Twins Get Winning Record
Lewis and Keaschall Power Twins to 5-3 Win Over Mariners, Clinching First Winning Record
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The Minnesota Twins beat the Seattle Mariners 5-3 on Friday night, winning their seventh game in nine tries. Yahoo Sports reported that Royce Lewis hit a tying home run in the seventh inning and Luke Keaschall smacked a go-ahead double to seal the comeback win.
The win gives Minnesota its first winning record since April 21, according to Newsday. The Twins are now tied with Cleveland for the final American League playoff spot — both teams sit three games ahead of the Chicago White Sox.
Lewis and Keaschall Flip the Script in Late Innings
The Mariners led 3-2 heading into the seventh. Then Lewis stepped up and hit a solo home run to knot the score at 3-3. One inning later, Keaschall delivered a go-ahead double to put the Twins on top for good. Minnesota tacked on one more run to make it 5-3, Stamford Advocate reported.
The late-inning surge capped a steady offensive effort for Minnesota. The Twins have now won seven of their last nine games. That kind of run is exactly what a team on the playoff bubble needs.
Matthews Strikes Out 10, Funderburk Closes the Door
Starter Zebby Matthews gave Minnesota a strong foundation. He struck out a career-high 10 batters in five innings of work. He allowed three runs, keeping the Twins within striking distance throughout. It was the best strikeout performance of his career, according to Yahoo Sports Canada.
After Matthews exited, reliever Kody Funderburk came on and delivered scoreless relief. His clean work held the line until the offense took over. The bullpen's performance was key — the Twins did not let Seattle add to its lead after the fifth inning.
Mariners Slide as Playoff Race Tightens in Both Leagues
Seattle has now lost three straight and eight of its last 10 games. The skid has real consequences — the Mariners now sit three games behind the Houston Astros in the AL West, according to Oskaloosa News. The margin is growing thin with limited time to recover.
Meanwhile, Minnesota's surge is making the AL wild card race very competitive. The Twins and Cleveland are locked in a tie for that final playoff spot. The White Sox, three games back, remain in the hunt but are running out of runway.
Twins Bolster Roster With Two Trade Deadline Moves
Off the field, the Twins made two notable moves. They acquired pitcher Dean Kremer from the Baltimore Orioles and reliever A.J. Minter from the New York Mets in separate trades, according to Herald Bulletin. Both moves signal Minnesota is serious about pushing for a postseason berth.
Adding proven arms at this stage of the season is a strong sign. The Twins are clearly building depth for a playoff push. With seven wins in nine games and two new arms in the bullpen, Minnesota looks like a team peaking at the right time.
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