The Twins wasted no time bouncing back from their loss to Boston on Sunday, snapping back into form after their impressive 12-game winning streak was halted.
Woods Richardson, in just his fifth major league start, exhibited dominance on the mound, setting a new career high with eight strikeouts while issuing only one walk. He started strong, striking out five of his initial six batters and maintaining his command through three innings, overshadowing Mariners’ All-Star Luis Castillo. The lone hit he conceded was a leadoff single by Mitch Garver in the third.
Not to be outdone, Castillo, who entered the game with three consecutive wins under his belt, kept the Mariners in contention, yielding three runs across 6 2/3 innings while notching seven strikeouts. His mastery was evident as he held the Twins hitless until the fifth inning.
As the game tightened, Twins closer Jhoan Duran took the mound in the eighth, showcasing his skill by striking out Julio Rodríguez on three pitches, sealing the inning. Caleb Thielbar then sealed the deal with a scoreless ninth, securing his third save of the season.
Looking ahead, RHP Emerson Hancock (3-3, 4.75 ERA) will lead the charge for Seattle in the second game of the series on Tuesday, seeking redemption after conceding five runs in his last outing against Atlanta. Minnesota, on the other hand, will rely on RHP Bailey Ober (3-1, 4.55 ERA), who has been in formidable form, clinching victories in his last three starts for the Twins.
