Rosario's 2-Run Triple In 9th Lifts Twins Past Astros, 3-2
HOUSTON (AP) — Eddie Rosario hit a tiebreaking two-run triple in the ninth inning and the Minnesota Twins held on for a 3-2 victory over the Houston Astros on Saturday night.
Ervin Santana (4-4) gave up just one run and six hits over eight innings to help the Twins bounce back after an 8-0 loss in the series opener the previous night. Santana walked two and struck out 11.
With the score tied 1-1, Brian Dozier singled off Houston closer Luke Gregerson (7-3) to open the ninth, and moved to second on Joe Mauer's grounder. Trevor Plouffe was hit by a pitch with two outs, and Rosario followed with his hit to right field that a diving George Springer got a glove on but couldn't hold.
Kevin Jepsen gave up a leadoff homer to Jed Lowrie in the bottom of the ninth but finished up for his 11th save.
Houston's Lance McCullers took a no-hitter into the sixth inning before Brian Buxton opened the inning with a double. Buxton moved to third on an infield single and tied the score at 1-1 on a double-play grounder by Dozier.
McCullers gave up the run and three hits with two walks and eight strikeouts in seven innings.
The Astros took the lead in the fifth inning as Marwin Gonzalez singled with one out and scored on Preston Tucker's double.
GENE ELSTON
The Astros announced that Gene Elston, a longtime radio and television broadcaster who voiced the team's inaugural season in 1962 — when they were the Colt .45s — has died aged 93. A moment of silence was held during the game.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Twins: Closer Glen Perkins is still dealing with back spasms and has not shown any significant improvement.
Astros: C Jason Castro, on the 15-day DL with a strained quad, will increase his mobility and agility work. ... RHP Scott Feldman, who left his start on Sept. 1 with right shoulder discomfort, will throw the ball for the next couple of days to assess his pain level and hopes to miss only one start.
UP NEXT
Twins: RHP Tyler Duffey (2-1, 4.56 ERA) goes Sunday in the final game of the three-game series. The Houston-born Rice University product gave up three runs in 4 2/3 innings in an 8-6 win over the Chicago White Sox on Sept. 1.
Astros: LHP Dallas Keuchel (16-6, 2.24 ERA) makes his 28th start of the season.
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