In Arlington, Texas, Carlos Santana’s three-run homer and Ryan Jeffers’ solo shot propelled the Minnesota Twins to a 4-3 victory over the Texas Rangers on Friday night. Santana’s homer in the fifth inning broke the tie and helped the Twins secure the win, leading to Texas starter Andrew Heaney’s early exit from the game.
Twins manager Rocco Baldelli praised the team’s resilience in the game, highlighting the crucial hits by Jeffers and Santana. The victory pushed the Twins to 16 games above .500, their best record since the 2019 season when they won 101 games and brought them within three games of the AL Central lead after Cleveland’s loss.
Rookie pitcher Simeon Woods Richardson, a Texas native, delivered a solid performance for the Twins, allowing only two runs over five innings. The Twins’ bullpen, including Jhoan Duran, closed out the game effectively, securing the win and Duran’s 18th save of the season.
Despite Marcus Semien’s homer and Wyatt Langford’s contributions for the Rangers, Texas struggled to keep up with the Twins’ offense. Adolis García made an impressive defensive play, robbing a potential homer from the Twins.
On the injury front, the Twins received confirmation of a significant shoulder injury for RHP Joe Ryan, while All-Star SS Carlos Correa is progressing towards a rehab assignment. Meanwhile, Texas RHP Max Scherzer is making strides in his recovery from shoulder fatigue.
In the upcoming game, RHP Nathan Eovaldi is set to start for Texas, while rookie David Festa will take the mound for Minnesota. The stage is set for another exciting matchup between the Twins and the Rangers on Saturday night in Arlington.
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