The Minnesota Twins scored six runs in the eighth inning as they took the opening game from the Baltimore Orioles on Monday night by a score of 8-3.
Matt Shoemaker ran into trouble in the first inning for the Twins, allowing an RBI double to Anthony Santander to put the Orioles on the board.
The Twins answered in the third when Trevor Larnach blasted a 461-foot home run into the Delta 360 Club to tie the game at 1-1. He’s just the seventh player to hit one into that section above the batter’s eye in center field.
🗣 𝟰𝟲𝟭 𝗳𝘁. !!!!!!!!@trevorlarnach | #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/LXhVvqxzG4
— FanDuel Sports Network North (@FanDuelSN_NOR) May 25, 2021
Shoemaker settled down after the opening inning to throw six innings while allowing one run and striking out three. The effort was needed against Baltimore starter John Means, who entered Monday’s game leading the American League in ERA.
Despite the Orioles’ ace on the mound, Kyle Garlick broke the tie with a solo home run in the sixth inning to put Minnesota ahead 2-1.
Sweet & Garlick-y 😅@Twins take the lead!!! pic.twitter.com/FKDdHdgpJB
— FanDuel Sports Network North (@FanDuelSN_NOR) May 25, 2021
Garlick contributed in the outfield as well, preserving the Twins’ lead in the seventh with a beautiful relay to Nick Gordon and Mitch Garver.
One word: TEXTBOOK. 🎯@Twins | #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/5xvyKgwylG
— FanDuel Sports Network North (@FanDuelSN_NOR) May 25, 2021
The Orioles took the lead into the eighth when Jorge Alcala got the first two outs before rain hit Target Field. After a brief delay, Alcala served up a two-run homer to DJ Stewart that gave Baltimore a 3-2 lead.
But the Twins rallied against the Baltimore bullpen in the bottom of the eighth beginning with a sacrifice fly from Josh Donaldson. After an Alex Kirilloff single, Mitch Garver gave the Twins the lead with a two-run double.
Garv Sauce gets his first hit of the game right when we put our rally caps on! What are the odds?!?!@Twins | #MNTWins pic.twitter.com/cb4ZC1CLZK
— FanDuel Sports Network North (@FanDuelSN_NOR) May 25, 2021
The Twins added three insurance runs on RBI singles from Miguel Sanó, Larnach and Andrelton Simmons to close out the inning and Alex Colome closed out the Orioles in the ninth to pick up the win.
The Twins will send José Berríos to the mound in the second game of the series on Tuesday night.
