Astros fall 6-3 to Twins May 18

The Minnesota Twins beat the Houston Astros 6-3 on Monday, May 18, at Target Field, handing Houston another loss in a game that turned on Minnesota's middle-inning damage. Josh Bell hit two home runs and drove in four runs, and the Twins added three more in the sixth inning to build a 6-0 lead before Houston scored all of its runs in the seventh. Ryan Jeffers also left the game in the eighth inning with a sprained left wrist, according to MLB.com, adding an injury note to a Minnesota win that opened the three-game series. Jeffers will be examined further on Tuesday, MLB.com reported. ### How did Minnesota build the 6-3 win? Josh Bell put Minnesota ahead with a solo home run in the second inning and added another homer in the fourth, giving the Twins a 3-0 lead. (mlb.com) Bell later singled home another run in the sixth, finishing 3-for-4 with two homers, two runs and four RBIs. The sixth inning broke the game open. (mlb.com) MLB's game story shows Bell's RBI single made it 4-0, and Luke Keaschall followed with a two-run single for a 6-0 lead. ### Where did the Astros' pitching plan come under scrutiny? Houston starter Tatsuya Imai allowed three earned runs over 4 2/3 innings, with MLB's game story noting he did not issue a walk after walking at least three batters in each of his first four starts. (foxsports.com) The Astros then turned to Jayden Murray in the sixth inning, and Minnesota scored three times against him. Social media criticism focused on manager Joe Espada's choice to use Murray in a game that was still within reach. (mlb.com) Those complaints circulated online after Murray allowed Bell's RBI single and Keaschall's two-run single in the inning. The game log does not attribute that criticism to Astros personnel, but it does show the scoring sequence that prompted it. ### Did Houston make a push late? (mlb.com) The Astros scored all three of their runs in the seventh inning. Christian Vázquez hit an RBI single, Jeremy Peña added a sacrifice fly, and Christian Walker followed with an RBI single to cut the deficit to 6-3. Taylor Rogers recorded the save for Minnesota, and Houston did not score again over the final two innings. The final line was 6 runs on 9 hits for the Twins and 3 runs on 7 hits for the Astros. (mlb.com) ### What happened to Ryan Jeffers? Ryan Jeffers exited in the bottom of the eighth after fouling off a pitch and breaking his bat, according to MLB.com. (mlb.com) Jeffers said he was weighing whether he could keep swinging before deciding to come out. MLB.com reported that Jeffers had doubled and scored earlier in the game and that Victor Caratini entered after Jeffers left. (foxsports.com) Jeffers was diagnosed with a sprained left wrist and was set for further examination on Tuesday. ### What comes next in the series? The Astros and Twins are scheduled to play again on Tuesday, May 19, in Minneapolis, with the May 18 result serving as the opener of a three-game set. (mlb.com) ESPN's schedule page lists the rematch for 4:40 p.m. local game time at Target Field. (espn.com)