Bullpen falters as Twins lose to Mariners

(Minneapolis, MN/Learfield News) — The Minnesota Twins gave up seven runs in the final four innings of last night’s game and lost to Seattle 7-1. Twins relievers Kody Funderburk, Cole Sands, and Luis Garcia gave up the final five runs in the final three innings. Minnesota starting pitcher Joe Ryan took the loss after tossing six innings of six-hit, two-run ball. He struck out six and walked one. The right-handed all-star is now 2-3 this season. Mariners first baseman Josh Naylor crushed a three-run homer in the eighth inning off of Sands to help put the game away. Twins centerfielder Byron Buxton hit his seventh homer of the season with a solo shot in the fifth inning. The blast gave Minnesota a 1-0 lead at the time. The third-place Twins are now 13-17 this season and are two-games out of first-place in the A-L Central. The 15-16 Mariners are in second-place in the A-L West, a game behind the A’s. The rubber match of the three-game series is today at 12:40 P-M.