Kreidler delivered a go-ahead double and a clutch diving stop off the bench.
The Minnesota Twins spent most of Sunday chasing the game. By the time they finally pulled ahead in the eighth inning, the player responsible wasn't one of their regular starters.
It was Ryan Kreidler again.
The Twins' 5-4 win over the Cardinals will be remembered for another comeback and for Taj Bradley's encouraging bounce-back outing. But the sequence that ultimately decided the series finale highlighted something Minnesota has quietly leaned on more often lately. The value of having players who can impact a game without knowing exactly when they'll be asked to do it.
Kreidler wasn't in the starting lineup Sunday, entering as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning with the Twins trailing by two runs. He immediately left his mark on the game.
A single off left-hander JoJo Romero started the rally that eventually tied the score. An inning later, with two outs and nobody on, Kreidler came back up in a completely different situation. Luke Keaschall had just doubled to put the winning run in scoring position. Facing right-hander George Soriano, Kreidler worked through a seven-pitch at-bat before driving a double into the gap to bring Keaschall home.
Then came the ninth inning. Leading off the frame, Cardinals infielder José Fermín sent a ground ball up the middle that looked destined for center field. Kreidler ranged over from shortstop, left his feet without hesitation and somehow recovered quickly enough to make the throw. Royce Lewis completed the play with a difficult scoop at first, and after replay review, the out stood.
The game-saving defensive play arrived only an inning after Kreidler entered as a pinch-hitter.
"It's not easy to come in a game late in the game and make a play like that," manager Derek Shelton said postgame, via Patrick Donnelly of MLB.com. "No thought process at all about leaving his feet."
That's the challenge of Kreidler's role. He has started at shortstop, third base, center field and left field this season. Some days he's in the lineup. Other days he's waiting for a matchup late in the game. The preparation doesn't change even when the opportunities do.
“I’ve kind of just taken the approach of stay ready physically and then let the game tell you what to do,” Kreidler said, via Betsy Helfand of the Pioneer Press. “I’m just trying to do a little bit less.”
The Twins will look to spin the positives from this series win against St. Louis into some much-needed consistency as they fight back into the AL Central race. Next up is a three-game set in Arlington, with the Rangers sending Mackenzie Gore for the opener. Derek Shelton has yet to announce his starter.
