Twins Sweep D-Backs, Extend Winning Streak
Photo by David Berding/Getty Images
On Sunday, Minnesota-native Matt Wallner launched a two-run walkoff home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Twins a 5-3 win over the Diamondbacks. Sunday was the final game of a three-game series at Target Field, in which Minnesota won all three games. The Twins extended their winning streak to four games.
In the top of the fifth, Tommy Pham grounded into a fielder’s choice at second but scored teammate Carson Kelly to give the D-Backs a 1-0 lead. The Twins would respond in the bottom of the sixth when Carlos Correa hit a single to left center, scoring Willi Castro and Edouard Julien to give the Twins a 2-1 lead.
In the top of the seventh, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit an RBI double into the right center gap that scored Corbin Carroll to tie the game. Christian Walker later tallied a solo home run in the top of the ninth to give the D-Backs a 3-2 lead.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Twins stepped up to the occasion. Max Kepler started the rally with a solo home run to right center that traveled 438 feet. Wallner then stepped up with a walkoff two-run home run to give the Twins a 5-3 win over the Diamondbacks.
LHP Dallas Keuchel earned the start for the Twins and had a decent outing. The 2015 Cy Young Award winner pitched five innings, surrendering eight hits and a run. Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen, the 2023 NL All-Star starter, got the start for the visitors and struck out eight in seven innings but allowed two runs.
Twins LHP Caleb Thielbar earned his second win of the campaign. D-Backs closer and high-profile deadline acquisition Paul Sewald coughed up three runs, was handed the loss, and recorded his fourth blown save of the year.
Minnesota (59-54) will travel to Detroit for a four-game series starting on Monday against the Tigers. The Twins have a 4.5-game lead over the Cleveland Guardians for first place in the AL Central. Arizona (57-56) has 12 consecutive games against divisional opponents next on their schedule and will return home for a two-game series against the Dodgers starting Tuesday. The D-Backs are 8.5-games back of the first-place Dodgers and are 1.5-games out of a wild card spot.
