Twins Edge Rangers in Close Contest
- Carlos Santana hits a game-winning three-run homer to lead the Minnesota Twins to a 4-3 victory over the Texas Rangers.
- Ryan Jeffers also contributes with a home run in the playoff-contending Twins' win.
- The Twins continue their push for a spot in the postseason with a key victory over the Rangers.
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Minnesota Twins secured a narrow 4-3 victory over the Texas Rangers on Friday night, thanks to a pivotal three-run homer from Carlos Santana. This marked Santana's 17th home run of the season, which came in the fifth inning and helped the Twins extend their lead to 4-1. Ryan Jeffers also contributed to the scoring with a home run, as the Twins improved their record to 69-53, reaching 16 games above .500 for the first time since their impressive 101-win season in 2019. Despite the win, the Twins have struggled recently, losing 15 of their last 20 games following a five-game winning streak in late July. Santana's performance was notable, as he fouled off 11 pitches during his at-bat before ultimately flying out. The Rangers responded with a solo home run from Marcus Semien in the fifth inning, marking his 18th of the season. Wyatt Langford also made an impact with a sacrifice fly and an RBI single, contributing to the Rangers' efforts. Adolis García continued his strong performance for Texas, recording his 16th hit in the last nine games and making a crucial defensive play to rob Royce Lewis of a likely home run. Meanwhile, Twins trainer Nick Paparesta provided an update on Byron Buxton, indicating that his right hip inflammation is likely due to scar tissue from a previous injury. Looking ahead, the Rangers are set to start right-hander Nathan Eovaldi, who is returning from tightness in his right side, while the Twins will send rookie David Festa to the mound for Saturday's matchup.