Lewis homers to back sharp outing by Paddack as Twins beat Rockies 5-0

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Royce Lewis electrified the stadium in the eighth inning, launching a pivotal home run that shattered the deadlock, while Chris Paddack rebounded from a recent setback to orchestrate a stellar performance, propelling the Minnesota Twins to a commanding 5-0 triumph over the Colorado Rockies on a thrilling Monday night.

Lewis, who endured an injury setback in the season opener, sidelining him for two months due to a severe right quad strain, showcased his resilience and power, smashing his fourth homer in just seven games. The decisive blow came in the form of a towering shot off Rockies reliever Nick Mears, soaring over left field for a breathtaking 435-foot two-run blast, sealing a triumphant three-run surge in the eighth inning.

Christian Vásquez, Carlos Correa, and Trevor Larnach also contributed to the Twins’ offensive prowess, each driving in a run to bolster the team’s resurgence, clinching their second consecutive victory following a challenging five-game skid.

Paddack, determined to redeem himself after a turbulent outing, demonstrated his mastery on the mound, holding the Rockies at bay with precision and finesse. The resilient right-hander permitted only six hits across 6 1/3 innings, striking out six batters in the process. Despite a tense first inning where Colorado threatened, Paddack showcased his resolve by striking out Ryan McMahon, leaving Charlie Blackmon stranded on third base.

On the opposing side, Rockies’ right-hander Dakota Hudson (2-8) displayed commendable effort, yielding just four hits over 6 2/3 innings, yet ultimately suffered the defeat, with one of the two runs surrendered deemed unearned.

Paddack’s redemption was evident after a disappointing previous start against the Yankees, where he yielded seven runs in four innings. However, his confidence and precision were back in full force on Monday, preventing any Rockies runner from advancing past first base while issuing no walks. His remarkable performance earned him a well-deserved standing ovation from the enthusiastic Target Field crowd upon his departure.

Manny Margot initiated the scoring for the Twins, capitalizing on a double to the right corner and capitalizing on an error by Rockies’ right fielder Hunter Goodman to dash home on a sacrifice fly by Vásquez. The Twins added another run in the fourth inning, with Lewis showcasing his speed and agility, advancing to second base on Max Kepler’s groundout before crossing home plate on Correa’s clutch two-out double.

Looking ahead, RHP Cal Quantrill (5-4, 3.58 ERA) will take the mound for the Rockies in the second game of the series, aiming to replicate his stellar performance from his last outing against St. Louis. Meanwhile, the Twins will call upon RHP Louie Varland (0-4, 9.18 ERA) from Triple-A St. Paul to start Tuesday’s game, marking Varland’s return to the majors after a hiatus since April.