Minnesota Twins vs Los Angeles Angels Match Player Stats On Jun 01, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Jun 2, 2017

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Los Angeles Angels played the percentages Thursday night, and the Minnesota Twins made them pay dearly for it.

Jason Castro singled home two runs in the ninth inning, part of a three-run rally that gave the Twins a 4-2 win over the Angels and snapped Minnesota's four-game losing streak.

The Angels took a 2-1 lead into the ninth on right fielder Kole Calhoun's two solo home runs, including the go-ahead homer in the eighth. But Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia, with a lot of left-handed Minnesota bats coming up, chose to use left-handed reliever Jose Alvarez in the ninth instead of closer Bud Norris, who had converted 10 of 12 save opportunities this season.

Alvarez retired the first batter, but first baseman Jefry Marte misjudged a simple popup by Jorge Polanco and let it fall in for an error. Left-handed-hitting outfielder Eddie Rosario followed with a double to left field to send Polanco to third.

Alvarez intentionally walked right-handed pinch hitter Eduardo Escobar to load the bases and bring up left-handed hitting Castro, one of just two catchers on the Twins roster.

Castro lined a 1-2 pitch into left field to score Polanco and Rosario. The Twins tacked on a run on a bases-loaded walk.

Albert Pujols, who is one home run shy of 600 in his career, went 1-for-4 with a single.

Calhoun's home runs offset one hit by the Twins' Miguel Sano in the second inning against Angels starter Alex Meyer. Calhoun's homers were his first since May 15.

Meyer, just off the 10-day disabled list after recovering from back spasms, was solid through six-plus innings, allowing just the one run on Sano's blast. He gave up five hits on the night, with two walks and four strikeouts on 84 pitches.

Twins starter Adalberto Mejia was just as stout, also allowing just five hits and one run, on Calhoun's first home run. He walked two, had a balk and struck out five in six-plus innings.

Fans who came to the game looking for a notable home run got something just as special: a triple play.

The Angels had two on and no outs in the fourth when Marte hit a one-hopper to third base. Sano caught the hopper, stepped on third for one out and threw to second baseman Brian Dozier, who threw to Joe Mauer at first for the rarity.

It was the first time the Angels had hit into a triple play since July 2004, when they did it against the Chicago White Sox, and the 10th time in franchise history.

The last time the Twins converted a triple play was May 2006 against the Seattle Mariners.

Sano staked the Twins to an early 1-0 lead, clubbing a 1-2 pitch by Meyer into the tall hedges in center field in the second inning. It was his 13th homer of the season.

NOTES: Angels LF Cameron Maybin was placed on the 10-day disabled list retroactive to May 30 with a right side oblique strain. Los Angeles 3B Yunel Escobar (hamstring) came off the DL and returned to the starting lineup. ... Angels RHP Mike Morin and RHP Parker Bridwell were optioned to Salt Lake. RHP Daniel Wright was designated for assignment. ... RHP Cam Bedrosian will make a rehab assignment with the Angels' Class A Inland Empire team Friday and could be activated next week. ... The Twins shuffled bodies in their bullpen, sending RHP Ryan Pressly to Triple-A and designating LHP Jason Wheeler for assignment. RHP Alex Wimmers and LHP Randy Rosario were recalled, Wimmers from Triple-A Rochester and Rosario from Double-A Chattanooga. Rosario transitioned to the bullpen this season and is waiting to make his major league debut. ... Minnesota 3B Miguel Sano returned to the starting lineup after missing two games of the Houston series with an illness.