Taj Bradley Throws Twins' First Immaculate Inning on 9 Pitches in 4-2 Loss

Q: What hidden vulnerability cost Taj Bradley the game despite throwing the franchise's first immaculate inning?

Bradley’s hidden vulnerability was his inability to finish innings cleanly with two outs. Despite the immaculate fifth, the Athletics did all their damage once Bradley was one out from escape. In the second inning, he retired the first two hitters before allowing a two-out double and then a two-run homer by Carlos Cortes. In the sixth, he again got two outs, but then gave up a single, an RBI double and another RBI single. All four Oakland runs scored with two outs. That pattern, more than anything, cost him the game. Bradley was dominant for long stretches, striking out 11 and matching a career high, but the A’s punished his brief lapses in execution late in innings. Additional coverage also points to a broader version of that weakness: when contact came, it came hard in key spots, particularly after he had nearly closed the inning. Minnesota’s quiet offense added to the loss, managing limited support and going just 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position. But on Bradley’s side, the decisive flaw was clear: two-out damage erased an otherwise historic and overpowering outing.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 26

Nine pitches produced nine strikes in the fifth inning Tuesday, making Taj Bradley the first pitcher in Twins franchise history to record an immaculate inning.
Bradley struck out Carlos Cortes, Brian Serven and Henry Bolte in order, finishing the feat by freezing Bolte with a 100-mph fastball after mixing a splitter, curveball and upper-90s heat.
The milestone came in a losing effort at Sutter Health Park, where Bradley allowed four runs over 6 2/3 innings and tied his career high with 11 strikeouts as Minnesota fell 4-2 to the Athletics.
Bradley, 25, is now 9-6 with a 3.97 ERA and 169 strikeouts in 147 1/3 innings, while the 64-69 Twins head into Wednesday's series rubber match against the 52-81 A's.