Jose Miranda hits an early 3-run double to propel Twins past Diamondbacks 8-3

Willi Castro hit a two-run homer, Trevor Lamach doubled twice and one of baseball’s best offenses yielded 14 hits, including eight for extra bases, to bounce back from a 5-4 loss in the series opener.

“It was a really good offensive day,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. “Every segment of the lineup was productive, had hard-hit balls. We really took some of the ideas we had discussed before the game into the game and it came together nicely.”

It was more than enough for Woods Richardson (3-1), who allowed three runs on four hits and struck out four with two walks in 5 1/3 innings.

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. had two RBIs for Arizona, which had four hits.

“It looked like we couldn’t get out of the gate today in a lot of different ways,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “It happens in baseball. Their pitcher mixed speeds, had a good changeup, some secondary stuff and good life on his fastball, which kept us in control.”

Woods Richardson kept the Diamondbacks off balance until he gave up Gurriel’s run-scoring triple in the fourth inning and Christian Walker chased him with a one-out double from the centerfield wall in the sixth. Ketel Marte then scored on a wild pitch by Josh Staumont — his first pitch of the game — and Gurriel pulled Arizona within 8-3 with a sacrifice fly.

“When the hitters are doing their job, it kind of gives you peace of mind and ease with your job and you just go out there and pitch,” Woods Richardson said.

Nelson was sharp in his previous two starts, winning both while allowing three earned runs in 13 innings.

Miranda drove in that many with one swing in the second inning, hitting a ball in left-center against the wall to put the Twins up 3-0. Nelson gave up a sacrifice fly to Byron Buxton in the third inning, then consecutive run-scoring doubles by Lamach and Carlos Correa in the fourth inning gave the Twins a 6-0 lead.

Nelson allowed six runs on ten hits in 3 2/3 innings, with three strikeouts and two hits.

“Nelly just never got into a rhythm,” Lovullo said. “They jumped on him early with those three runs, he made mistakes and they were ready to hit. This is a team where you have to be precise in a lot of ways and today we weren’t.”

RHP David Festa, Minnesota’s top pitching prospect, will pitch Thursday’s series finale after RHP Chris Paddack went on the injured list with right arm fatigue. LHP Jordan Montgomery (6-4, 5.71 ERA) pitches for Arizona.

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