2021/05/04 11:07 Minnesota Twins pitcher Kenta Maeda of Japan throws against the Texas Rangers in the first inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 3, 2021, in Minneap. Minnesota Twins pitcher Kenta Maeda of Japan throws against the Texas Rangers in the first inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 3, 2021, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) \ Minnesota Twins Byron Buxton, right, beats the throw to Texas Rangers second baseman Nick Solak, left, as he steals second base in the sixth inning o. Minnesota Twins Byron Buxton, right, beats the throw to Texas Rangers second baseman Nick Solak, left, as he steals second base in the sixth inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 3, 2021, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
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The Twins search for the old Kenta Maeda came to the right place: 60 feet, 6 inches from Texas Rangers hitters.
Maeda, whose strikeout rate fell to a career low in April, rediscovered his third-strike talent against the whiffingest team in the west on Monday, and rode those swings-and-misses to his first win in nearly a month, 6-5 over Texas at chilly Target Field.
OK, if not for some shoddy defense by the Rangers outfield, it might not have mattered, not after the Twins bullpen surrendered five runs in the final two innings. But after losing six of their first eight one-run games in relentlessly painful style, maybe the Twins were due for just enough luck to be on their side.
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Twins 6, Rangers 5: Playing with Fire
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There’s something to be said for winning games that you
should. The Twins did just that today. Some sloppy baseball by Texas gave the Twins opportunities to score some runs, and the home team took advantage.
Kenta Maeda was far from his sharpest today, but got better as the game went along to turn in his best performance of the young season. In 5.1 innings, Maeda gave up 2 hits and 2 walks, but held the Rangers to 0 runs and blew away 8 Texas “hitters”. He was able to boogie out of a couple jams, stranding 2 runners in both the 2nd and 3rd innings.