A four-game losing streak for the Minnesota Twins came to an end with a 3-0 victory over the Los Angeles Angels Thursday afternoon in Anaheim.
The Twins win also snapped what was a seven-game Angels winning streak.
The game really came down to one at bat, occurring in the fourth inning with Joe Mauer and Miguel Sano on base and two out. Trevor Plouffe blasted a three-run homer, his 13th of the season, and gave the Twins just their second lead of the series.
The Twins have scored 13 runs since the All-Star break and Plouffe has driven in seven of those on two swings. Both in Santana's starts.
— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) July 23, 2015
Other than that it was a genuine pitcher’s duel between Ervin Santana (2-0) and his former club’s young, right-handed ace Garrett Richards.
Santana cruised against his former team and at one point retired 12 straight Angel hitters.
Single by Trout ends string of 12 straight retired by the E-Train
— LaVelle E. Neal III (@LaVelleNeal) July 23, 2015
He held the Angels scoreless and to four hits over his eight innings of work, while striking out seven. Glen Perkins worked a perfect ninth for his 29th save.
https://twitter.com/RhettBollinger/status/624345734943346688
Richards (10-7) allowed just the three runs on four hits, while striking out five and walking three.
The Twins picked up the win without either Brian Dozier or Torii Hunter in the lineup. The Pioneer Press notes it’s only the second time Dozier hasn’t started a game this season.
Minnesota returns to Target Field on Friday night in a game that will pit Phil Hughes against his former club – the New York Yankees.
