Twins' tribute to Prince builds up to walk-off celebration

Joe Rodgers

Twins' tribute to Prince builds up to walk-off celebration image

Each night in the 2016 baseball season, we'll run down the top news, facts and highlights from action around Major League Baseball.

The Twins paid tribute to music superstar and lifelong Minnesotan Prince before a matchup with the Indians on Monday, releasing seven white doves on the mound and selecting only his music for their walk-up songs. 

MORE: Best active MLB players at each jersey number

The final Prince song played during Monday's game was "I Would Die 4 U," selected by Oswaldo Arcia, who connected on a walk-off homer in the bottom of the ninth to seal a 4-3 victory over the Indians. 

The Twins were out-hit 12-5 and allowed Cleveland to tie the game in the eighth, but Arcia changed it all with a swing on the fourth pitch of the ninth inning from Indians right-hander Zach McAllister. 

Player of the day

Miguel Cabrera, Tigers — Miggy went 4 for 4 with two home runs, a double, a single and four RBIs as the Tigers beat the A's 7-3. Cabrera's first long ball of the night ended his streak of 50 at-bats without a home run.

Highlight

Mets newcomer Neil Walker blasted a two-run home run to break a 3-3 tie with the Reds in the seventh inning — his eighth homer of the season. Only Bryce Harper (nine) has more.

Three things to know

Yankees starter Nathan Eovaldi carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning against the Rangers until Nomar Mazara singled to left field. Eovaldi later gave up a double to Prince Fielder. 

Tigers pitcher Jordan Zimmermann became the first starter to begin his tenure with his new team on a scoreless streak of 20 or more innings in 43 years (Fred Norman), according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The A's ended Zimmermann's streak at 24 1/3 innings Monday. 

Angels slugger Albert Pujols connected on his 564th career home run, breaking a tie with Reggie Jackson for sole possession of 13th place on baseball's all-time list. He also hit career homer No. 565 in the fifth inning against the Royals. 

What's next

White Sox (14-6) at Blue Jays (10-11), 7:07 p.m. ET — Chicago southpaw Chris Sale (4-0, 1.80 ERA) will look to become the game’s first five-game winner when the 27-year-old takes on the Jays' R.A. Dickey (1-2, 6.10 ERA).

Cardinals (10-9) at Diamondbacks (11-10), 9:40 p.m. ET — Carlos Martinez (3-0, 2.70 ERA) will toe the rubber for the Cardinals seeking his fourth consecutive start of at least six innings pitched. For the D-backs, Shelby Miller (0-1, 8.59 ERA) will square off against the team that drafted him 19th overall in the 2009 draft, as the right-hander looks for his first quality start of the season.

Joe Rodgers