Zebby Matthews won his major league debut with five strong innings, and the Minnesota Twins hit Seth Lugo hard in a 13-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night.
Matthews (1-0) allowed two runs on five hits with no walks and five strikeouts. Matt Wallner and Jose Miranda led the Twins’ offense, and Max Kepler and Kyle Farmer hit homers off the bullpen.
The Twins kept pace with AL Central leader Cleveland, trailing by 3½ games. Kansas City fell six games back. Minnesota and Kansas City hold the second and third wild-card spots.
Seth Lugo (13-7) had his worst start of the season, allowing nine hits and a career-high-tying eight runs. The Twins had eight of their 15 hits for extra bases in support of Matthews.
Matthews, a 24-year-old right-hander who started the season in Class A, said his first strikeout helped calm his nerves. He has just seven walks and 119 strikeouts in 102 combined innings over four levels this season.
The Twins have won 18 of their last 20 games against the Royals at Target Field, outscoring them 123-56.
Hunter Greene pitched seven strong innings, Jeimer Candelario hit a two-run homer, and the Cincinnati Reds beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-1 on Tuesday night to win the series between NL Central rivals.
Greene (9-4) allowed one run on four hits, striking out eight and walking one. He has won three straight starts and has been dominant in his last few outings.
Candelario’s 19th homer came with two outs in the sixth inning. Spencer Steer and Ty France also drove in runs for the Reds.
Cardinals starter Erick Fedde (8-6) went six innings, giving up four runs and six hits. Nolan Arenado hit a 400-foot homer in the seventh to cut the Reds’ lead to three.
Tony Santillan and Alexis Diaz combined for two scoreless innings to close out the game, with Diaz earning his 24th save.
The Reds won the series opener 6-1 on Monday night.
The MLB scoreboard from Tuesday, August 13, 2024:
Washington 9, Baltimore 3
Cleveland 2, Chicago (NL) 1
Detroit 15, Seattle 1
Miami 5, Philadelphia 0
Houston 3, Tampa Bay 2
Oakland 9, New York (NL) 4
Boston 9, Texas 4
New York (AL) 4, Chicago (AL) 1
Los Angeles (NL) 7, Milwaukee 2
Toronto 6, Los Angeles (AL) 1
Arizona 4, Colorado 3
San Diego 3, Pittsburgh 0
Atlanta 4, San Francisco 3 (10)
