Twins’ Bats Finally Come Alive to Edge Dodgers 3–2

Twins’ Bats Finally Come Alive to Edge Dodgers 3–2
Edouard Julien of the Minnesota Twins crosses the plate after hitting one of his two home runs against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Minneapolis on April 10, 2024. Abbie Parr/AP Photo
The Associated Press
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MINNEAPOLIS—Edouard Julien homered twice and scored three runs for the Minnesota Twins to spark a lagging lineup and lead a 3–2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday, April 10.

Julien, who entered the afternoon in a 3-for-28 start to the season, led off the first and fifth innings with opposite-field drives into the bleachers in left for his first career multi-homer game.

“I had a good spring training, but it’s different in the regular season. I’ve just got to build on this,” Julien said. “I knew if I just kept hitting the ball hard, I’m going to find holes.”

Alex Vesia (0–1) relieved starter Bobby Miller to start the fifth and took the loss after Julien’s first major-league home run against a left-hander. His career total is 18.

“Those were great swings,” Minnesota Manager Rocco Baldelli said. “Seeing that is really a wonderful sign for us.”

Ending a 0-for-33 team-wide skid with runners in scoring position was just as encouraging for the Twins, who have a major league-worst .184 team batting average. Byron Buxton delivered the streak-stopping RBI single in the third after Julien, a second-year second baseman, started the inning with a single.

“You can call it a relief if you want, but it’s just a moment that I think settles the group down in a lot of ways,” Mr. Baldelli said.

Max Muncy led off the fourth inning with a home run and Teoscar Hernández hit an RBI double for the Dodgers, whose opportunity to tie the game in the sixth was thwarted when Shohei Ohtani—who went 1 for 3 with a walk—was thrown out at the plate to end the inning.

“I don’t think [third-base Coach Dino Ebel] would’ve sent him if it wasn’t Shohei. Just the sheer footspeed,” Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts said. “With two outs, you’ve got to make them make that play.”

Carlos Correa came through for the Twins, as they’ve come to expect.

Freddie Freeman drilled a double down the right-field line that bounced off both walls before Alex Kirilloff snagged it, prompting Ebel to wave Ohtani in from first.

Correa came over from shortstop to take the relay throw in shallow right and fire a perfect strike to catcher Christian Vázquez, who pivoted left to snap a tag on Ohtani’s right leg.

“When the play needs me to let it go, I let it go,“ Correa said. ”I’m always ready.”

Plate umpire Marvin Hudson ruled Ohtani safe, but a replay review overturned the call.

“If it was a little bit higher, he would’ve been safe,” Mr. Roberts said. “It was just a really good baseball play.”

Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani reacts after being tagged out at the plate by Twins catcher Christian Vázquez in Minneapolis on April 10, 2024. (Abbie Parr/AP Photo)
Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani reacts after being tagged out at the plate by Twins catcher Christian Vázquez in Minneapolis on April 10, 2024. Abbie Parr/AP Photo

The Twins secured their first win at Target Field after matching the club’s second-worst home start to a season. While playing at old Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, they began 0–5 in 1962 and 0–4 in 1981.

Steven Okert earned his first career save with a scoreless ninth, capping a stellar performance by an injury-thinned bullpen in relief of starter Chris Paddack. Kody Funderburk (1–0) finished the fifth for Paddack by striking out Muncy with runners at the corners. Griffin Jax struck out the side in the eighth.

The Dodgers’ Chris Taylor, who pinch hit for James Outman and struck out to start the ninth against Okert, is 1 for 27 with 14 strikeouts this season.

Carlos Correa (4) of the Minnesota Twins celebrates his single against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the third inning in Minneapolis on April 10, 2024. (David Berding/Getty Images)
Carlos Correa (4) of the Minnesota Twins celebrates his single against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the third inning in Minneapolis on April 10, 2024. David Berding/Getty Images

Up Next

Dodgers: After an off day, right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto (1–1, 4.09 ERA) starts on Friday night to begin a three-game series against visiting San Diego. Right-hander Michael King (2–0, 3.14 ERA) takes the mound for the Padres.

Twins: Right-hander Pablo López (1–1, 2.84 ERA) pitches on Thursday afternoon to begin a four-game series at Detroit. Lefty Tarik Skubal (1–0, 2.92 ERA) starts for the Tigers.

By Dave Campbell