Needing a good start, Ervin Santana came through for the Twins. Pitching seven innings Santana struck out 10 and allowed only six hits. The bullpen struggled closing it out but held the Twins lead.
In the first inning, Eddie Rosario opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly to deep right field. From then on it appeared to be a pitchers duel until the sixth inning. Eduardo Nunez smacked a two-run home run to left.
Then in the seventh inning the Twins hit for the cycle. Brian Dozier hit a deep triple, Eduardo Escobar hit a ground-rule double, Joe Mauer lined a single, then Miguel Sano unloaded belting a two-run home run. When the dust settled the Twins were up 7-0.
The ninth inning started out relaxed but turned into tense moments as the Astros fought back. They got within two by hitting two home runs in the inning. Eventually the Twins ended it before the game got out of hand. The Twins hung on to win 7-5.
The quality start was the kind of start the Twins expected from Santana when they signed him over the winter. Lately he has not been effective, losing three of his last five starts. However, Santana turned it around with his best start of the year. This year Santana has walked 22 batters, but did not walk any today. This is the second start that he has not walked any batters. It is the fourth game that he has not given up a home run. In games which Santana has not given up a homer he has three wins in four starts. Needless to say, more quality starts are a must for Santana and the Twins.
For Sano, the rookie keeps living up expectations. His line coming into today’s game was .284/.391/.574. Sano so far leads all qualified rookies in on-base percentage, slugging percentage and OPS. Among American League rookies Sano is top five in home runs and RBI.
The Twins are off tomorrow and will face Chris Sale on Tuesday as the White Sox come to Target Field. Tyler Duffey is scheduled to start. Duffy is 2-1 in four starts this year.