Alex Kirilloff hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning to lead the Minnesota Twins to a 5-3 victory over the Texas Rangers on Saturday.
Kirilloff, who also hit a go-ahead home run in the Twins’ series-opening victory over the World Series champions on Friday night, drove a 1-0 pitch from David Robertson (2-2) into the bullpen in left-center, helping Minnesota win its fourth straight game.
Cole Sands (2-0) pitched two perfect innings to earn the victory. Jhoan Duran worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his sixth save.
Ezequiel Duran homered and threw a runner out at the plate and starter Michael Lorenzen pitched six strong innings for the Rangers, who have lost six straight and 12 of their last 14 games.
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Lorenzen gave up one run on three hits over six innings. It was his seventh consecutive start with at least six innings pitched, tied for the longest such streak in the major leagues this season. However, he is winless in his last six starts.
The game turned when Lorenzen was pulled after warming up for the seventh inning, having suffered an apparent injury to his lower right leg. Trailing 3-1, the Twins started a rally with a single and a walk against reliever Jesus Tinoco.
Robertson then came on and walked Edouard Julien to load the bases. Carlos Correa’s sacrifice fly made it 3-2 before left fielder Duran cut down Carlos Santana trying to score on Jose Miranda’s single to temporarily preserve the lead.
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Lorenzen was in trouble just once, in the first inning, when Minnesota loaded the bases on a walk and two singles. Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers drew a walk to score the first run of the game, but Lorenzen got Kirilloff to ground out and end the threat.
The Rangers tied it in the fourth when Corey Seager led off with a single and scored on Adolis García’s one-out double against Twins starter Chris Paddack.
Duran hit his first homer of the season to break the tie in the fifth inning, and Leody Taveras’ RBI double in the sixth extended the Texas lead to 3-1.
UP NEXT
Twins RHP Pablo López (4-4, 4.72) will try to bounce back from his worst start of the season, when he gave up seven earned runs in five innings in a 12-3 loss to the Nationals on May 20. The Rangers have not named a starter.
