Jeffers, Kepler, Polanco homer to lead Twins to 9-3 win over Angels
Ryan Jeffers homered, tripled and drove in three runs to back a strong outing by Joe Ryan on Sunday as the Minnesota Twins pulled away late for a 9-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels.
After a 50-minute rain delay, Jeffers and Max Kepler each hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning to help the Twins expand a one-run lead.
Jorge Polanco also went deep, Matt Wallner reached base four times and scored twice, and Trevor Larnach had two RBIs as Minnesota posted its first victory since clinching the AL Central title by beating the Angels on Friday night.
Brandon Drury drove in two runs and Zach Neto had two hits and an RBI for the Angels, who have lost nine of 11.
Los Angeles reliever Carson Fulmer (0-1), making his first major league appearance since 2021, allowed three runs over four innings to take the loss.
Ryan (11-10) tied Pablo López for the team lead in wins. He pitched six innings, giving up three runs on seven hits with no walks and 10 strikeouts — one shy of his career high. It was the sixth time Ryan struck out 10 batters this seasons.
Drury's two-run double put the Angels on top 2-1 in the third, but Polanco tied it in the bottom half with his 14th homer of the seasons
RAIN DELAY
The game was paused due to showers that began at the end of the sixth inning. During the break, the videoboard aired the last five minutes of the Vikings-Chargers NFL game being played on the opposite side of downtown Minneapolis.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: LHP Tyler Anderson (left knee) was placed on the 15-day injured list, while 1B C.J. Cron (lower back) went on the 10-day IL. Both moves were retroactive to Sept. 21. They were replaced on the big league roster by Fulmer and infielder Mike Moustakas.
Twins: RHP Chris Paddack was reinstated from the 60-day injured list. Paddack is returning from Tommy John surgery that ended his 2022 season after just five starts. In a corresponding move, RHP Josh Winder was optioned to Triple-A St. Paul.
UP NEXT
Angels: LHP Patrick Sandoval (7-2, 4.19 ERA) takes the mound Monday night as the Angels open a three-game home series against the first-place Rangers.
Twins: RHP Kenta Maeda (6-7, 4.28) gets the nod Tuesday night as the Twins begin their final home series of the year, a three-game set against the A's.
