Twins halt skid, end Bosox’ streak
Max Kepler’s RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning gave the Twins a 4-3 victory Thursday over the Red Sox in Minneapolis — stopping a five-game losing streak for Minnesota and breaking a ninegame winning string for Boston.
The Red Sox, who tied it in the eighth on Alex Verdugo’s threerun double, were on their longest winning streak since a 10-game run in 2018, the season they won the World Series.
The Twins avoided matching their longest losing streak in three years under manager Rocco Baldelli, a sixgame slide from July 31-Aug. 5, 2020.
Mariners 4-2, Orioles 2-1
Mitch Haniger became the first Seattle player to homer out of the leadoff spot in both ends of a doubleheader, hitting a tiebreaking drive in the second game that led Seattle to a sweep of host Baltimore.
Haniger’s fifth-inning homer to left-center off Bruce Zimmermann broke a 1-1 tie and gave him four home runs this season.
J.P. Crawford hit a tiebreaking, two-run double in the sixth inning that lifted Seattle to a 4-2 win in the opener.
Braves 7, Marlins 6
Dansby Swanson’s RBI single with the bases loaded capped a two-run rally in the ninth inning, and host Atlanta beat Miami to snap a four-game losing streak. The Braves recovered after blowing a 5-4 lead in the top of the ninth. Garrett Cooper singled to put the Marlins ahead.
Padres SS Tatis Jr. likely to return Friday
Padres manager Jayce Tingler said the team is “optimistic” star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. will be available for Friday’s game against the rival Dodgers after taking batting practice in Pittsburgh on Thursday.
Tatis has been out since suffering a subluxation of his left shoulder during a violent swing April 5, his third reported issue with that shoulder in a span of 23 days.
In game action, Manny Machado hit his third home run of the season and drove in three runs as the Padres jumped on the Pirates early in an 8-3 win.
Arenado gets extra $15M, Cards defer $50M
Nolan Arenado’s contract was amended when the All-Star third baseman was traded to the Cardinals by the Rockies, adding a $15 million salary for 2027 to leave him owed $214 million over seven seasons by St. Louis.
As part of the amended contract, $50 million of that $214 million will be deferred and payable through 2041.