The Twins loaded the bases with nobody out without a hit in the 10th and scored just once, tying the score at 5-5. They loaded them again in the 11th with one out and collected their only extra-inning hit, but failed to score. They had two on, no one out, in the 12th and didn’t even advance a runner to third base, being eliminated on four straight pitches. And after falling behind by three points, they scored again in the 13th despite going out in order, hearing boos from the handful of fans left when Carlos Correa tapped back to the pitcher to end the game.

“To have that many baserunners, we did something right. But clearly something is missing when we get guys on base,” Baldelli said. “We are really struggling. I can’t tell you exactly why.”

The Twins finished 18-28 against National League teams this season and now must win at home against the Orioles, while the Royals are 0-for-3 in Atlanta, or the Tigers will be defeated at home by the White Sox. These long-term scenarios would allow the Twins to claim a postseason slot for the fourth time in Baldelli’s six-year tenure, and he hasn’t given up.

‘I know how we played. But we are not eliminated at this point. And I don’t think we’re out of this,” Baldelli said. “My intention is to win, starting tomorrow with Pablo (López) and play a great game for us. Win our matches and see what happens.”