Overview
- The Twins beat the Rangers 4-2 in Arlington Monday after Josh Bell pulled a three-run homer in the first inning and Byron Buxton added a solo shot in the sixth.
- Byron Buxton continued a hot stretch that has him among MLB home-run leaders with 23 long balls and earned recent recognition as the American League Player of the Week.
- Rookie spot starter Mike Paredes delivered 4 2/3 innings with two runs allowed, two strikeouts and no walks in his second major-league start, helping limit the game to a bullpen decision.
- Relievers Taylor Rogers, Andrew Morris and Eric Orze combined to retire nine of 10 batters before Yoendrys Gomez closed out the game for his seventh save.
- The win highlights the Twins’ reliance on home runs and bullpen support while underscoring a season-long worry about starting pitching, which has a higher team ERA and has surrendered many recent earned runs.