HOUSTON, TX -- The Minnesota Twins won 3-2 over the Houston Astros on Saturday night with three of the five runs in the game scored in the final frame.

Ervin Santana followed up his strong outing against the Astros earlier in the week with another stellar performance, allowing one run while striking out 11 in eight innings.

Houston's Lance McCullers was just as effective, holding the Twins to only three hits and one run through his seven innings.

With two on and the game tied 1-1 in the top of the ninth, Eddie Rosario hooked a ball down the right field line. Astros right fielder George Springer dived but couldn't come up with it and Rosario strolled into third base for a two-run triple.

Twins interim closer Kevin Jepsen came on in the bottom of the ninth for the save but gave up a solo home run the Houston's Jed Lowrie to make the score 3-2. Jepsen then gave up a single and two walks to load the bases.

With two out and the bases loaded, Astros All Star second baseman Jose Altuve squared up a Jepsen fastball and lined it to center field. Twins rookie Byron Buxton got to the sinking line drive to make a game-ending tumbling catch.

With the win, the Twins improve to 70-65 on the season, 1.5 games out of the final A.L. Wild Card spot.

Minnesota will send Tyler Duffey (2-1) to the mound today for the rubber match against Astros ace Dallas Keuchel (16-6) at 1:10 p.m.

 

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