Twins 8, Astros 3: Home Runs At Bat and Strikeouts On Mound Propel Twins to Series Victory

[Sam Caulder]

Image courtesy of © Erik Williams-Imagn Images

Box Score
SP: Taj Bradley - 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 11 K (97 pitches, 63 strikes (65% strikes))
Home Runs: Josh Bell, Kody Clemens, Luke Keaschall
Top 3 WPA: Josh Bell (0.17), Kody Clemens (0.14), Trevor Larnach (0.10)
Win Probability Chart

The Twins entered Wednesday night's series finale against the Astros with a chance to secure a series victory. Behind a dominant outing from Taj Bradley and an offense that jumped on Houston's pitching from the very first inning, the Twins did exactly that, cruising to an 8-3 victory and improving to 42-46 on the season.

THE TWINS JUMPED ON TATSUYA IMAI EARLY
Minnesota wasted little time putting pressure on Astros starter Tatsuya Imai, just as they did the first time they faced him earlier this season. Trevor Larnach got things started by ripping a leadoff double off the wall in straightaway center field, and after Brooks Lee and Kody Clemens were retired, Josh Bell made sure the early scoring opportunity didn't go to waste.

Bell got a 2-1 slider left out over the plate and absolutely demolished it, launching a 452-foot two-run homer over the batter's eye in center field to give the Twins a quick 2-0 lead. It was Bell's third home run against Imai this season, after taking him deep twice during their previous meeting. The Twins weren't finished there. Royce Lewis and Ryan Kreidler each drew walks before Victor Caratini singled to load the bases, although Tristan Gray struck out to end the inning.

An inning later, Minnesota delivered an even bigger blow. Luke Keaschall worked a leadoff walk before Lee drew another free pass, bringing Clemens to the plate. On a 3-1 fastball at the top of the strike zone, Clemens unloaded for a three-run homer to right-center, stretching the Twins' advantage to 5-1. Bell followed with another walk, and after recording just five outs, Houston had seen enough of Imai.

TAJ BRADLEY PILES UP THE STRIKEOUTS
While Bradley wasn't especially efficient, he was overpowering whenever the Astros put runners on base. Houston immediately threatened in the first inning, as Jose Altuve walked and Yordan Alvarez singled, eventually scoring a run on an Isaac Paredes double play. Bradley settled down by striking out Christian Walker to end the inning.

The second inning proved even more impressive. Cam Smith doubled, Taylor Trammell walked, and suddenly, the Astros had two runners on with nobody out. Bradley responded by striking out three consecutive hitters to escape the jam untouched. The pattern continued in the third. Alvarez and Paredes both singled, but Bradley once again found another gear, striking out Walker and Smith to strand both runners. By the fourth inning, he was completely locked in, striking out the side in order to reach 11 strikeouts on the night, matching his career high.

Bradley ultimately worked five innings, allowing just one run while striking out 11 Astros. It wasn't the cleanest outing from a pitch-count standpoint—he needed 97 pitches to get through five frames—but one run and 11 strikeouts is a combination the Twins will gladly take every time out.

LARNACH ADDS ON AS MINNESOTA PULLS AWAY
The Twins continued to tack on insurance tallies against Houston's bullpen in the fifth inning. Victor Caratini walked, Keaschall was hit by a pitch, and both runners advanced on a wild pitch to set the table for Larnach.

Larnach smoked a ground ball back through the middle that clipped second base and kicked into center field, allowing both runners to score and extending Minnesota's lead to 7-1.

The Twins added one more insurance run in the eighth, when Keaschall connected on a two-strike fastball from Bryan Abreu, sending it over the wall in left-center field for his third home run of the season and pushing the lead to 8-3.

Larnach finished another outstanding night with three hits, while Bell reached base twice and drove in two runs. Clemens' three-run homer proved to be one of the biggest swings of the game, and Keaschall stayed hot by reaching base twice (including the homer), while also making a terrific sliding catch in right field.

BULLPEN HOLDS OFF HOUSTON'S LATE PUSH
The only real hiccup came after Bradley exited. Cody Laweryson struggled in the sixth inning, allowing two runs while recording just two outs before Andrew Morris was called upon to stop the bleeding. Morris immediately got Altuve to ground out and then delivered perhaps the biggest pitch of the game for the Twins an inning later.

After Alvarez reached for the fourth time and Paredes was hit by a pitch, Houston had runners on first and second with one out. Morris calmly induced Cam Smith to bounce into a 6-4-3 double play, ending the threat and preserving Minnesota's four-run cushion.

Taylor Rogers followed with a perfect eighth inning. Yoendrys Gómez worked around a pair of baserunners in the ninth. Although Paredes reached after a dropped pop-up, Gómez retired Brice Matthews on a fly ball to center to end the game. By the final out, the Twins had secured an impressive series victory in Houston.

Minnesota pounded out timely hits, hit three home runs, received another strong performance from Taj Bradley, and got enough out of the bullpen to close the door. After winning two of three in Houston, the Twins head into the remainder of their road trip with some much-needed momentum and an improved 42-46 record.

What’s Next?
The Twins have tomorrow off, but will be traveling to the Bronx to begin a three-game weekend series against the Yankees on Friday. Mike Paredes will toe the rubber for the good guys. He’ll be facing off against veteran right-hander and 2023 AL Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole. First pitch is set for 6:05 PM. 

Postgame Interviews
Coming Soon!

Bullpen Availability Chart

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[thelanges5]

Great series win!

Laweryson down and Rojas up

Gray down and Roden up

Lets go Twins ⚾️🚀

[Jacksson]

Given the state of the Twins bullpen and it's ability to fritter away win able games, the Twins are lobbying the league to award Gomez a save for his effort tonight in coming in, getting 3 outs and protecting a mere 5 RUN LEAD !!

[Parfigliano]

Taj was a K machine tonight and moved his ERA under 4

[Mike Sixel]

14 minutes ago, Parfigliano said:

Taj was a K machine tonight and moved his ERA under 4

This trade is looking good...

[Western SD Fan]

28 minutes ago, thelanges5 said:

Great series win!

Laweryson down and Rojas up

Gray down and Roden up

Lets go Twins ⚾️🚀

Rojas should absolutely be on his way to New York right now.  If Roden is going to be called up, it will likely be when the Twins come home since they are facing two LHP in Cole and Rodon.  No point in calling up a LH bat when you're likely going to sit him.

Edit:  The good news is, with the LHP going for the Yankees, we shouldn't be seeing Gray much this series.  Hopefully Buxton is back in CF and Kreidler is manning SS.

[soyouresayingtheresachance]

Nice series win on the road! 

Would really like to see Rojas up. And maybe get a look at CJ Culpepper in the pen. I understand theyre trying to stretch out Rojas for starting but we need effective innings for the BP. He gives us a better chance than most of the current BP guys. 

Keaschall with the HR! I was so confused, I didnt realize he still hit those 😂

Short but dominant start from Taj. I'll take it.

Laweryson and the defense tried to get Houston back in the game. Luckily they failed. 

Paredes against Cole on friday. Young man has his work cut out for him against the Yankees. Let's get another series win! 

[howeda7]

1 hour ago, thelanges5 said:

Great series win!

Laweryson down and Rojas up

Gray down and Roden up

Lets go Twins ⚾️🚀

Agreed, but if Gray goes it has to be for Culpepper. Gray, Adams and Fedko out. Culpepper, Rojas and Roden in.

[knothole61]

Nice series win. Bell is looking like less of "a mistake" now-eh? The big man put one in orbit in Astros-land! Also. shout out to Keaschall on a great catch in right center...the kid is a talented athlete.