Dominant Pitching Display
Taj Bradley delivered a masterful performance on the mound, striking out 11 batters while allowing just one earned run over five innings. His outing was the cornerstone of the Minnesota Twins' 8-3 victory over the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on Thursday. Bradley improved his record to 7-3 with the win, showcasing his ability to dominate Houston's lineup through sheer volume of strikeouts despite walking five batters. He surrendered four hits but kept the game manageable for his offense to support.
The Twins' bullpen maintained the lead with precision after Bradley departed. Cody Laweryson worked 0.2 innings, followed by Andrew Morris, who earned the save with 1.1 scoreless frames. Taylor Rogers and Yoendrys Gomez each pitched a perfect inning to close out the contest, combining to allow no hits and no walks in the final two frames. The Twins' pitching staff held Houston to just one run over the final four innings, securing the win.
Early Offense Sets Tone
Minnesota jumped on the board early in the first inning. Josh Larnach drove in two runs with a home run to center field, measuring 452 feet. The blast gave the Twins a 2-0 advantage before Houston could respond. The Astros cut the deficit in the same inning when Alex Bregman grounded into a double play, allowing Jose Altuve to score, but Alvarez was thrown out at second. The score stood at 2-1 after the top of the first.
The Twins' lead expanded significantly in the second inning when Royce Lewis launched a three-run home run to right-center field, traveling 399 feet. Lewis's homer also scored Kyle Garlick and Matt Wallner, pushing the score to 5-1. This offensive surge proved decisive, as Houston failed to mount a sustained rally against Bradley's pitching. The Twins added to their lead in the fifth inning when Larnach singled to center, driving in Garlick and Wallner again to make it 7-1.