ST. LOUIS — Donovan Solano hit a tiebreaking, two-run single within the seventh inning and Pablo Lopez tossed six efficient innings because the AL Central-leading Minnesota Twins snapped a five-game skid with a 3-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday evening.
Minnesota was coming off a three-game sweep to the Kansas City Royals and having misplaced the final two video games of a three-game set towards the Seattle Mariners. The Twins maintain a two-game lead within the division over Cleveland, which was no-hit in Houston on Tuesday.
Tyler O’Neill homered for St. Louis, which has misplaced 4 of its final 5 video games and eight of 11.
The loss comes simply hours after the Cardinals traded right-hander Jack Flaherty to the Baltimore Orioles for prospects. The Cardinals acquired infielder César Prieto, left-hander Drew Rom and right-hander Zack Showalter. Prieto is Baltimore’s No. 16 prospect and Rom is No. 18. Flaherty was 7-6 with a 4.43 ERA this yr for the Cardinals, who’re mired in final place within the NL Central. St. Louis additionally dealt left-hander Jordan Montgomery to Texas on Sunday.
Solano, pinch-hitting for Joey Gallo, hit the primary pitch from Miles Mikolas up the center to attain in Jorge Polanco and Matt Wallner. Polanco started the inning with a success and Wallner adopted with a ground-rule double.
“I was just looking for a ball I could drive and hit up the middle,” Solano mentioned. “(Contact) is my talent. I’m no power hitter. I try to be short with my swings.”
Lopez (6-6) allowed one run on 4 hits over six innings with 5 strikeouts. He retired the primary seven hitters he confronted.
“You want to set the tone in the first game of the series,” Lopez mentioned. “I tried to execute quality pitches from the first inning.”
Lopez set down eight straight batters from the third to fifth innings.
Minnesota didn’t make any strikes on the commerce deadline and supervisor Rocco Baldelli appears content material together with his present roster.
“We have a great group,” Baldelli mentioned. “We went out there and played a good ball game. Our guys didn’t relent, they kept on it and did some good work.”
Added Lopez, “We know the talent that we have in this clubhouse. We’re a first-place team for a reason.”
Mikolas (6-7) gave up three runs on six hits over seven innings. He was ejected in his earlier begin towards the Chicago Cubs on Thursday after simply 14 pitches. Mikolas plunked Ian Happ with a pitch after Happ caught catcher Willson Contreras with on a swing that knocked Contreras out of the sport. Mikolas was suspended 5 video games for the incident, however has appealed the suspension.
“Everything felt pretty good,” Mikolas mentioned.
Relievers Emilio Pagan, Griffin Jax and Jhoan Duran mixed to safe the seven-hit victory. Duran recorded his 18th save in 22 possibilities.
The Twins’ five-game shedding streak matched their longest of the season.
St. Louis, after buying and selling away two beginning pitchers over the previous few days, is in survival mode.
“The strategy is to be super-optimistic,” Mikolas mentioned.
CELTIC PRIDE
Boston ahead Jayson Tatum threw out the primary pitch alongside his son, Deuce. Tatum, a 4 time NBA All-Star, was born in St. Louis and attended Chaminade Prep School, in close by Creve Coeur.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Cardinals: INF Brendan Donovan could have season-ending surgical procedure Wednesday to deal with a flexor pressure in his proper arm. He is anticipated to be absolutely recovered and in a position to participate in spring coaching subsequent yr.
UP NEXT
Minnesota RHP Joe Ryan (9-7, 4.06) will begin the second recreation of the three-game collection on Wednesday. Ryan might be dealing with the Cardinals for the primary time in his profession. He is 5-8 with a 5.40 ERA when dealing with a staff for the preliminary time. St. Louis introduced after the sport that RHP Dakota Hudson (1-0, 4.19) will make his second begin of the season.
Content Source: www.washingtontimes.com