Twins bullpen gives up 6 runs as Rangers avoid 4-game sweep

The Minnesota Twins appeared well on their way to getting within a game of the division lead on Sunday afternoon. Then, the wheels came off and the Texas Rangers scored six runs (five earned) to avoid a four-game sweep, keeping the Twins two games back of Cleveland in the American League Central Division.

The Twins haven’t been within one game of Cleveland since May 13 and were 4.5 games back entering Thursday. But, after taking the first three from the Rangers and getting help from the Milwaukee Brewers, who swept Cleveland, the Twins had that chance on Sunday.

After former Twin Tyler Mahle struck out Willi Castro to start the game, Jose Miranda tripled, Trevor Larnach doubled and Ryan Jeffers homered to make it 3-0 Minnesota while fans were still getting settled.

The top of the order added another run in the third, as singles from Castro, Larnach and Jeffers made it 4-0.

Pablo López, meanwhile, wasn’t at his best but kept putting up zeroes.

He gave up six hits and walked three, striking out just three, but López repeatedly worked out of trouble to toss six scoreless innings on 107 pitches.

Jorge Alcala, who has finally gotten healthy and been one of the Twins’ best relievers this season, took over in the seventh and imploded.

The Rangers went single, RBI double, RBI double, flyout, 2-run home run, strikeout, solo homer off Alcala to go from down 0-4 to up 5-4 before Trevor Richards came in to record the final out. For reference, the five earned runs allowed by Alcala on Sunday equaled the number of runs he’d allowed over his 20 prior outings and raised his season ERA from 2.15 to 3.09.

But that still didn’t sink the Twins, as Carlos Santana came through in the clutch again, tying the game with a solo homer to right to lead off the ninth. Griffin Jax pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to send the game to extra innings, but the Twins wasted their half of the 10th, moving ghost runner Edouard Julien to third on a Castro flyout only for him to be tagged out on a not particularly close play when Miranda hit a grounder to shortstop.

The Rangers didn’t waste their chance, although the Twins helped them again. Jhoan Duran struck out Texas’ leadoff man, keeping the ghost runner at second. He then induced a slow chopper to third where Miranda, throwing off-balance, threw a little wide. Santana briefly caught it and tried a swipe tag to get the runner but the ball ended up coming out of his glove and rolling away, allowing the ghost runner to score and give the Rangers a walk-off win.

Twins now open a three-game series in San Diego on Monday night. Zebby Matthews (1-0, 3.60 ERA) is scheduled to make his second big-league start on Monday night against a yet-to-be-named Padres starter. First pitch is scheduled for 8:40 p.m. (CT).

The Padres have the best record in the majors since the All-Star break. The Twins have the eighth-best record over that same span.