Twins rookie starter David Festa wasn’t hit around during the Twins’ 6-1 loss in their series opener to the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday. He felt he beat himself.
Festa lasted only 3⅔ innings, requiring 75 pitches, and he gave up three runs on three hits and three walks.
Walks were a common theme for Twins pitchers, setting a season high with nine free passes, and their offense wasn’t any better at Target Field. Cardinals starter Andre Pallante, along with relievers John King and Ryan Fernandez, didn’t allow a hit after the third inning while retiring 19 of the final 20 Twins batters.
The Twins slipped to third place in the American League Central, falling a game behind the Kansas City Royals. They remain two games behind the first-place Cleveland Guardians.
“Too many deep counts and just not efficient,” Festa lamented.
Festa must improve maneuvering through lineups multiple times. When hitters see him for the first time, he is near unhittable. He struck out four batters with zero hits and one walk in his first trip through the Cardinals lineup.
Facing hitters for a second time has been a challenge. Festa issued a one-out walk in the third inning, then gave up an RBI single to Masyn Winn, the Cardinals’ leadoff batter.
During the fourth inning, Festa surrendered a leadoff double to Willson Contreras and he walked Brendan Donovan. After Contreras led a successful double steal, Lars Nootbaar hit a two-run double to right field. Hitters are producing .393 batting average against him during their second turn through the batting order.