Santana’s ninth-inning sacrifice fly off All-Star pitcher Yates gives Twins a 3-2 win over Rangers

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Carlos Santana hit a sacrifice fly off All-Star shortstop Kirby Yates in the ninth inning and the playoff-bound Minnesota Twins won 3-2 at Texas on Thursday night in their series opener against the defending World Series champion Rangers.

Santana’s long fly to right-center field came after Yates (4-2) issued back-to-back one-out walks and then threw a wild pitch.

Willi Castro homered for the Twins (68-53), who moved to within four games of idle Cleveland for the American League Central lead. Minnesota currently holds the American League’s second wild card.

The Rangers (56-66) are third in the American League West and now 10 games behind Houston, matching their largest division deficit this season.

Jorge Alcala (3-3), the Twins’ third pitcher, retired all three batters he faced. Jhoan Duran struck out two in a perfect ninth inning for his 17th save in 18 chances.

Adolis García had three hits, his fifth time in seven games with multiple hits. His RBI single in the first inning came before Josh Jung’s sacrifice fly put Texas up 2-0. García is hitting .484 (15 of 31) in that span.

Minnesota got its revenge in the second inning, which began with Castro’s 10th home run. Kyle Farmer followed with a triple that bounced off the lopsided left-center field wall and past center fielder Leody Taveras for an error that allowed Farmer to score.

The Twins celebrated Christian Vázquez’s 10-year MLB career with footballs, cookies and a mariachi band in the locker room before the game. The catcher, who played in World Series titles in Boston and Houston, got his 15th hit in 12 games with a single in the fourth. He was then doubled to first base on a flyout by Austin Martin.

Right fielder García’s throw to retire Vázquez was the third straight game, and fourth of five, in which the Rangers have gotten outside help. Their 24th game matches their total in the 2023 season and is two points behind Cleveland for the most in the major leagues this year.

TRAINERS’ ROOM

Twins: Infielder Byron Buxton was placed on the 10-day disabled list with right hip inflammation. The move was retroactive to Tuesday, the day after he was knocked out in a game against Kansas City. … Infielder Edouard Julien from Triple-A St. Paul for his third stint with the Twins this season. … Right-handed reliever Louie Varland was sent to St. Paul, and right-handed reliever Ronny Henriquez was recalled from that Triple-A team.

Rangers: Right-handed pitcher Nathan Eovaldi is expected to start Saturday, a week after leaving the field with right side tightness. Eovaldi pitched a bullpen and said he should be OK. … Three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (right shoulder strain) is expected to start Friday. He last started July 30. … SS Corey Seager had the day off.

FOLLOWING

Rangers left-hander Andrew Heaney (4-12, 4.05 ERA) is tied for the most losses in MLB after going 0-2 with a 6.30 ERA in his last four starts. Starting right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson (3-3, 3.78) will pitch Friday night for the Twins.

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