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Bell's Three-Run Homer Leads Twins Past Rangers 4-2

Josh Bell's first-inning blast gave Minnesota an early lead that held up as they defeated Texas 4-2 at Globe Life Field on Tuesday.

Brooks Avery

June 16, 20262 min read

MLBFinal
Minnesota Twins4
Texas Rangers2

June 16, 2026

Bell's Early Power Surge

Josh Bell provided the decisive offensive punch for the Minnesota Twins, launching a three-run home run in the first inning to set the tone for Tuesday’s contest. Bell’s shot traveled 376 feet to left field, driving in runs for Martin and Lewis to give the visiting team an immediate 3-0 advantage. This early surge proved critical, as it established a margin the Twins would maintain throughout the afternoon.

The Rangers responded in the third inning when Pederson connected on a 394-foot homer to right field. The blast cut the deficit, bringing Díaz home to make the score 3-2. However, the Twins regained control in the sixth inning when Byron Buxton added his 23rd home run of the season. Buxton’s 398-foot shot to left center extended Minnesota’s lead to 4-2, a scoreline that would persist until the final out.

Gore’s Strong Start Falls Short

Texas Rangers starter MacKenzie Gore delivered a dominant performance on the mound, striking out 10 batters over seven innings. Despite his impressive outing, Gore was charged with four earned runs on four hits and two walks. The loss dropped his record to 4-6 on the season. He was relieved by Peyton Gray, who pitched a scoreless inning with one strikeout, and Joe Ross, who also retired the side in order without allowing a hit or strikeout.

Twins Pitching Holds Firm

Minnesota’s bullpen preserved the win with efficient work. Mike Paredes took the mound for the first 4.2 innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits while striking out two batters without issuing a walk. Taylor Rogers earned the win, pitching 0.1 innings with one strikeout. Andrew Morris recorded the save with one inning of work and two strikeouts, followed by Eric Orze, who pitched 1.2 scoreless innings with one strikeout. Yoendrys Gomez closed the game, earning his seventh save of the season by retiring the side in the ninth with one strikeout.

Final Notes

The game was played at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, before a crowd of 25,957 spectators. The victory improved the Twins’ record to 34-40, while the Rangers fell to 35-37. Three home runs were hit in total during the game, with Bell and Buxton accounting for four of the five runs scored by their respective teams.

Sources

https://www.espn.com/mlb/game/_/gameId/401815769

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Brooks Avery

Brooks Avery covers Sherman sports, from high school teams to Austin College athletics.

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