The Minnesota Twins took another step closer to the AL Central title on Saturday night, defeating the Cincinnati Reds by a score of 7-3 at Target Field. With the win, the Twins clinched home field in next week’s wild-card round and can clinch the division with a win on Sunday afternoon.
Saturday’s game got off to a rough start for Michael Pineda, who allowed a pair of runs in the first inning to put the Twins in an early hole. Down 2-0, Nelson Cruz got a run back with an RBI single in the bottom of the first, but the Twins made their comeback off the bat of Luis Arraez.
The Twins second baseman was making his return from a stint on the injured list and delivered with four hits on the evening including an RBI double in the third inning that tied the game. Eddie Rosario gave the Twins the lead later in the inning with an RBI double that put Minnesota ahead for good.
Arraez RBI double âž• Rosario RBI double and the #MNTwins lead! pic.twitter.com/o3gK0uj5MY
— FanDuel Sports Network North (@FanDuelSN_NOR) September 27, 2020
The Twins blew the game open with doubles from that point on, hitting eight on the evening. Arraez hit three of those doubles and expanded the lead to 5-2 in the bottom of the fifth. After the Reds chipped into the lead with a run in the top of the seventh, but another RBI single from Arraez and a sacrifice from Rosario put the game out of reach.
The win means the Twins will play for the division title with Rich Hill taking the mound against Sonny Gray on Sunday afternoon.
