Sat. Dec 28th, 2024
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Austin Martin and Alex Kiriloff drove in two runs apiece, and the Minnesota Twins stretched their winning streak to seven games while completing a weekend sweep of the struggling Angels with an 11-5 victory Sunday.

Martin had a two-run single during a four-run fifth inning for the Twins, and Kiriloff had a pinch-hit two-run double in Minnesota’s four-run seventh. Ryan Jeffers, Jose Miranda, Christian Vázquez and Willi Castro had three hits each as Minnesota pounded out 17 hits while scoring at least five runs in its seventh consecutive game and moving back above .500 for the season at 14-13.

Luis Rengifo and Nolan Schanuel homered and Jo Adell had an RBI double in the fifth for the Angels, who have lost four straight and nine of 10 after allowing 32 Minnesota runs in the three-game series.

Mike Trout had a late RBI single as the Angels committed three errors and fell to 3-9 at home this season, matching the second-worst start at Angel Stadium in franchise history.

Pablo López (2-2) dominated the Angels from the start, retiring their first 14 batters in order before Logan O’Hoppe’s two-out double in the fifth kicked off a four-run rally. López finished with a season-high eight strikeouts.

Reid Detmers (3-2) wasn’t sharp on his second turn through the Twins’ lineup, eventually yielding five runs on nine hits over five-plus innings. The left-hander gave up only three earned runs in his first four starts this season before allowing nine in his next two.

Angels starting pitcher Reid Detmers delivers during the first inning against the Minnesota Twins on Sunday.
Angels starting pitcher Reid Detmers delivers during the first inning against the Minnesota Twins on Sunday.

(Ryan Sun / Associated Press)

After both starters opened with three perfect innings apiece, Miranda drove in Minnesota’s first run with a single off Detmers. Martin then drove in Vázquez and Kyle Farmer with a fifth-inning single.

O’Hoppe finally ended López’s perfect game bid and scored moments later. Rengifo followed with a two-run shot for his first homer of the season, and Schanuel made it 5-4 with a homer that extended his hitting streak to 10 games.

But Angels reliever Luis García had a dismal seventh inning, allowing four runs on three hits and two walks. Kiriloff delivered a bases-loaded double before Carlos Santana and Castro drove in runs.

Angels reliever Zac Kristofak allowed two unearned runs over the final two innings in his major league debut.

Injury update: Angels pitcher José Cisnero went on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation. The Angels selected the contract of the 26-year-old Kristofak and designated LHP Jimmy Herget for assignment to make room.

Up next for the Angels: Griffin Canning (1-3, 7.50 ERA) attempts to build on two straight solid starts when he takes the mound Monday at the Big A in the series opener against the Philadelphia Phillies.

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