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Santana pitched seven fantastic innings, scattering six hits,
allowing no runs while striking out 10 batters as the Twins took the
rubber of a three-game series, 7-5 over the Houston Astros at Target
Field.
Santana had just one clean inning but was able to steer clear of
trouble; five of the six hits allowed by Santana were singles and he
didn't walk a batter.
Minnesota needed Santana's outing too. He became the first Twins
starter to pitch at least six innings since Aug. 20, a span of eight
games. Despite the recent rough patch by its starters, the win was
Minnesota's eighth in its last 10 games.
"We've been looking for that start to kind of turn us around," Twins
manager Paul Molitor. "Ervin was able to get it done today. He
really made pitches when he had to."
The 10 strikeouts were easily a season-high for Santana, who fanned
eight in his first start with the Twins on July 5 against Kansas
City. It also turned around a horrid month for the veteran
right-hander, who entered Sunday's game 0-3 with a 9.12 ERA in five
August starts.
"As a pitcher, you have to never give up," Santana said. "You just
have to keep working hard. (I've been) working hard with (Twins
pitching coach Neil Allen) on bullpens. It paid off today.
"Fastball location was a big deal for me. Today, I fixed it. I had a
lot of fastball for strikes low in the zone. That's what I need."
The Twins provided Santana with early run support off Astros
right-hander Lance McCullers then put the game away by pounding
Houston's bullpen in the late innings.
McCullers issued three walks in the first inning to load the bases
with one out and Twins right fielder Eddie Rosario hit a sacrifice
fly to right field for an early 1-0 lead.
"They score in the first inning without getting a hit. I think that
was sort of the theme of the series," Astros manager A.J. Hinch
said. "We lost this series on giving up 90 feet too much; too many
walks, too many hit by pitches. It came back to bite us."
McCullers retired 12 of the next 14 batters before walking
designated hitter Miguel Sano for a second time with one out in the
sixth. Two batters later, third baseman Eduardo Nunez crushed a
full-count offering 419 feet off the facing of the second deck in
left-center field, his fourth homer of the season and second of the
series.
That was just the beginning.
Minnesota tacked on four more runs in the seventh off Astros
relievers, capped by a two-run homer by Sano with one out in the
inning to make it 7-0. The blast was Sano's 13th and gave the rookie
40 RBIs in 49 games as a big leaguer.
The big inning snapped an Astros franchise record of allowing three
or fewer runs in 11 consecutive games dating back to Aug. 18.
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"That was nice to get a little bit of separation," Molitor said.
As it turned out, the Twins needed it.
Trailing by seven runs in the top of the ninth, Houston put two men
aboard ahead of first baseman Chris Carter, who crushed a fastball
over the center-field fence to make it a four-run game.
"That's him. We recognize that with one swing, he can change the
game," Astros second baseman Jose Altuve said. "He got a big homer
and created some momentum for us."
Astros left fielder Jake Marisnick then singled in front of Altuve,
who bashed his 11th homer over the left field fence. Altuve finished
with four hits.
Shortstop Marwin Gonzalez, who had three hits on the day, struck out
swinging to end the game with the tying run on deck.
Houston scored five runs in the ninth inning on the back of a
three-run homer by first baseman Chris Carter and a two-run shot by
second baseman Jose Altuve. The blast was Altuve's third hit of the
day.
McCullers was tagged with the loss, allowing three runs on four hits
and four walks in six innings of work.
NOTES: Astros SS Carlos Correa missed his fourth consecutive game
with a left hamstring injury. Correa, who ran on the field before
the game on Saturday, said he should be ready to return this week
when Houston opens a three-game series at home against the Seattle
Mariners. ... Twins OF Aaron Hicks began a rehabilitation assignment
with Triple-A Rochester on Sunday. Hicks has been sidelined with a
strained right hamstring and could return to Minnesota this week.
... The Astros return home to open a three-game series with the
Mariners on Monday at Minute Maid Park. ... The Twins are off Monday
before opening a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox at
Target Field.
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