BTN News: The Minnesota Twins took a significant step in their playoff aspirations on Thursday, securing a narrow 3-2 victory over the Texas Rangers, the reigning World Series champions, in the opening game of their series. The game was decided by a crucial sacrifice fly in the ninth inning, delivered by Dominican veteran Carlos Santana. His deep fly ball to the gap in right-center field brought home the go-ahead run, breaking the tie and lifting the Twins to an essential win. This victory keeps Minnesota firmly in the hunt for a playoff spot in the American League, solidifying their position as a wildcard contender.
Kirby Yates, the closer for the Rangers, found himself in a jam during the final inning. After issuing back-to-back walks with one out, he threw a wild pitch that advanced the runners, setting the stage for Santana’s game-winning sacrifice fly. The Twins capitalized on this opportunity to take the lead and ultimately secure the win.
Earlier in the game, Puerto Rican infielder Willi Castro provided a spark for the Twins with a solo home run. Castro’s blast, his 10th of the season, helped the Twins (68-53) inch closer to the Cleveland Guardians, who currently hold the top spot in the American League Central Division. With Cleveland taking a day off, the Twins took advantage, narrowing the gap to just four games. More importantly, Minnesota strengthened their hold on the second American League wildcard berth, a key position as the season heads into its final stretch.
On the mound, the Twins received strong contributions from their Dominican relievers. Jorge Alcalá, the third pitcher utilized by Minnesota, efficiently retired all three batters he faced, earning his third win of the season. Following Alcalá, Jhoan Durán took over in the ninth inning and was lights out. Durán struck out two batters in a perfect inning of work, securing his 17th save in 18 attempts this season. His dominance in the ninth ensured that the Twins held on to their slim lead, closing out the game in impressive fashion.
The Texas Rangers, meanwhile, are struggling to keep pace in the AL West. With this loss, they drop to a 56-66 record, sitting 10 games behind the division-leading Houston Astros. This marks the Rangers’ largest deficit of the season, tying their previous low point. Despite a strong performance from Cuban outfielder Adolis GarcÃa, who went 3-for-4 with an RBI, the Rangers couldn’t muster enough offense to overcome the Twins’ late surge. Dominican outfielder Leody Taveras was held hitless in four at-bats, contributing to the Rangers’ woes at the plate.
Minnesota’s lineup also saw contributions from several other key players. Dominican outfielder Manny Margot managed a hit in four at-bats, while Santana, despite going hitless in three at-bats, drove in the critical run with his sacrifice fly. The Puerto Rican contingent, led by Willi Castro, also played a pivotal role. José Miranda and Christian Vázquez both chipped in with hits, with Castro’s home run being a standout moment that helped set the tone for the Twins’ victory.
This win is crucial for the Twins as they continue to push toward the postseason. With their sights set on overtaking Cleveland in the division race and securing a playoff berth, every game becomes vital. As the series with Texas continues, Minnesota will look to build on this momentum, while the Rangers, now in a deeper hole, must find a way to bounce back if they hope to salvage their season.
The Twins’ victory not only moves them closer to the playoffs but also highlights the resilience and depth of their roster. From clutch hitting to stellar bullpen work, Minnesota showed that they have the tools to compete at a high level as the regular season winds down. Fans of the Twins will be eagerly watching as their team continues this critical stretch of games, hopeful that they can maintain their wildcard position and make a deep run in October.
