Jose Berrios got his first win against Dallas Keuchel on Tuesday, snapping the reigning AL Cy Young winner’s 17-game home winning streak .
“It’s awesome when you walk off with your team ahead,” Berrios told the Pioneer Press. “I was so happy.”
Houston scored first on a Preston Tucker home run in the second inning, but Keuchel began to struggle in the fourth inning and was chased in the fifth.
Brian Dozier was awarded a single on a chopper after review, and Miguel Sano and Byung Ho Park both walked to load the bases.
Eduardo Escobar singled and Eddie Rosario hit a sacrifice fly to put the team up 2-1, and then John Ryan Murphy and Eduardo Nunez walked, making it 3-1.
Park hit a two-run triple in the fifth, ending Keuchel’s night with 97 pitches thrown, 51 for strikes.
“I have to rely on attacking the zone early,” Keuchel told the Associated Press, “establishing the strike zone and making sure guys know I’m on the plate and they can’t rely on the umpire to call balls.”
Murphy was ejected in the fifth inning for questioning balls and strikes by turning around and questioning umpire Jerry Layne’s strike zone. By then the Twins had a formidable lead.
“I think that shows quite a bit of character on his end that he was able to control his emotions, regardless of the strike zone, and continue to make great, quality pitches,” Murphy told the Pioneer Press when asked about Berrios. “With his stuff and his character, the opportunity for him is through the roof. It’s endless.”
[Star Tribune, Pioneer Press, Associated Press]
