Just one night after a 4-3 loss to the Detroit Tigers in 12 innings, the Minnesota Twins returned to the field to host the Los Angeles Angels in a series that will be key for the Twins in their quest to make the playoffs.

The Twins' offense came out of the gates hot in the first inning as they put a five spot on the boardJoe Mauer broke the ice with an RBI single to right field that scored Brian Dozier. After Miguel Sano grounded out and Trevor Plouffe walked, Torii Hunter stepped up to the plate and hit a three-run home run to put the Twins up 4-0. Eddie Rosario then immediately tripled to center field, then scored after Kurt Suzuki doubled. The Angels then made the decision to remove starting pitcher Hector Santiago after just 2/3 of an inning in favor of reliever Mike Morin, who got Eduardo Escobar to strike out to end the inning.

The Angels got right  back in the game in the top of the second inning when David Freese led off the inning with a double, and then scored on a Chris Iannetta single to left field to put the Angels on the board. After Shane Victorino flew out to center field, the Angels strung together three straight singles to left field to load the bases for Kole Calhoun, who drew a walk to force Chris Iannetta to score. Twins manager Paul Molitor would be forced to make a pitching change, removing starting pitcher Tommy Milone in favor of A.J. Achter. Milone lasted just 1.3 innings.

Mike Trout then stepped up to the plate and greeted Achter by hitting a grand slam to right center field, capping off a six-run inning to put the Angels in front by the score of 6-5. 

Los Angeles quickly added to their lead the very next inning in the top of the third as Taylor Featherston hit a home run to left center field to score Victorino and extend the lead to three runs. The Twins responded in the bottom of the inning when Escobar singled to right field to score Torii Hunter.

For the second time of the night, Mike Trout  hit his second home run of the game in the top of the fourth inning, extending the Angels lead to 9-6. Once again, Minnesota responded in the bottom of the inning when Hunter reached base on an error, which allowed Sano to score. That made it a 9-7 game in favor of the Angels.

Los Angeles tacked on another run in the top of the sixth when C.J. Cron singled to right field, which allowed Mike Trout to score and extend the lead to three runs. They continued to stay on the offensive in the seventh when Iannetta hit a home run of his own, this one to left field which boosted the lead to 11-7 in favor of Los Angeles. Aaron Hicks added a solo home run in the eighth for Minnesota, but it was a little too late.

That would be all the scoring, as Los Angeles went on to claim an 11-8 win over the Twins, which is the third straight loss for Minnesota. Minnesota now remains one game back of the Houston Astros for the final Wild Card spot, with the Angels being just two back of Minnesota. The two teams will play again on Friday night when the Twins send Mike Pelfrey to the mound, while the Angels will counter with Andrew Heaney.

Win- Mike Morin (2-1)

Loss- A.J Achter (0-1)

Save- Houston Street (36)

Player Of The Game: Mike Trout (LAA)

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About the author
Stevie Larson
NASCAR Editor, Minnesota sports fan. Contact: [email protected]