Connor Prielipp gave the Twins five steady innings Friday, allowing one earned run on four hits and two walks while striking out six, but it was not enough in a 6-4 loss to the Guardians.
He mostly did his job. Prielipp kept Cleveland from pulling away early and finished with a 3.32 ERA, a 1.00 WHIP, a 1-1 record and 21 strikeouts across four starts after the defeat, but Minnesota's bullpen and bats did not return the favor.
The outing fit the way the left-hander's recent work has gone: efficient enough to give his team a chance, with enough traffic to leave little margin for error. The Twins needed support behind him and did not get it.
That leaves Prielipp headed into Thursday's start against the Marlins with a line that suggests a pitcher holding his own, even as the club around him searches for a cleaner finish. Friday was not his problem, and the final score made that plain.
