning, a painful missed opportunity in a 3-0 loss at Target Field following an entertaining pitchers’ duel between Simeon Woods Richardson and Zack Wheeler.

Twins closer Jhoan Duran pitched into trouble after he surrendered a one-out double to Bryce Harper and then walked the next two batters. Brandon Marsh lifted a 101-mph fastball to left field for a go-ahead sacrifice fly before Castellanos lined another 101-mph fastball to right field to clear the basepaths.

Duran threw only 11 of his 27 pitches for strikes and took his fifth loss of the season. Those were the first earned runs he’s permitted at home this year.

“We haven’t seen a lot of that from him ever,” Twins Manager Rocco Baldelli said. “In his big-league career, he really hasn’t done that more than once or twice, maybe three times over the years.”

The Twins offense failed to put Duran in a save situation. In the bottom of the eighth inning, they loaded the bases after Phillies All-Star reliever Jeff Hoffman and lefty Gregory Soto combined to walk three batters. With the announced crowd of 31,272 roaring in a 3-1 count, pinch hitter Ryan Jeffers bounced a ground ball to third base to end the threat.

Woods Richardson, the 23-year-old rookie, went step-for-step with the All-Star Wheeler in a terrific performance. He permitted three hits and one walk in six scoreless innings while striking out five.

“You can’t ask for anything better for a pitchers’ duel,” Woods Richardson said. “I mean, it’s a pitchers’ duel. Some people don’t like watching that, but it’s exciting.”

Woods Richardson embraced his matchup with Wheeler — “Game recognize game,” he said — and he followed a relatively simple formula to silence an explosive Phillies lineup. He threw a first-pitch strike to 16 of his 20 batters, and he trusted his defense.

Kyle Schwarber hit the third pitch of the game toward the wall in right field where Max Kepler made a leaping grab. First baseman Carlos Santana ended the second inning when he snagged a line drive from Castellanos.

After Johan Rojas hit a ground ball single to open the sixth inning, snapping a streak of nine straight batters retired, Woods Richardson recorded his first successful pickoff attempt of the season.

BOXSCORE: Philadelphia 3, Twins 0

No play fired up Woods Richardson more than Matt Wallner’s outfield assist to end the sixth inning. Trea Turner lined a fastball off the left field wall, and one of the fastest players in baseball tested Wallner’s arm. Wallner won the battle with a one-hop throw that beat Turner to the bag by several feet.

Woods Richardson punched the air with his right arm. Then he took off his glove as he looked at Wallner and he punched the air again as he shouted in excitement.

“I mean, come on. Did you see it?” Woods Richardson said. “Cannon. Perfect. Definitely what we needed at the time, very monumental in the game. Yeah, I’m going to show [emotion]. I’m going to let my guys know.”

Defying expectations all year after an uneven 2023 season in Class AAA, slipping down prospect rankings, Woods Richardson owns a 3.27 ERA through 17 starts.

Wheeler, who dropped his ERA to 2.55, lived up to his billing as one of the best pitchers in the National League, twirling seven shutout innings in 107 pitches.

“I think it only makes you better, facing that kind of level of competition,” Woods Richardson said. “It only makes your stuff better, only makes you grow as a player.”