Kendry Rojas throws four scoreless, Josh Bell drives in three in Twins win
· Yahoo Sports
Twins 6, Astros 3
Visit newssport.cv for more information.
Starting pitcher performanceThe Twins turned to Kendry Rojas to start in place of Simeon Woods Richardson, who has had a tough start to the season, and the rookie, who was making his first major-league start, responded with four scoreless innings.
Rojas ran into some trouble in the first inning, hitting the first batter he faced, allowing a single to center and then walking Yordan Alvarez, but he managed to wiggle his way out of the jam unscathed, getting a pop up for the first out before he got left fielder Zach Dezenzo to line into an inning-ending double play.
Rojas got 10 swinging starts on 46 pitches before making way for Woods Richardson, who threw a scoreless fifth inning before a 1:57-rain delay ended his night.
Player of the GameJosh Bell waited more than a month between his third and fourth home runs this season. He didn’t have quite the wait between his fourth and fifth. The Twins designated hitter hit changeup from starter Tatsuya Imai 429 feet out to center field in the second inning to give the Twins the lead.
In his very next at-bat, he hit an opposite shot out to left on a high fastball. This one came with Trevor Larnach on base, giving the Twins a three-run lead in the fourth inning. He also knocked in a run as part of a three-run Twins sixth inning.
Injury updateTwins catcher Ryan Jeffers left the game mid at-bat in the eighth inning.
Up nextThe Twins will send Zebby Matthews (1-0, 0.00 ERA) to the mound to face veteran Lance McCullers (2-3, 6.86) on Tuesday night. It will be Matthews’ second major league start of the season after throwing seven scoreless innings his last time out.