Buxton, Kepler lead Twins to weekend sweep over Rangers
With a boost from Byron Buxton and Max Kepler, the Minnesota Twins picked up a weekend sweep over the Texas Rangers with a 4-2 victory on Sunday afternoon.
Buxton has picked up where he left off after winning the American League Player of the Month Award in April. After going 1-for-4 in Saturday's game, Buxton started Sunday's game off on the right foot with a two-run homer in the first inning.
YUP, BUCK IS BACK!! 💣@Twins | #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/u1hT685tHM
— Bally Sports North (@BallySportsNOR) June 20, 2021
The Twins extended their lead in the fourth when Kepler delivered a two-RBI double in the top of the third, giving Minnesota a 4-0 advantage.
Sweet swing, Max Kepler. @Twins | #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/mzdHmLxbS9
— Bally Sports North (@BallySportsNOR) June 20, 2021
While Kepler and Buxton were doing their job at the plate, Kenta Maeda was doing his on the mound. The right-hander delivered five shutout innings before allowing back-to-back home runs to Aoldis GarcÃa and Joey Gallo in the bottom of the sixth to bring the lead down to 4-2.
But the Twins had a quiet afternoon from their bullpen with Tyler Duffey, Jorge Alcala and Hansel Robles holding the Rangers to one hit over the final 3.2 innings. With Robles slamming the door in the ninth, the Twins earned the sweep in Arlington.
The Twins will head home for the opener of a two-game series with the Cincinnati Reds on Monday. Minnesota will send J.A. Happ to the mound against Tyler Mahle with first pitch scheduled for 7:10 p.m. at Target Field.
