MLB wrap: Twins smash 5 home runs for 2nd straight game

Arthur Weinstein

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MLB wrap: Twins smash 5 home runs for 2nd straight game image

After homering Friday, Twins outfielder Max Kepler made an interesting observation.

"I looked at the lineup in spring training and thought, 'We're going to hit a lot of taters,'" Kepler told reporters (via The Athletic).

That prediction has been spot on, especially this weekend, as the Twins have been launching taters like NASA launches rockets. Minnesota hit five home runs against the Orioles in a 9-2 rout Saturday. The Twins also homered five times in Friday's 6-1 win.

Kepler added two more home runs Saturday, giving him six for the season, and drove in four to power the Twins, who improved to 15-9. C.J. Cron also homered for the second straight game, and Marwin Gonzalez and Jason Castro also sent balls out of Target Field.

The Twins are fourth in the majors in home runs this season with 47. Yet they're hardly a one-dimensional lineup. Minnesota is averaging 5.66 runs, second only to the Mariners.

Can the Twins keep the offensive show going? Why not? Several of these guys have proven track records of hitting taters, as Kepler might say. Eddie Rosario, who leads the American League with 11 home runs, has averaged 26 homers the past two seasons and would be a bigger name if he played in a bigger market.

Nelson Cruz (365 career home runs, including five this year) can still rake at age 38. First baseman Cron (five homers) hit 30 last year with the Rays.

After several solid seasons, 25-year-old shortstop Jorge Polanco is having a breakout year (five homers, .341 batting average), and Kepler looks improved at the plate this season. Third baseman Gonzalez, who hit his second homer of the season Saturday, had 23 a couple of years ago with the world champion Astros.

Bottom line: This is shaping up as a fun summer for the Twins and their fans.

Studs of the Night

Cubs third baseman David Bote homered twice and drove in five runs in a 9-1 victory over the Diamondbacks.

Rays right-hander Charlie Morton gave up only two hits in six scoreless innings in a 2-1 win against the Red Sox.

Royals DH Hunter Dozier collected four hits in five at-bats and had four RBIs in a 9-4 win over the Angels.

Dud of the Night

Nationals reliever Wander Suero retired only one batter in the 10th inning, giving up four earned runs as the Padres went on to score six in the inning.

Highlights

Pinch-hitter Tony Kemp walks it off for the Astros in the 10th and gets in some nice leaps headed home.

Gary Sanchez makes his first career grand slam extra special by sending it 467 feet, the longest slam ever tracked by Statcast.

Juan Soto launches one far, far away.

What's Next

Indians (15-11) at Astros (16-11), 7:05 p.m. ET — Houston topped Cleveland on a walk-off home run in the 10th Saturday and will be going for a series split Sunday. Indians right-hander Carlos Carrasco got rocked in two of his first three starts, but has pitched 11 scoreless innings across his last two outings. Lefty Wade Miley (1-2, 3.58 ERA) goes for Houston.

Arthur Weinstein