Twins Give Up 6 Runs in Seventh Inning, Fall to Reds 8-4

A Seventh Inning to Forget

The Minnesota Twins saw their four-game winning streak snapped on Thursday night, as they fell to the Cincinnati Reds 8-4. The Twins gave up six runs in the seventh inning, including a three-run homer by Reds outfielder TJ Friedl. The loss drops the Twins to 21-27 on the season, while the Reds improve to 19-29.

Defensive Lapses Prove Costly

The Twins' bullpen had been solid in recent games, but they struggled in the seventh inning on Thursday. Jorge Alcala allowed two singles to start the inning, and then Friedl hit a 1-2 curveball over the wall in right field to give the Reds a 5-4 lead. The Reds would go on to score three more runs in the inning, chasing Alcala from the game.

The Twins had a chance to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh, but they stranded two runners on base. Gilberto Celestino led off the inning with a single, and Nick Gordon followed with a double. However, the Twins couldn't get the big hit they needed, and they went down in order in the eighth and ninth innings.

The Twins will look to bounce back on Friday night when they open a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs. Sonny Gray will start for the Twins, while Kyle Hendricks will start for the Cubs.