ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - Miguel Sano's two-run homer in the eighth inning lifted the Minnesota Twins to a 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Monday night.
With Cleveland's 6-4 loss to Oakland, the Twins' lead in the AL Central is back to a season-high 5 1/2 games.
Sano has homered twice in the past three games. He missed the first 41 games due to a right heel laceration before making his season debut last Thursday.
"For me and the team it was pretty good to do that in a tight game," Sano said. "I'm not completely settled in but I have worked hard to get back."
Eddie Rosario singled with one out in the eighth before Sano hit Ty Buttrey's fastball over the wall in right-center. It is the first home run Buttrey (2-2) has allowed in 38 relief appearances over two seasons.
Sano's go-ahead shot came after the Angels tied it in the seventh on Tommy La Stella's two-out single to score Brian Goodwin.
"It was just a good swing. He stayed through the ball well," Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. "He has that kind of power and strength that regardless of where you play him he drives it."
Taylor Rogers (1-0) allowed one hit in 1 2/3 innings and Blake Parker got his eighth save.
11 victories in our past 15 games with 99 runs scored!We’re also 13-3 in games after a loss. #TwinsWin #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/YTncHCSBKP
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) May 21, 2019Minnesota starter Jake Odorizzi allowed three hits and struck out six in six innings. He was trying to become the first Twins' pitcher to win seven consecutive starts since Kyle Gibson won his last six in 2017 and first in 2018.
La Stella had three hits for the Angels, who have dropped three of four to the Twins this season.
Luis Arraez led the Twins' offense with three hits and scored the game's first run in the second when he came home on Ehire Adrianza's fielder choice.
TOUGH INNING
The Angels suffered what could be two significant injuries in the eighth inning. Shohei Ohtani took a ball off his right wrist while swinging at a third strike. Andrelton Simmons then got tripped up at the bag at first while trying to beat out an infield hit and could not put any pressure on his left foot.
UP NEXT
Twins: RHP Michael Pineda (3-3, 5.55 ERA) snapped a five-start winless streak last Thursday at Seattle, allowing three runs over seven innings in an 11-6 victory.
Angels: RHP Trevor Cahill (2-4, 6.95 ERA) has allowed 14 home runs in nine starts, which is tied for most in the majors. He surrendered six runs in 4 1/3 innings in last Wednesday's 8-7 loss at Minnesota.
