Trevor Larnach got this game going with a bang, specifically a solo homer deep to right field on the second pitch from Rangers starter Kumar Rocker. Next, Byron Buxton singled, stole 2nd, and was brought home later by a Josh Bell 2-out RBI single to put the Twins up 2-0.
With Zebby Matthews going strong, the Twins tacked on 3 more runs in the 3rd. All of those came on a 3-run homer from Kody Clemens, just over the painted line on the right field wall. That homer continues Kody’s stretch of being hot
at the plate, he’s slugging over .600 in his last 15 games, with 5 homers.
In the top of the 4th, the Twins broke the game wide open, scoring 5 times. Alex Jackson doubled, then, with 1-out, Buxton hit a deep fly to right that Brandon Nimmo failed to catch. Cal Quantrill came in for Rocker, intentionally walked Clemens, then allowed a 2-run single to Royce Lewis. Josh Bell followed with a liner down the right field line for a double that scored 2 thanks to another error by Nimmo. Bell would later score on a Luke Keaschall single to give the Twins a 10-0 lead.
The Rangers would score just single runs in the 4th and 5th against Zebby, who did a good job of limiting the damage. His most effective pitch tonight was the slider, generating 2 of his 4 strikeouts and a 45% whiff rate. Zebby would toss 7 innings of 2-run baseball, much more than good enough tonight.
Travis Adams struck out the side in the bottom of the 8th. In the top of the 9th the Rangers went to catcher Kyle Higashioka as a pitcher. Keaschall doubled, then scored on Jackson’s double. Then a Larnach single followed by Kyler Fedko’s first career RBI, a sacrifice fly, made it 12-2. Fedko is still searching for his first hit. That gave the Twins 17 hits on the night, a season high for the team.
Cody Laweryson tossed a shutout 9th inning, giving us our 12-2 final.
Studs:
Trevor Larnach: 4-6, 2 R, HR, RBI
Kody Clemens: 2-4, 2 R, 2B, HR, 3 RBI, BB
Josh Bell: 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI, BB
Luke Keaschall: 2-4, 2B, RBI, BB
Alex Jackson: 3-5, 2 R, 2 2B
Brooks Lee: 2-5, 2B
Zebby Matthews: 7.0 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 4 K
Duds:
NO DUDS TWINS WIN!
