The Twins are back home for a nine-game home stand, and they didn’t disappoint Tuesday after they rallied for three runs late to beat the Seattle Mariners, 6-5.
The M’s took an early lead, the Twins responded with back-to-back home runs from Jonathan Schoop and Jason Castro to tie the game, then fell behind again. But in the eighth, Max Kepler doubled, Jorge Polanco doubled to score Kepler and Nelson Cruz drew a walk. Polanco eventually scored on a wild pitch and Cruz came around to score on a Marwin Gonzalez single. Ballgame.
Starter Martin Perez didn’t figure in the decision. He allowed four runs, all earned, over five innings with three walks and seven strikeouts. Three of those runs were allowed on one pitch: a three-run home run off the bat of the M’s Edwin Encarnacion.
But the Twins bullpen allowed only one run the rest of the way. Matt Magill improved to 2-0 and Trevor May earned his first save.
Jose Berrios gets the ball Wednesday.
Extra innings…
-During the nine-game home stand, the Twins play the Mariners, Kansas City Royals and Boston Red Sox.
-The Twins are now 44-21.
-Despite the great record, the Twins attracted only 23,000 fans to Tuesday’s game. I’d like to see more sellouts.
-The Twins have now hit 127 home runs, which is a new first-half home run record for the club, according to MLB.com. The previous mark was 125 home runs set in 1964.
-The last time Berrios faced the Mariners, the Twins won 18-4. Berrios, however, lasted only four-plus innings.
-Shortstop Polanco went 3-for-3 Tuesday and is now hitting .341.