SEATTLE — Miguel Sano hit a two-run homer in the first inning and drove in the go-ahead run with an RBI single in the seventh and the Minnesota Twins won their third straight with a 6-5 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Saturday night.
Kevin Jepsen pitched the ninth for his fifth save despite Seattle having the tying run at third base with no outs. Jepsen got a shallow popout from Dae-Ho Lee that was not deep enough to score Shawn O’Malley from third. Seattle then ran itself into a game-ending double play with O’Malley getting caught off third base and Kyle Seager tagged out trying to advance to second.
Sano jolted Seattle starter Wade Miley with a two-run shot into the second deck of left field with two outs in the first, but it was his broken bat grounder through the left side of the infield that scored Eduardo Nunez to give the Twins a 6-5 lead.
Nunez and Joe Mauer both hit their fifth home runs of the season as the Twins won three straight for just the second time this season.
Nori Aoki and Luis Sardinas both his solo home runs for Seattle, but the Mariners were just 3 for 14 with runners in scoring position and left 10 on base.
The biggest miss for Seattle came early when it had bases loaded and no outs in the third inning, only to see Nelson Cruz, Seager and Adam Lind all pop up on the infield to end the scoring threat. Cruz was also unable to get his fly ball deep enough to center field with one out in the sixth inning on the only pitch thrown by Ryan Pressly (2-3) and watched Danny Santana throw out Seth Smith at the plate.
Minnesota had just one hit with a runner in scoring position but it was the one that gave them the lead for good. Nunez led off the seventh with a single off Nick Vincent (2-2). After Mauer walked with one out, Sano rolled a grounder in between Sardinas and Seager and into left field, allowing Nunez to score from second. It was the only run not scored on a home run for the Twins.
Neither starter factored in the decision. Miley allowed three home runs and was lifted after giving up a pair of long balls to start the fifth inning. Minnesota’s Phil Hughes was pulled one out short of qualifying for the decision. Hughes lasted 4 2/3 innings, but left with runners on second and third and two outs in the fifth.
Pregame fireworks
While Cruz struggled during the game, he made a little history during pregame batting practice by hitting a ball completely out of Safeco Field. The team said that Cruz’s shot, which cleared the second deck of seats in left field, was the first ball known to have completely left the stadium.
Trainer’s room
Twins: C Kurt Suzuki left in the third inning with concussion-like symptoms. The team said he passed the concussion testing and is day-to-day. … An MRI on the right knee of 3B Trevor Plouffe revealed a bone bruise but no ligament damage. The Twins plan to sit Plouffe through the weekend and hope he can play Monday in Oakland. Plouffe left in the fourth inning of Friday’s series opener.
Mariners: SS Ketel Marte is progressing quicker than expected recovering from a thumb injury. Marte hit in the cage and took groundballs on before Saturday’s game. If there are no setbacks, Marte is expected to go out on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Tacoma the middle of next week.
Up next
Twins: Rick Nolasco (1-3) tries to bounce back after lasting a season-low 2 2/3 innings in his last start against Kansas City.
Mariners: Taijuan Walker (2-4) starts for Seattle. He lost his last time out despite only giving up one earned run against Oakland.
