A pitchers duel turned into a nail biting finish, with Byron Buxton making an insane diving catch to end the game and give the Twins a win.
After getting swept by the Braves, the Twins went into this home stand needing to take advantage of their easier schedule these next 6 games. That starts with the 5-17 White Sox.
Bailey Ober got the start tonight, and was effective despite allowing 8 hits and a walk. He was able to get out of a bases loaded jam in the 2nd with only 1 run allowed on a sacrifice fly RBI by Jacob Amaya. He stranded two more in scoring position in the 4th, and got an inning ending double play in the 5th. He forced another double play in a scoreless 6th, ending his night.
On the offensive side, the Twins managed to tie the game up in the 2nd. A walk, a White Sox error, and a single by Ty France got them on the board. Then, in the 3rd, Luke Keaschall walked, stole 2nd, then scored on another White Sox error.
In the 8th, Larnach crushed a 2-run homer to right field to give the Twins a 4-1 lead. Those insurance runs would prove to be very useful.
Jhoan Duran entered to close the game out, but immediately gave up a single and two walks to load the bases. He got Joshua Palacios to strike out, then a fielders choice RBI for the 2nd out, bringing Andrew Benintendi to the plate with the tying run on 2nd.
In his career, Benintendi has a .901 OPS against the Twins, and, fittingly, he crushed Duran’s fastball into right center field with an exit velocity of 101 MPH. Against any other center fielder that is a game tying double, but Byron Buxton made a diving catch, landing on the warning track to end the game.
Studs:
Byron Buxton: Do I have to explain this one?
Bailey Ober: 6.0 IP, 8 H, 1 ER, BB, 6 K
Luke Keaschall: 1-2, 2 BB, 2 SB, 2 R
Trevor Larnach: 1-3, HR, 2 RBI, BB
Duds:
NO DUDS TWINS WIN!