Clinging to their American League Central lead by only a half-game after dropping Friday evening’s collection opener to the Baltimore Orioles in 10 innings, the Minnesota Twins will flip to All-Star right-hander Sonny Gray to attempt to even the collection on Saturday afternoon in Minneapolis
Ramon Urias doubled in computerized runner Colton Cowser to open the tenth inning for what proved to be the game-winning run in a 3-1 victory for Baltimore, which closed to inside three video games of first-place Tampa Bay within the AL East with its third consecutive victory.
However, a fourth-inning catch by Cedric Mullins was the play of the sport and the primary motive the competition even made it to further innings.
After Carlos Correa and Donovan Solano opened the fourth with back-to-back singles, Byron Buxton hit a towering drive close to the 411-foot sign up middle. Mullins timed his leap completely, catching the ball above the fence to deny Buxton his sixteenth house run of the season and the Twins a 3-0 lead
“It was just one of those things where I was trying to get a feel for the wall as I was approaching it,” Mullins stated. “It had some good air under it so I was just trying to time the wall, and I was able to get a good jump and was able to bring it in.”
Buxton slammed his helmet down at first however then threw up his arms and tipped his helmet at Mullins in respect.
“I have a feeling he’s going to be looking for me as soon as I walk out of here,” stated Mullins, who added that he and Buxton are good pals. “Hate to do it to him, but that’s baseball.”
The Twins managed simply 5 hits, together with a seventh-inning RBI single by Willi Castro that drove in Kyle Farmer, who had doubled, to tie it 1-1
“That big swing by Buck was most of the action for us,” Minnesota supervisor Rocco Baldelli stated. “We needed to do more. We got the pitching and the defensive plays, everything we needed to stay right there in the game.
“Not a straightforward recreation to lose as a result of we’re proper there in it till the tip. We can win that recreation.”
Now Gray (4-2, 2.50 ERA) will try to even the series up for Minnesota. Gray, named to his third All-Star Game, is 6-5 with a 4.19 ERA in 13 career starts against the Orioles. He’ll be opposed by right-hander Tyler Wells (6-4, 3.19 ERA) who is 2-0 with a 1.88 ERA in four career appearances and two starts against the Twins
Gray, who ranks third in MLB with a 2.50 ERA, threw six scoreless innings in his last start Sunday at Baltimore, allowing just two hits and striking out seven. The Orioles rallied for two runs in the eighth off closer Jhoan Duran to pull out a 2-1 victory
“He’s had an outstanding first half,” Baldelli said of Gray. “He’s pitched his tail off each single time he is touched the mound, retains us in each single recreation that he pitches. … He’s been persistently a bulldog for us on the market.”
Friday’s win was just the second in the last 14 games at Target Field for Baltimore.
–Field Level Media
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