Joe Ryan Explains Continued Struggles Against Division Rival After Twins' Sunday Loss

Joe Ryan took the mound during the Minnesota Twins' Sunday matchup against the AL Central rival Cleveland Guardians hoping to build off a promising first start back from injury on Monday.

The Guardians clearly had other plans, forcing Ryan out of the game after 84 pitches in just four innings when he surrendered seven hits and four earned runs while only striking out a single batter to hand the Twins a 9-2 loss.

Following the matchup, the 30-year-old right-hander credited Cleveland's excellent approach against him and their ability to effectively work up his pitch count.

"I think 'battle' is probably the best way to put it," Ryan said, according to MLB.com. "Just kind of long at-bats, throwing the ball for the most part in spots where we wanted to throw it. They were just kind of beating me to it there. It's frustrating when it's a day like that, and yeah, they've had a pretty good approach all year, I'd say."

This was not the first time Ryan struggled so much against the Guardians.

He would have his worst start this season when both teams faced off on July 20, giving up a career-high 10 hits and eight earned runs as the Twins fell to their divisional opponent 13-4.

Sunday afternoon was pretty similar when Steven Kwan took Ryan deep on the second pitch he saw during the first inning for an early 1-0 Cleveland lead. The Guardians threatened once again, putting runners on second and third but Ryan held on to retire Ángel Martínez.

Cleveland continued pressing in the second, loading the bases as rookie Chase DeLauter drew a competitive seven-pitch walk to move Patrick Bailey to third and Kwan to second. Ryan got out of it when he induced a flyout from Travis Bazzana.

Even then, the Guardians struck again in the third when Jo Adell crushed a one-run shot to left field. Kody Clemens responded that same inning with a double that drove in Luke Keaschall and spoiled the shutout.

Cleveland refused to back down in the fourth as Kwan brought home Brayan Rocchio and scored himself off a one-run single from Bazzana, extending the lead to 4-1 and ending Ryan's afternoon.

The Twins' bullpen didn't fare any better as the Guardians went up 6-1 in the sixth when Bazzana lifted a two-run blast to right-center field off Travis Adams.

Trevor Larnach scored Minnesota's second run of the game in the seventh with a solo blast to right field, but that proved insufficient when the Guardians erupted for three more runs in the ninth to put the Twins away.

With the loss, Ryan has now posted a 3.84 ERA and 1.16 WHIP while recording 146 strikeouts through 133.2 innings of action. 

He should be in for a bounce-back opportunity during the Twins' upcoming series against the Los Angeles Angels later in the week. However, it may be too little, too late with the Twins' already slim playoff hopes coming down to how they do in their final 13 games.