Trevor Larnach hit a two-run homer and Joe Ryan tossed six innings of one-run ball as the Minnesota Twins held on for their seventh straight win, 2-1 over the San Francisco Giants on Saturday in Minneapolis.
Larnach and Harrison Bader doubled for the only other extra-base hits for Minnesota, which climbed to .500 for the first time this season.
Heliot Ramos went 3-for-3 with a double and a home run to lead San Francisco. Christian Koss singled for the Giants’ only other hit.
Ryan (3-2) gave up just two hits, struck out seven, walked none and threw 48 of 76 pitches for strikes.
Giants right-hander Logan Webb (4-3) took the hard-luck loss, giving up two runs on five hits in seven innings. He struck out nine and walked one.
Twins closer Jhoan Duran picked up his seventh save. He pitched around Koss’ leadoff bunt single by getting Mike Yastrzemski to ground into a double play in the next at-bat and striking out Willy Adames to end the game.
The Giants jumped to a 1-0 lead in the second. Ramos belted a two-out, 1-2 fastball 387 feet to right-center field for his sixth homer of the season.
The Twins responded to grab a 2-1 lead in the third. Christian Vazquez drew a leadoff walk, and Larnach delivered two batters later with a two-run shot to right on a first-pitch sweeper.
The 380-foot blast marked Larnach’s sixth homer of the season and his second in the past three games. He ranks second on the team in home runs behind Byron Buxton, who has nine.
Twins manager Rocco Baldelli was ejected after arguing balls and strikes in the sixth. Baldelli gave home plate umpire Adrian Johnson an earful before walking down the dugout steps and whipping his hat back onto the field.
Minnesota will go for its second straight sweep on Sunday afternoon.
–Field Level Media
