Twins defeat Astros in a slugfest

The Minnesota Twins battled the Houston Astros in game two of their three game series on Saturday afternoon. The Twins began the season with seven consecutive quality starts by their starting pitchers, but that would change today.

Minnesota began the scoring in the second inning with the walk-off hero from yesterday. Kyle Farmer hit a 397 three run home run giving the Twins a 3-0 lead. Later in the inning Trevor Larnach singled in Christian Vázquez, extending the lead to 4-0. The lead would be erased at the top of the third inning when Houston loaded the bases ending with a Yordan Alvarez 384 foot line right grand slam into the right field flowerpots.

Kyle Farmer took an extra scoop of the protein powder this morning!#MNTwins lead 3-0! pic.twitter.com/qf5o7U1ETv

— Bally Sports North (@BallySportsNOR) April 8, 2023

Starting pitching Joe Ryan was lights out the remainder of his start finishing six innings with 10 strikeouts, while giving up the four runs from the grand slam. Minnesota now has had double digit strikeouts from its starting pitchers in back-to-back games.

Vázquez hit an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth inning to give Minnesota to lead once again, this time at 5-4. In the eighth inning the Twins would add insurance to their lead. Vázquez would hit another RBI single to make the lead 6-4. Later in the inning Byron Buxton hit his first home run of the season. It was a three run homer that traveled 419 feet extending the lead to 9-4.

#MNTwins pic.twitter.com/LVn7aRYlgl

— Bally Sports North (@BallySportsNOR) April 8, 2023

Jovani Moran would enter the game in the top of the ninth inning to close the door on Houston, but the Astros had some fight left in them. José Abreu hit a single followed by a Jeremy Peña with a 363 foot home run cutting Minnesota’s lead to 9-6. Moran would get two outs in the inning, but allow two more baserunners to reach. The Twins would then turn to Closer Jhoan Duran to get the final out. Duran would slam the door shut on Houston striking out Yainer Diaz on a 101 MPH fastball.

On Saturday's the #MNTwins win baseball games.#MNTwins 9#Ready2Reign 6 pic.twitter.com/T9bK7phyYz

— Bally Sports North (@BallySportsNOR) April 8, 2023

The Twins have won the weekend series and will attempt to sweep the Astros tomorrow afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. with Tyler Mahle set to be on the bump for Minnesota.