Streaky Twins sweep A's behind Royce Lewis's power, Austin Martin's amazing catch

Lewis has seven homers in 12 games this season.

Jun 16, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Twins third baseman Royce Lewis (23) celebrates his three-run home run with shortstop Carlos Correa (4) against the Oakland Athletics in the first inning of game two of a double header at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports | Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Austin Martin robbed a home run for a catch-of-the-year nominee and Royce Lewis continued his torrid power streak at the plate as the Minnesota Twins beat the Oakland Athletic's 8-7 to sweep a split doubleheader Sunday night at Target Field.

Lewis, who homered in the first game of the day, slugged a 427-foot homer in his first at-bat of the nightcap to give the Twins a 2-0 lead in the first inning. He's slashing .390/.447/.951 with seven homers in just 12 games this season.

Yordan Alvarez and Ryan Braun are the only hitters in MLB history with more homers and a higher batting average than Royce Lewis through 82 career games.pic.twitter.com/2ryqXyz1Fm

— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) June 17, 2024

Martin's catch came in the second inning as reached his glove over the wall to rob A's catcher Shea Langeliers of a two-run homer.

Oh my, that's a full-on home run robbery going up and over the center field wall by Austin Martin.

Crazy play. pic.twitter.com/jmf2wJbhoB

— Do-Hyoung Park (@dohyoungpark) June 17, 2024

Trevor Larnach's three-run blast put the Twins up 5-3 in the second inning and Martin ripped a run-scoring double for a 6-5 Twins lead in the third. Carlos Correa's RBI single in the sixth made it 7-5 Minnesota only for the A's to tie the game in the seventh. That set the stage for Jose Miranda's go-ahead, game-deciding solo homer in the eighth.

Jose Miranda gives the @Twins the lead in the 8th with a solo shot! pic.twitter.com/fHAd30ZMtF

— MLB (@MLB) June 17, 2024

Minnesota has been the definition of streaky in 2024. They started 7-13 and then won 12 straight games and 17 of 20 overall, only to lose seven in a row and then respond with nine wins in their next 12 games. That led to them to a five-game losing streak and now they've rattled off five straight wins and seven of eight overall.

The result of the rollercoaster ride is a 40-32 record, good for third place in the AL Central Division. They trail the second-place Royals (41-32) by a half-game and they're five-and-a-half games behind the first-place Guardians (44-25)