Frigid temperatures this weekend prompt cold weather advisories

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

Dylan Bundy said his job was simple once it became obvious that Minnesota's offense was going to have a big day.

Get his teammates back up to the plate as quickly as possible.

The veteran right-hander obliged with eight efficient innings while the Twins built a big advantage early, and Minnesota cruised to an 11-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday night.

“Your defense doesn't want to be sitting out there, especially when they're itching to get back to the bat rack,” Bundy said.

The Twins jumped ahead for a 6-0 lead with their big third inning, highlighted by a mammoth two-out, two-run homer from Gary Sánchez that traveled 456 feet into the left-center seats and left his bat at over 107 mph. It was the two-time All-Star's eighth homer of the season.

Alex Kirilloff — recently called up from Triple-A — added a two-run double. The Twins did ample offensive damage even without star slugger Byron Buxton, who had a scheduled day off.

“We made really good adjustments tonight, quickly,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. “It's nice to see good, quality at-bats, hard-hit balls, stacking on top of each and turning into runs.”

Ryan Jeffers added a two-run homer in the seventh that pushed the score to 11-1. All of the Twins starters had at least one hit.

Bundy (4-3) retired the first 10 hitters he faced before Alek Thomas bounced a single through the middle of the infield.

It was a much-needed good outing for the veteran right-hander, who gave up four hits, struck out seven and walked none. He came into the game with a 5.87 ERA and had given up 13 earned runs over his previous 12 1/3 innings.

Bundy said he tried to keep the same approach throughout the game, even after he was staked to a big lead.

“You just try not to think about it,” Bundy said. “You throw strikes, command the ball and work ahead.”

It was a rough night for D-backs starter Luke Weaver (1-1), who gave up nine earned runs on 10 hits over 3 2/3 innings. He walked one and struck out five.

Weaver was making his first start of the season after two relief appearances. The right-hander missed the first two months of the season with elbow inflammation. He was once viewed as a future cornerstone of the D-backs' rotation, but he hasn't been able to recapture the success he had in 2019 when he had a 2.94 ERA over 12 starts.

D-backs infielder Jake Hager made his third pitching appearance of the season, tossing a scoreless ninth. Arizona scored its lone run when Carson Kelly brought home David Peralta with a sacrifice fly in the fifth.

The two teams play their series finale on Sunday. RHP Merrill Kelly (5-4, 3.68 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Diamondbacks. The Twins will counter with RHP Chris Archer (1-2, 3.35).

Sports

The Associated Press

Author

Gary Sánchez smashed a long two-run homer that capped a six-run third inning, Dylan Bundy threw eight effective innings and the Minnesota Twins beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 11-1.

Sánchez slugs long homer, Twins pound Diamondbacks 11-1

Go Deeper.

Like this?