Duran recorded his 18th save of the season in Tuesday's 3-2 win over the Cardinals, giving up a run on a solo home run while striking out two in the ninth inning.
Tyler O'Neill drove a 102-mph Duran fastball over the wall in right field to make things interesting, but the Twins' closer shook it off and fanned Jordan Walker and Alec Burleson to end the night. Duran has looked a little vulnerable lately, getting tagged for runs in three straight appearances and posting a 6.75 ERA and 1.59 WHIP over 10.2 innings since the beginning of July despite a 15:3 K:BB, but his spot at the head of the bullpen doesn't appear to be in any jeopardy.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Jhoan Duran: Charged with blown save, loss
Rotowire
Duran (2-5) took the blown save and the loss Friday against Kansas City. He allowed two walks and a walk-off grand slam to Bobby Witt after retiring the first batter he faced in the 10th inning.
This was one to forget for the normally reliable Duran. It marked just his second time allowing multiple earned runs through 38 appearances this season. Given how well he's pitched overall (2.66 ERA, 1.11 WHIP), it seems likely that this will end up being just a blip for Minnesota's primary closer.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Jhoan Duran: Secures 17th save
Rotowire
Duran allowed two hits and struck out three in a scoreless inning to earn the save in Saturday's 3-2 win over the White Sox.
Duran has given up 11 hits over 8.1 innings in July, but this was his fourth consecutive scoreless outing. He's also converted six of seven save chances this month. The closer has maintained a 2.06 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 52:15 K:BB with 17 saves in 20 tries over 39.1 innings this season. He's given up five runs (four earned) in July, accounting for nearly half of his total runs allowed for the year.
Duran allowed a hit and struck out two over a scoreless inning to earn the save in Wednesday's 6-3 win over the Mariners.
Duran had a rough patch of allowing five runs (four earned) over three appearances earlier in July, but this was his third straight scoreless outing. The hard-throwing righty is up to 16 saves in 19 chances this season. He's maintained a strong 2.11 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 49:15 K:BB through 38.1 innings as the Twins' closer.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Jhoan Duran: Unavailable Monday
Rotowire
Duran won't be available to pitch Monday after appearing in each of his team's last three games against Oakland, John Shipley of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
This decision by skipper Rocco Baldelli is based simply on recent usage, as the Twins relied heavily on Duran over the weekend to slam the door. Griffin Jax would likely be the top candidate for a save chance Monday night if needed.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Jhoan Duran: Notches 15th save
Rotowire
Duran allowed one hit in a scoreless inning while earning a save over Oakland on Sunday.
Duran gave up a one-out double but was able to work around the small threat to close out the 5-4 game. He'll likely be unavailable Monday against Seattle after throwing an inning in each of the last three games against the Athletics. He's now sporting a 2.17 ERA and a 47:15 K:BB through 37.1 frames.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Jhoan Duran: Picks up 13th save
Rotowire
Duran picked up the save Friday against Oakland. He allowed one run on two hits over one inning. He did not walk a batter.
Duran's form has been shaky recently -- he's posted an 0-2 record with an 8.31 ERA in the month of July so far. However, the 25-year-old's 13 saves are a career high, and he still sports highly impressive ratios on the year (2.29 ERA, 1.05 WHIP).
... See More... See Less
Twins' Jhoan Duran: Perfect for 14th save
Rotowire
Duran picked up the save Saturday against the Athletics. He struck out two over one clean inning.
After giving up five runs over his last three appearances, Duran bounced back with a perfect inning to nail down his 14th save of the campaign Saturday. Though Duran has struggled as of late, he owns a 2.23 ERA through 33 appearances (36.1 innings) on the year and is locked into closing duties for Minnesota.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Jhoan Duran: Notches 12th save
Rotowire
Duran picked up the save Saturday against the Orioles after he allowed a hit and no walks with no strikeouts in a scoreless ninth inning.
Duran surrendered a one-out single and allowed the tying run to get into scoring position on a stolen base, but he still needed just eight pitches to retire the side. The 25-year-old is 12-for-14 in save chances this year and has yet to allow more than a single run in any of his 29 appearances. He's again been one of the best relievers in the league this season with a 1.41 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 42:14 K:BB over 32 innings.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Jhoan Duran: Secures 11th save
Rotowire
Duran fired a clean inning while striking out a batter en route to his 11th save of the season in a win over the Tigers on Sunday.
Duran was called upon to protect a three-run lead in the 10th inning and was flawless in doing so. He sits in the middle of the pack with 11 saves on the year but has been the shutdown guy the Twins need in the back end of their bullpen, especially with Jorge Lopez (personal) currently away from the team. The 25-year-old Duran now boasts a 1.45 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 42:14 K:BB in 31 innings thus far.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Jhoan Duran: Secures 10th save
Rotowire
Duran picked up the save Friday against the Tigers. He allowed one walk while striking out three over a scoreless inning.
Duran handed out a free pass to Matt Vierling but bounced back to retire Miguel Cabrera and Zack Short via strikeout. While he doesn't have as many saves as the league leaders, Duran has been as steady as they come this season with a 1.50 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 41 strikeouts and 10 saves in 12 chances. Griffin Jax has been serving as the team's top setup man in front of Duran.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Jhoan Duran: Blows save Wednesday
Rotowire
Duran was tagged with a blown save against the Red Sox on Wednesday, allowing a run on one hit and one walk over two innings. He struck out two.
Duran entered in the eighth inning tasked with protecting a one-run lead. He allowed two of the first three batters he faced to reach base, resulting in the game-tying run, but retired the next five hitters as the game went into extra frames. It wasn't a terrible performance by the right-hander, though the run he allowed caused him to take his second blown save of the season. Duran has had few missteps overall, posting a 1.55 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 38:13 K:BB over 29 innings while collecting nine saves and one hold.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Jhoan Duran: Grabs ninth save
Rotowire
Duran picked up the save in Saturday's 2-0 victory over the Tigers, allowing one hit while striking out one.
Duran was part of a shutout effort for the Twins' bullpen, finishing off the Tigers with his four-seam fastball in the ninth inning to earn his ninth save of the season. The right-handed reliever has allowed just one run since April 29 against the Royals and has not walked a batter in three of his last four appearances. With Saturday's scoreless inning Duran lowered his ERA to 1.33 on the season to go along with a 0.96 WHIP.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Jhoan Duran: Hangs on for win Friday
Rotowire
Duran (2-2) picked up the win in Friday's 3-2 extra-inning victory over the Blue Jays, allowing one hit and two walks over two scoreless innings. He struck out two.
With the score tied 2-2, Duran was brought in to face the bottom of the Toronto order in the ninth inning and nearly made a mess, plunking Santiago Espinal to lead off the frame and eventually loading the bases with two outs before escaping the jam. After Minnesota took the lead in the top of the 10th, however, the team's closer looked a little more comfortable as he finished things out. Duran has struck out multiple batters in nine of 11 appearances since the beginning of May, a stretch of dominance that has seen him post a 0.63 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 20:6 K:BB through 14.1 innings, but circumstances have let him record only two saves during that time. If the Twins can get him more opportunities, expect the 25-year-old to have few issues converting them.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Jhoan Duran: Tagged for walk-off homer
Rotowire
Duran (1-2) took the loss Wednesday as the Twins were downed 2-1 by the Rays, failing to record an out and serving up a game-winning solo home run to Randy Arozarena.
The right-hander looked like he might be warming up to handle a save chance, as Minnesota scored its only run of the game in the top of the ninth inning and threatened to add more with the bases loaded and one out. Tampa Bay turned a slick double play to end the rally, however, and Arozarena then drove the second pitch he saw from Duran over the wall in right field. It's the first earned run the Twins' closer has allowed in over a month and the first time he's been taken deep since April 12, and on the season Duran still sits with a stellar 1.57 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 32:10 K:BB through 23 innings.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Jhoan Duran: Notches five-out save
Rotowire
Duran allowed a hit and a walk over 1.2 scoreless innings Friday, striking out three and earning a save over the Guardians.
Duran's walk was an intentional one and he didn't face much resistance while closing out a 1-0 victory. He picked up his first save since May 5 and has now converted eight of his nine chances on the year. While Minnesota hasn't provided him with consistent save opportunities, Duran has gone 12.2 straight innings without allowing an earned run, lowering his season ERA to 1.17.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Jhoan Duran: Reaches 104 mph with fastball
Rotowire
Duran allowed a hit while striking out two over two-thirds of a scoreless ninth inning in Wednesday's 7-1 win over the Giants. He threw 104.6 mph and 104.4 mph fastballs, which are new Twins records, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
Duran was getting work in a blowout win as he hadn't pitched in four days. With the Twins off Thursday, Duran should be available for Friday's game against Toronto.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Jhoan Duran: Secures seventh save
Rotowire
Duran picked up the save in Friday's 2-0 win over the Guardians, tossing a scoreless ninth in which he allowed one walk and zero hits while striking out two.
Duran continues to struggle with walks (seven over his past five outings), but he hasn't blown a save since April 11. The closer is 7-for-8 in save opportunities on the year and currently sports a 2.13 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 16:9 K:BB through 12.2 innings.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Jhoan Duran: Records one-out save
Rotowire
Duran picked up his sixth save of the season Sunday in an 8-4 win over the Royals after he came in to record the final out of the game.
Duran was not expected to be used Sunday after throwing 25 pitches while struggling with his control in Saturday's loss to the Royals. The Twins went into the ninth Sunday with a comfortable 8-2 lead; however, things became tighter than anticipated after Josh Winder allowed two runs. Duran was then called upon to close with runners on second and third and got Edward Olivares to fly out to end the game. The 25-year-old is now tied for fourth in baseball with six saves and should be ready if needed Tuesday with the Twins off Monday.
