Trevor Larnach powered the Minnesota Twins with a home run, a double, and four RBI, while Byron Buxton added a homer and a triple to drive in three as the Twins cruised to an 11-4 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night.
Mickey Gasper also contributed, going 2 for 2 with a double and two RBI, as Minnesota claimed its third win in the past four games.
Making his first appearance since April 8 after recovering from a hamstring injury, Twins starter Pablo López (2-1) tossed five solid innings. He allowed two runs on five hits, struck out six, and walked two.
Mike Trout and Logan O’Hoppe each homered for the Angels, who have dropped three of their last four games.
Kyle Hendricks (0-3) struggled on the mound, surrendering seven runs on just three hits over three-plus innings. He issued five walks, hit two batters, and struck out three.
Minnesota opened the scoring in the first without a hit. Hendricks hit a batter and walked two others to load the bases, and Carlos Correa’s sacrifice fly brought in the game’s first run.
Jo Adell tied the game for the Angels in the second with an RBI single, but Buxton responded with a solo homer to the second deck in left in the third, giving the Twins a lead they would not relinquish.
Key Moment
The game broke wide open in the fourth inning. Hendricks allowed a single and three walks to start the frame, prompting a pitching change. Carl Edwards Jr. entered in relief, but let a Buxton sacrifice fly and Gasper’s RBI single before Larnach crushed a three-run shot to right-center, making it 8-1.
Key Stat
Larnach has three home runs and eight RBI over his last four games.
Up Next
The Angels send lefty Yusei Kikuchi (0-3, 3.38 ERA) to the mound Saturday to face Twins right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson (1-2, 4.74 ERA) in the second game of the series.