Twins jump to big lead and cruise past D-backs

Jose Miranda hit a three-run double and Willi Castro hit a two-run homer to lead the Minnesota Twins to an 8-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night in Phoenix.

Miranda, Carlos Correa and Carlos Santana each had three hits, while Minnesota totaled 14, including seven doubles, on the night of the three-game series. Castro and Trevor Larnach each had two hits as the Twins won for the 11th time in their past 16 games.

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. had two RBIs for Arizona, which allowed just four hits while falling to 9-6 over its last 15 games.

Minnesota’s Simeon Woods Richardson (3-1) was charged with three runs and four hits in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out four and walked two.

Minnesota relievers Josh Staumont, Steven Okert, Jhoan Duran and Ronny Henriquez combined to throw 3 2/3 perfect innings.

Arizona’s Ryne Nelson (5-6) struggled mightily, giving up six runs and 10 hits – including five doubles – in 3 2/3 innings. He struck out three and walked none.

The Twins loaded the bases against Nelson in the second inning when Correa and Santana singled and Buxton was hit by a pitch. Miranda stepped up and ripped a 2-1 cutter into the left-center field gap to clear the bases.

Buxton’s sacrifice fly to center in the third made it 4-0. The Twins scored twice in the fourth on back-to-back doubles by Castro and Larnach and Correa’s two-double.

Arizona scored in the bottom half of the inning when Woods Richardson hit Joc Pederson with a pitch to start the frame. Pederson scored on a one-out triple by Gurriel.

In the top of the fifth, Miranda doubled with one out against Scott McGough, who then struckout Christian Vazquez before being pulled. Castro jumped over Brandon Hughes’ first pitch and hit his fastball 450 feet to the left field seats, giving Minnesota an 8-1 lead.

Woods Richardson walked Marte to start the sixth inning and allowed a one-out double to Christian Walker before being pulled. Staumont came in and threw a wild pitch for one Arizona run and allowed a sacrifice fly to Gurriel for another.

–Field-level media