Victor Caratini’s double down the left field line scored Royce Lewis for the go-ahead run in the bottom of the seventh inning, and the Minnesota Twins notched a 5-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday afternoon in Minneapolis.
Lewis had earlier in the game hit a two-run home run and the Twins held a three-run lead before the Angels rallied to tie. But Minnesota scored two runs in the seventh, starting with a Lewis double, Caratini’s double and Alan Roden’s run-scoring base hit, to take a two-run lead and hold on.
Both of those runs were charged to Angels reliever Mitch Farris (0-1).
The Angels threatened in the top of the ninth against Twins closer Yoendrys Gomez. Mike Trout singled and Nolan Schanuel walked with one out, but Gomez got Jorge Soler to pop out and struck out Vaughn Grissom on a foul tip to end the game.
Gomez picked up his 11th save of the season.
Twins reliever Tommy Nance (2-2) allowed his first run with the team after arriving Friday in a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays. Nance got two outs in the top of the seventh with a runner on base, then Schanuel singled to drive in Zach Neto for a 3-3 tie.
In the top of the third, Soler’s double to left field drove in two runs to cut the Twins’ lead to 3-2. But Minnesota starter Joe Ryan was able to get the next two outs and strand Soler.
Ryan allowed two runs on six hits with six strikeouts and two walks in six innings of work.
Lewis’ two-run home run got the Twins off to an early lead. He drove a pitch from Angels starter Ryan Johnson an estimated 419 feet to the left field upper deck in the top of the second inning.
The home run was the 10th of the season for Lewis.
Johnson gave up three runs and three hits over five innings. He walked three and struck out one.
The game was delayed about 30 minutes for a Twins Hall of Fame induction ceremony on the field at Target Field.
