In their final series of the 2022 season not against an American League West opponent, the Los Angeles Angels took on the Minnesota Twins in Minneapolis. With neither team contending for a playoff spot, the three-game weekend set came with less intrigue, but still saw quality baseball from both sides.
At the plate, the Angels managed 18 runs over the course of the three games. Shohei Ohtani got hits in all three contests, extending an ongoing hit streak to 11 games. Mike Trout went 5-for-11 with two walks and four RBIs, hitting a home run in the finale.
Meanwhile, the Angels got solid pitching performances from Ohtani and Jose Suarez, while Reid Detmers faltered in his start on Saturday. In total, the Twins scored 13 runs over the three games, with eight coming against Detmers and company in the middle outing.
Now the Angels return home with just three series’ remaining in their season. Below, we’ll break down how L.A. took two of three on the road against the Twins.
Game 1: Angels def. Twins 4-2
Ohtani was far from perfect in the series opener. He threw 100 pitches over just 5.0 innings, giving up two earned runs on three hits. He also walked six batters while striking out seven. It was the first time since early last season that walks became a major issue.
The Angels two-way star walked the bases loaded in the first inning, allowing a run to score on a double play. But despite the walk issues, he took a no-hitter into the fifth inning, and ultimately exited the game with the Angels holding a lead.
Taylor Ward was the offensive hero in this game, homering twice to give the Angels two of their four runs. Trout and Ohtani provided RBI singles, with Ohtani’s coming in the eighth inning as insurance. Ryan Tepera recorded the final three outs to secure the save.
Game 2: Twins def. Angels 8-4
Detmers closed out a difficult September by allowing five runs — four earned — on eight hits in just 4.0 innings. He gave up three runs in the first two innings, as Gio Urshela, Gary Sanchez, and Carlos Correa all nabbed RBIs.
Trout and Ohtani helped the Angels climb back into the game, tying it at three with back-to-back RBI hits. But in the fifth inning, Sanchez once again did damage, hitting a three-run home run off of Mike Mayers to put the game out of reach for L.A.
The Twins bullpen was incredible as well, allowing just one run on three hits and one walk over five innings, with nearly all of that coming in the ninth off of Jhoan Duran.
Game 3: Angels def. Twins 10-3
The offense truly came to life for the Angels in the series finale. The Halos got to Dylan Bundy early, scratching across two runs in the first inning, then tacking on a third with a Trout home run just two frames later. Bundy allowed four runs on seven hits and two walks in 3.1 innings against his former team.
Meanwhile, Suarez had himself yet another solid start. While he did give up eight hits, he limited run-scoring to just two while striking out six batters. And in the ninth inning, the Angels put the game away with a five-run inning.
Ohtani, Max Stassi, and Livan Soto all recorded RBIs, with Trout, Ohtani, Stassi, Matt Thaiss, and Mickey Moniak getting to round the bases to go from a 5-3 advantage to 10-3.
The Angels now return to their home stadium for a three-game set against the Oakland Athletics.
