MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Jose Miranda hit a game-winning home run within the eighth inning and the Minnesota Twins beat the Oakland Athletics 8-7 on Sunday night, winning each games of a split doubleheader and ending the four-game series with a sweep.
Willi Castro had three hits and Carlos Correa and Austin Martin had two each for the Twins. Minnesota has won five games in a row and 7 of eight.
“It was a great day,” said Royce Lewis, who hit a house run in each games.
With one out within the eighth inning, Miranda smashed a first-pitch slider by Dany Jiménez (1-2) 427 feet to the second deck in left field, Minnesota's third home run of the night. Lewis and Trevor Larnach also hit home runs.
Miranda replaced Larnach as designated hitter within the sixth inning.
“When I'm not in the game, I always prepare in the cage. I know the pitchers that can come in and I have to be ready,” he said.
JJ Bleday had a career-high 4 hits and Tyler Soderstrom had three hits, including a house run, but Oakland lost for the ninth straight game, including all seven games of a road trip that began in San Diego. Pitching coach Scott Emerson was ejected within the sixth inning.
“When we hit home runs with this offense, we usually win. We just didn't have the pitching to do it,” manager Mark Kotsay said. “We fought better on the road than we did the last time we played at home, but we couldn't get a win.”
Lewis hit seven home runs in his first twelve games of the season, something that has never happened in Twins history.
“That's more than I've ever seen,” manager Rocco Baldelli said. “It's not a coincidence, he's really very talented, he has a very good swing that always stays in the air. He can hit fastballs, he can hit breaking balls, he always has a chance to do something. He has a dangerous nature at the plate. When he's on your side, you can't help but smile when he does it.”
After Josh Staumont (1-0) made the ultimate out of the seventh inning, he threw out the team with a strikeout within the eighth inning. Griffin Jax pitched a scoreless ninth inning and secured his sixth save.
Correa had multiple hits in eight of his last 11 games, including two home runs as a part of a three-hit game as Minnesota won the opener 6-2. Lewis and Carlos Santana also hit home runs.
Louie Varland, Minnesota's twenty seventh pick for the doubleheader, threw 4 1/3 mostly solid innings but allowed 4 straight singles within the seventh inning, the last two RBIs by Soderstrom and Shea Langeliers, tying the rating at 7-7.
Oakland starter Joey Estes allowed eight hits and 6 earned runs in 2 2/3 innings. Minnesota starter Chris Paddack lasted just 2 1/3 innings, allowing five earned runs and five hits. Both allowed two home runs.
BEAUTIFUL HANDLE
Martin reached over the wall to steal a house run from Langeliers within the second inning.
“Sure, I was surprised!” he said. “I felt it slip into my glove, but my whole arm was kind of crossed, so I didn't know what I was going to bring. I wasn't expecting to bring a baseball, but when I looked and had it, I thought, 'Damn, that's not bad.'”
TRAINING ROOM
Athletics: RHP Ross Stripling, out since May 25 with a right elbow injury, has began throwing from 105 feet. Kotsay has no schedule for a bullpen session or throwing from a mound.
Twins: RF Max Kepler returned to the lineup within the night game. He sat out the primary game after being hit above the elbow by a 99 mph pitch on Friday.
NEXT
Athletics: LHP Hogan Harris (0-0, 2.49) is scheduled to begin Tuesday at home against Kansas City. The Royals plan to make use of RHP Alec Marsh (5-3, 3.63).
Twins: RHP Pablo López (6-6, 5.33) will face Rays' RHP Aaron Civale (2-5, 5.20) at home on Tuesday to open a three-game series.
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