Guardians Tweak Rotation Again, Demote Allen
MINNEAPOLIS -- — Christian Vázquez led off the ninth inning with a home run to give the Minnesota Twins a 3-2 victory over the Houston Astros on Sunday.
Vázquez, who had two hits and drove in all three Twins runs, hit a full-count sinker from Josh Hader (3-5) high and deep to left field for his fourth homer of the season.
“I think it’s fun to hit in the ninth against the closer,” Vázquez said. "I get locked in there.”
Jhoan Duran (4-3) pitched a scoreless ninth inning to earn the win.
The Astros wrapped up a 10-game road trip 6-4, while the Twins have taken two of three games in each of their last five series. The team's offense has especially come alive of late, banging out 42 hits in the three games against Houston.
“I think our offense is very dangerous,” Vázquez said. “One through nine, everyone puts something on the table to win. So, we never give up, and that’s the beauty of this game,”
Astros starter Spencer Arrighetti gave up two earned runs and struck out six in five innings.
Minnesota's Simeon Woods Richardson had one of his best starts of the season. The rookie right-hander gave up two earned runs over six innings and retired the last 13 batters he faced.
“When you see a guy figure it out while he’s out there and make it work, and have his best stuff toward the end of the outing, it leaves you even more satisfied,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. "He gave us a chance to win and we end up winning the game.
Twins shortstop Carlos Correa left the game in the first inning after being hit on the right hand by a pitch. The team announced that initial scans were negative and Correa was diagnosed with a finger contusion.
“I will be playing tomorrow,” said Correa, who had his finger wrapped after the game.
Woods Richardson’s control escaped him in the second inning and the Astros made him pay. Back-to-back walks helped load the bases with one out. César Salazar’s sacrifice fly drove in one run and Jose Altuve’s base hit plated another as Houston took a 2-0 lead.
Vázquez drove in runs with a two-out single in the second and a fielder’s choice grounder in the fourth to tie the game 2-2.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Astros: Altuve returned to the lineup after missing Saturday’s game with a wrist contusion. … OF Yordan Alvarez missed the game with a sore right knee after he was hit by a pitch on Saturday.
Twins: OF Austin Martin (oblique strain) was placed on the 10-day IL. OF Matt Wallner was recalled from Triple-A St. Paul to fill Martin’s roster spot.
UP NEXT
Astros: With their longest road trip of the season in the books, the Astros return to Houston until the All-Star break. RHP Ronel Blanco (8-3, 2.53) will start Tuesday’s game against the Marlins.
Twins: Minnesota heads to Chicago Monday to open a three-game series with the White Sox. The Twins haven’t named a starter for Monday night’s game, though RHP Chris Paddack (5-3, 5.29) is eligible to come off the IL and the date lines up with his slot in the rotation.
------
491340000000000 00 1600x1600 PHRH 2050 ?20200804112523DW Delta II Series Hi Hat Stand 18087902 800 000000116534136 00 1600x1600 473442000000000 00 750x750 Preview 716pxuqDxvL 490679000000000 00 1600x1600 40015 S000289831 2?auto=compress,format&fit=clip&w=800Manhasset 53dh Hi Hat Stand 706406 76888 Tmp14CF Prod 6058 Orig 7e8bfa9d5c00f8d68ba60e9ca10e0c38 DWCP6500~lg Dw Drums Dwcp9500tb 9000 Series Hi Hat 1087683 Sec3 4 MD H40R 8381081 20210810115629 DW DWCP5520 2 Hi Hat Stand AFCOHIHATSTAND ?20220125115605DWCP9503LB8 ?v=1571264532H96206000000000 00 720x720 Preview New Project 17 400x560 DW DWCP9502LB8 Hi Hat Stand 1024x1024 000000113064800 00 1200x1200 G663 623c8974a0fbbad 750x0 Thumb New Project 16 214x300 27cfcbd1 Bc83 46b7 Ab51 F54a3e58ab69 1.48f1875c0d4c423176cd846346d00e26 ?odnHeight=612&odnWidth=612&odnBg=FFFFFF490671000000000 00 1600x1600 Preview L77722000000000 00 720x720 New Project 22 214x300