Max Kepler pulled the Twins back within one with a ninth-inning home run but the Twins fell short of the comeback attempt in Monday’s 7-6 loss to the Mariners.
Sonny Gray had been dealing, allowing no runs on two hits and five strikeouts, before the Mariners busted open the game with four runs, including a bases loaded walk that leveled the game at two.
Joey Gallo drew a run back with a 422-foot home run to deep center field but a wild pitch by Gray in the bottom of the sixth gave the Mariners their two-run lead back and ended the All-Star’s night.
Joey Gallo only hits BOMBS đź’Ł#MNTwins | #MLB pic.twitter.com/cOYhh1YuUj
— FanDuel Sports Network North (@FanDuelSN_NOR) July 18, 2023
Eugenio Suarez launched a two-run home run off Oliver Ortega in the bottom of the seventh to stretch their lead to 7-3.
Max Kepler hit a three-run home run in the top of the ninth to draw the Twins within one run. Five pitches later Ryan Jeffers struck out looking to end the comeback attempt as the Mariners held on for the 7-6 win.
Don't count the #MNTwins out yet!
Kepler makes it a one-run game in the 9th inning. pic.twitter.com/heLy9DKqLV
— FanDuel Sports Network North (@FanDuelSN_NOR) July 18, 2023
Twins hitters once again recorded double-digit strikeouts. Byron Buxton in particular struggled again at the plate Monday night going 0-5, striking out three times. Buxton is now 0-21 in his last 23 at bats.
Twins and Mariners resume their four-game series Tuesday night in Seattle with first pitch set for 8:40p.m.
