Matt Wallner blasts Twins to walk-off win and sweep of Arizona
The Twins had just four hits all game until they erupted with power in the ninth inning, using a solo homer by Max Kepler to tie the game and then walking off the Diamondbacks 5-3 on Matt Wallner's towering two-run homer.
"I was just trying to follow Max in his footsteps. He set the tone there and it's a lot easier to follow when you've got a tie game and a runner on," Wallner said on the Bally Sports North postgame interview.
Christian Walker's solo homer run into the left field bleachers in the ninth inning gave Arizona a 3-2 lead, and the Twins answered with Kepler's homer on the very first pitch of the bottom of the ninth. Kepler's blast was estimated at 438 feet and he now leads the team with 18 homers, including a homer in three straight games.
Jorge Polanco then drew a pinch-hit walk before Wallner unloaded with a 415-foot shot.
Minnesota's bats were quiet most of the day against Arizona ace Zac Gallen, who threw seven innings and allowed just two runs on four hits while striking out eight.
It wasn't until the sixth inning that Minnesota got to Gallen. Willi Castro doubled and then Eddy Julien walked and stole second base, setting the stage for Carlos Correa's two-out, two run single to give the Twins a 2-1 lead.
Arizona came back in the top of the seventh and tied the game off Emilio Pagan, who started the inning by walking Corbin Carroll and later gave up an RBI double to Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
Dallas Keuchel made his first start of the season after spending time as a free agent before signing a minor league contract with the Twins on June 22. He started six games at Triple-A St. Paul and posted a 1.13 ERA before getting a chance to join the big league roster after Joe Ryan was placed on the injured list this past week.
The win coupled with Cleveland's loss to the White Sox has the Twins' lead in the AL Central up to 4.5 games.
Up next: Twins at Tigers, Monday at 5:40 p.m. CT.
