Minnesota Twins End Slide, Correa Throws Out Ohtani

MINNEAPOLIS -- — Edouard Julien homered twice and scored three runs for the Minnesota Twins to spark a lagging lineup and lead a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday.

“I had a good spring training, but it’s different in the regular season. I’ve just got to build on this," Julien said. “I knew if I just kept hitting the ball hard, I’m going to find holes.”

Alex Vesia (0-1) relieved starter Bobby Miller to start the fifth and took the loss after Julien's first major league home run — his career total is 18 — against a left-hander.

“Those were great swings,” manager Rocco Baldelli said. “Seeing that is really a wonderful sign for us.”

Ending an 0-for-33 team-wide skid with runners in scoring position was just as encouraging for the Twins, who have an MLB-worst .184 batting average. Byron Buxton delivered the streak-stopping RBI single in the third after Julien, the second-year second baseman, started the inning with a single.

Carlos Correa came through for the Twins, as they've come to expect.

Freddie Freeman drilled a double down the right field line that bounced off both walls before Alex Kirilloff snagged it, prompting third base coach Dino Ebel to wave Ohtani in from first. Correa came over from shortstop to take the relay throw in shallow right and fire a perfect strike to catcher Christian Vázquez, who pivoted left to snap a tag on Ohtani's right leg.

“When the play needs me to let it go, I let it go," Correa said. "I’m always ready.”

Home plate umpire Marvin Hudson initially ruled him safe, but the call was overturned by replay review. The Twins secured their first win at Target Field after matching the club's second-worst home start in a season. They began 0-5 in 1962 and 0-4 in 1981 at Metropolitan Stadium.

RHP Pablo López (1-1, 2.84 ERA) pitches on Thursday afternoon to begin a four-game series at Detroit.

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