Yankees Legend Helped MN Twins Beat Former Team

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Roger Clemens
Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images

On Thursday night the Minnesota Twins finally did it. They beat the New York Yankees. The 4-1 victory was Minnesota’s first against the Evil Empire since April 25, 2023. Nine straight regular season losses finally came to an end.

Of course the MN Twins now have a secret weapon at their disposal. When the team traded for Kody Clemens with the Philadelphia Phillies they didn’t just get a utility player wanting a chance to prove himself.

Minnesota also got a should-be-Hall-of-Famer in Roger Clemens that all of a sudden had an interest in the ballclub. It was fun when Kody homered in his first game at Fenway Park. He didn’t homer at Yankee Stadium (he tripled), but that didn’t stop Roger from sharing wisdom.

Roger Clemens imparts wisdom on Minnesota Twins pitchers

The Minnesota Twins pitching staff was gutted at the trade deadline. They now routinely employ bullpen games and have new relievers in leverage spots. What better person to talk pitching with than living legend Roger Clemens. MLB.com’s Bill Ladson noted the impact it had in a rain delayed contest on Thursday.

Minnesota relievers Funderburk and Justin Topa pitched the final 2 1/3 innings without allowing a run. They had extra motivation to do well. The relievers spoke to Clemens’ dad, Roger Clemens, in the bullpen before the game. The man who won seven Cy Young Awards during his career was teaching the pitchers about the mental part of the game.

Clemens talked to the relief corps because they are a much younger group now, after the team traded veteran relievers like Jhoan Duran, Brock Stewart and Griffin Jax before the July 31 MLB Trade Deadline.

“[Clemens] was out there talking about his mentality, routine, what made him dominate. It was pretty cool,” Topa said. “ … Hearing how he attacked guys and pitching inside, it was a good thing for all of our guys.”

MLB.com

Sure, Roger Clemens used steroids while MLB Commissioner Bud Selig profited off of it (and was ultimately inducted into the Hall of Fame), so you can miss me with that. The reality is that Clemens owns a career 3.12 ERA with 4,672 strikeouts, an MVP, and seven Cy Young awards.

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To say he is among the best five or ten pitchers to ever step on a big league mound would not be an understatement. That he’s willing to impart wisdom on his son’s teammates is just an added bonus.

Immediate work done while Clemens watches MN Twins

Kody Clemens didn’t get any pitching help from his dad on Thursday night, but he kept doing what he has done all year for the Twins. Given a path to playing time, he has produced. A two-run triple broke the game open and gave Minnesota a chance to end the streak.

Leading 4-1, it was up to Topa. The reliever acquired as the key big league piece in the Jorge Polanco trade, has never been put in a higher-leverage role than he is right now. With Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax, and Louie Varland all gone, manager Rocco Baldelli has leaned on the veteran.

Since the trade deadline, Topa has pitched in six games for Minnesota. All of them have been high-leverage, and he has not entered a game before the 7th inning. Across seven innings pitched he has not allowed a run on just four hits and a walk. Topa has also struck out six.

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Minnesota needs to establish the next wave of leverage arms with such a significant departure taking place. Topa is making just $1.23 million this season, and he has a $2 million team option next year. Clemens could be proud of the pitcher he turns into.

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