Twins, Buxton Split Series With Shutout Win Over Mariners

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Byron Buxton and Luis Arraez each had three hits and Dylan Bundy earned his first win in a Twins uniform as Minnesota won its series finale against the Seattle Mariners 4-0 on Monday night.

The Twins, who hit six home runs Sunday, entered the day leading the majors with nine. Minnesota didn’t go deep for the first time all season but scored enough runs anyway as it split the four-game series.

“That was great because we know we have a really good team,” Arraez said. “We just go out there and hit the ball and play baseball.”

After Jorge Polanco doubled in Buxton for the first run in the first inning, the Twins scored on three straight singles in the fifth. Arraez, Polanco, and Gio Urshela all picked up RBI singles as Minnesota built a 4-0 lead.

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That was enough run support for Bundy, who tossed five scoreless innings to win his Twins debut. The right-hander allowed just one hit, a two-out double in the second. He struck out two and walked one in 67 pitches.

Chris Flexen (0-1) took the loss in his season debut. The righty allowed three runs on five hits and was lifted after 4 1/3 innings. Flexen is coming off a 14-win season in his first year with Seattle after spending the 2020 season pitching in Korea.

Twins reliever Jhoan Duran pitched a scoreless ninth inning and repeatedly hit 100 mph on the Target Field radar gun. His fastest pitch was clocked at 102 mph.

“I haven’t seen 102 too many times,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. “I know guys throw hard these days, but that’s some next-level stuff.”

New Twins shortstop Carlos Correa, signed in late March, was honored pregame with not one but two awards for his defense last season with the Houston Astros. He received his first Rawlings Gold Glove as the top defensive shortstop in the American League in 2021. In addition, he won the Platinum Glove as the top Gold Glove winner at any spot in the AL — as decided on by a combination of fan votes and sabermetrics. Correa received both trophies in an on-field presentation.

Tuesday the Twins welcome the Los Angeles Dodgers to Target Field. RHP Chris Archer will start his first game with the Twins as Minnesota. Early game today with the first pitch at 12:10 PM on ESPN 102.3/AM 1000 KSOO.

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Filed Under: Byron Buxton, Los Angeles Dodgers, Mariners, Minnesota Twins, MLB, Seattle, Target Field

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