Twins

7/14: Critical Error Boosts Potent Astros Offense in 10-5 Win Over Twins

The Minnesota Twins fell to the Houston Astros 10-5 on Friday night in the first game of the three-game series. The Twins started the scoring when Brian Dozier hit a leadoff home run, but the Astros took control with an eight-run second inning against Twins starter Jose Berrios, as the 23-year-old righty struggled in his 12th start of the season.

“It’s part of the game,” Berrios told the St. Paul Pioneer Press. “It happens. Just like I’m human back there. It’s also up to me because I could have made some adjustments after the error.”

BOX SCORE

“They were ahead in most of the counts, and that’s how they were able to get me early,” Berrios told the Pioneer Press.

In the second inning, shortstop Jorge Polanco made a costly error that cost the Twins a chance to get out of a tough inning. The Astros scored eight runs after the error and Polanco could not believe the game was getting away from his team.

“I think I went too fast,” Polanco told the Pioneer Press. “I think I could’ve waited a little bit more. It wasn’t hit soft.”

Berrios was working on seven days of rest, and struggled with his command on his pitches.

“I was opening too early,” Berrios told the Pioneer Press. “I talked to pitching coach Neil Allen, I talked to Ervin Santana about it. I tried to make an adjustment and just use more of my legs toward the end, but I couldn’t make the adjustment soon enough.”

Brian McCann added a three-run-homer off reliever Phil Hughes, and Marwin Gonzalez added a solo home run against Hughes as well.

“It happens quickly,” Twins manager Paul Molitor told the Pioneer Press. “Instead of concentrating on getting the right hop, you get a little collision course with the baseball.”

The Twins lost to the Astros for the ninth time in their last 10 meetings. During this span, the Astros have outscored the Twins, 105-46.

The Twins look to rebound against the Astros on Saturday in the second game of the three-game-series.

Scott Jordahl

[Pioneer Press]


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