Twins 9, Rangers 3: Larnach Stays Red-Hot, Joe Ryan Deals as Twins Secure Sweep

Box Score
SP: Joe Ryan - 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K (97 pitches, 67 strikes (69% strikes))
Home Runs: Brooks Lee, Trevor Larnach, Ryan Kreidler
Top 3 WPA: Brooks Lee (0.20), Joe Ryan (0.15), Josh Bell (0.11)
Win Probability Chart

The Twins entered Thursday afternoon’s series finale against the Rangers looking to complete a three-game sweep and make it four straight wins. With Joe Ryan on the mound and the offense swinging hot bats, the Twins delivered one of their more complete performances of the season, rolling to a 9-3 victory and securing the sweep in Texas.

EARLY OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION PUT THE RANGERS IN A HOLE
The Twins wasted no time jumping on Rangers starter Jack Leiter. Trevor Larnach opened the game by lining the very first pitch into center field for a single, and after Kody Clemens followed with a base hit of his own, Minnesota quickly put pressure on the young right-hander.

Royce Lewis struck out swinging for the second out of the inning, but Josh Bell continued his torrid stretch by ripping a two-strike changeup into right field to score Larnach and give the Twins a 1-0 lead.

The big blow came moments later. After Leiter used his changeup to punch out both Byron Buxton and Lewis earlier in the frame, Brooks Lee got a changeup that stayed over the plate and didn't miss it. Lee crushed it 104 MPH over the wall in right field for a three-run homer, extending Minnesota's lead to 4-0 before Joe Ryan even took the mound.

The Twins sent eight hitters to the plate in the inning, forcing Leiter to throw 28 pitches and immediately placing the Rangers in catch-up mode.

LARNACH STAYS RED HOT
Minnesota's offense cooled briefly over the next couple innings, but Trevor Larnach made sure the lead continued to grow. After Luke Keaschall worked a two-out walk in the fourth inning and swiped second base, Larnach stepped in and capped off an eight-pitch at-bat by launching a two-run homer to center field. Initially, it looked like Alejandro Osuna might have a chance to bring it back, but the ball carried just over the wall, giving the Twins a commanding 6-0 advantage.

An inning later, he added another RBI with a bloop single to left field that scored Victor Caratini and pushed the lead to 7-0.

Larnach finished the afternoon with three hits, including the homer, continuing what has been one of the hottest stretches of his season.

JOE RYAN BENDS BUT DOESN'T BREAK
While the offense provided plenty of support, Joe Ryan had to work harder than usual to keep the Rangers off the board. Texas put multiple runners on base in both the second and third innings, forcing Ryan to navigate traffic throughout much of his outing. His pitch count climbed quickly, reaching 65 pitches through three innings and 83 through four.

Still, whenever the Rangers threatened, Ryan found a way to make the big pitch.

He struck out Joc Pederson three times, froze Kyle Higashioka with a front-door sweeper, and worked around several baserunners to complete five scoreless innings. It wasn't his most efficient start, as he needed 97 pitches to record 15 outs, but he generated 13 whiffs, threw 69% of his pitches for strikes, and most importantly, left the game without allowing a run.

BULLPEN WEATHERS A BRIEF STORM
The only real blemish on the afternoon came in the sixth inning. Justin Lawrence entered in relief and immediately surrendered a solo homer to Wyatt Langford on the first pitch he threw. Two batters later, Ezequiel Duran added another solo shot, trimming the lead to 7-2.

Any thoughts of a Rangers comeback were short-lived. Taylor Rogers worked around trouble in the seventh before Andrew Morris entered and promptly induced a 6-4-3 double play to erase a potential rally.

Eric Orze escaped a two-on situation in the eighth, and Cody Laweryson closed things out in the ninth despite allowing a late solo homer.

TWINS ADD INSURANCE AND FINISH THE SWEEP
The Twins made sure Texas never got any closer. Ryan Kreidler provided the biggest insurance of the day in the eighth inning, turning on a middle-middle cutter and driving a two-run homer. The blast extended the lead to 9-2 and effectively put the game out of reach.

Caratini added three hits in the victory, Keaschall reached base four times, and Bell continued his impressive series with another multi-hit performance.

Even with Royce Lewis enduring a difficult afternoon that included four strikeouts, the Twins' lineup produced 15 hits and consistently applied pressure throughout the game. By the time the final out settled into Keaschall’s glove at second base, Minnesota had completed the series sweep and continued its recent surge.

After a pair of disappointing divisional series against the Royals and Tigers, the Twins responded exactly how they needed to, taking five of six games against the Cardinals and Rangers. At 36-40, Minnesota remains within striking distance in the American League Central and will carry some much-needed momentum into the weekend.

What’s Next?
The Twins travel to Phoenix, Arizona to take on the Diamondbacks in a three-game weekend series, starting Friday night. Connor Prielipp is set to throw for the good guys, and right-hander Mike Soroka is the probable starter for the Diamondbacks. First pitch is set for 8:45 PM on Apple TV.

Postgame Interviews
Coming Soon!

Bullpen Availability Chart