Twins blast Cubs

(Minneapolis, MN/Minnesota News Network) — The Minnesota Twins beat the Chicago Cubs at Target Field last night, 8-1. The Twins scored two runs in the first inning and then pulled away with six runs in the eighth. Ryan Jeffers, Willi Castro and Harrison Bader all homered in the eighth inning, and starter Simeon Woods Richardson pitched five shutout innings to pick up his fifth win of the season. Chicago’s only run came in the ninth inning after the Twins built up an 8-0 lead. Woods Richardson threw 61 pitches in five innings. He was taken out after facing the potent Cubs lineup two times. The Twins are 4-2 in their last six games and are within three games of 500 at 44-47. They play the Cubs again tonight at 6:40, with David Festa starting for Minnesota against Cade Horton for the Cubs.