Twins avoid sweep, maintain slim wild card lead with 9-2 win over Reds

Behind solid pitching and an opportunistic offense, the Minnesota Twins got a 9-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday, avoiding a sweep and maintaining a narrow lead in the race for the final American League wild card spot.

Rookie Brooks Lee had five RBI and four Twins pitchers — each of whom tossed more than one inning — highlighted the win. However, the Detroit Tigers also won Sunday, meaning the Twins remain just 2.5 games ahead for the third and final wild card spot. The club is also 2.5 behind Kansas City, which lost on Sunday.

Rookie starter David Festa failed to complete four innings for the third time in his past seven starts but held the Reds to two runs on three hits, three walks and a hit batter.

But Ronny Henriquez came out of the bullpen and stranded the bases loaded to keep it a 2-0 game.

Willi Castro singled in Carlos Santana to make it 2-1 in the fourth, but the Twins offense mostly struggled against Reds starter Rhett Lowder. However, they got two on early in the sixth, getting the Reds to turn to their bullpen, and the gates opened from there.

Ryan Jeffers doubled in one run before Lee singled home a pair to give the Twins their first lead. Santana homered in the seventh to add some cushion and, after Minnesota loaded the bases later in the inning, Lee tripled to make it 9-2.

Cole Sands and Jorge Alcala each tossed two scoreless innings down the stretch for the Twins, striking out seven total while allowing just three baserunners.

The Twins now head into a huge week with four in Cleveland followed by three at Boston, which is 4.5 games back of Minnesota.

Pablo López (15-8, 3.88 ERA) is slated to start Monday against the Guardians and lefty Matthew Boyd (2-1, 2.18 ERA). First pitch is set for 5:40 p.m.