MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Chris Paddack had playfully prepared himself for the inevitable, knowing all too well that if he ever pitched well enough to warrant a postgame interview, he might end up drenched. The tradition of surprising unsuspecting players with a bucket of ice-cold water is one that rarely misses its target.
When that moment finally arrived for Paddack with the Minnesota Twins, he found himself completely unprepared.
With a stellar performance propelling the Twins to a 3-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Friday night, Paddack naturally became the focal point of the postgame interview featured on Apple TV+.
As he spoke, hardly finishing his first sentence, a few of his teammates sneaked up behind him and drenched him in icy water from buckets. The shock took him by surprise!
“I kind of got locked in, blacked out,” Paddack reflected later, once he’d shaken off the frostiness in the clubhouse. “It’s a bit chilly, but honestly, it’s an honor.”
Achieving his first win since June 10, Paddack showcased his skill by limiting the Giants to one run, racking up six strikeouts and walking none. The Twins are eager to see how he can develop further from this impressive outing.
Acquired from the San Diego Padres just before the start of the 2022 season, Paddack had a rocky beginning with just five starts before a foreboding elbow injury necessitated Tommy John surgery—his second such procedure in his career. He made a comeback to pitch in the playoff bullpen, but a forearm issue hindered his progress after the All-Star break last season.
In a remarkable performance, Paddack was cruising toward a perfect game until a two-out single by Christian Koss broke his rhythm in the sixth. His quest for a maiden shutout was thwarted by a home run from Matt Chapman with two outs in the seventh inning.
“He should feel great about what he accomplished out there tonight,” manager Rocco Baldelli remarked post-game. “It gives him something to build on for his next outing and the ones to follow. That’s as stellar of a performance as you can hope for from your starting pitcher.”
Paddack’s 7 1/3 innings marked one of the longest outings in his seven-year major league career, and he impressively accomplished it with only 83 pitches.
“The bullpen needed a breather,” he expressed, acknowledging his teammates. “Those guys have been working tirelessly.”
With this victory, the Twins (19-20) extended their winning streak to six games, their longest since June 12-18 of last year. The starting pitchers, often a source of frustration during a rocky start to the season, are finally helping turn the tide. The team’s starters now boast a collective 3.34 ERA, ranking fifth best in the majors.
“We anticipate our starters not just to perform well but to be a powerhouse for us this season,” Baldelli emphasized. “We’re going to rely on them to lead us in various ways. Consistent outings like tonight’s are exactly what we need.”
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