Willingham's 9th Inning HR Gives Twins Win

Josh Willingham hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning off shaky Cincinnati closer Aroldis Chapman, rallying the Minnesota Twins over the Reds 4-3 Sunday.

 

 

 

 

Josh Willingham hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning off shaky Cincinnati closer Aroldis Chapman, rallying the Minnesota Twins over the Reds 4-3 Sunday.

Joe Mauer doubled off the left-field wall with one out in the ninth against Chapman (4-4). Willingham followed with his 15th homer of the season, a 438-foot drive into the second level in left.

In Chapman's previous outing, he gave up a game-ending, two-run homer to Asdrubal Cabrera in the 10th inning at Cleveland last Tuesday.

Willingham's homer overcame Joey Votto's eighth-inning, two-run homer that had given the Reds a 3-2 lead.

Minnesota left-hander Scott Diamond (6-3), who'd lost his last two starts, allowed three runs and eight hits in eight innings. He struck out seven and also hit two batters, Votto and Brandon Phillips, with consecutive pitches in the third.

Former Reds pitcher Jared Burton worked the ninth for his first career save.

(KFGO file photo)

 

AP

   

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