Twins hit 3 homers to back Matthews, then hold off Astros rally in 9th for 5-4 victory

By: The Associated Press Posted: 10:24 PM CDT Monday, Jun. 29, 2026 Last Modified: 10:37 PM CDT Monday, Jun. 29, 2026

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HOUSTON (AP) — Royce Lewis and Victor Caratini hit back-to-back homers, Zebby Matthews pitched seven stingy innings and the Minnesota Twins held off a late rally by the Houston Astros for a 5-4 victory Monday night.

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Josh Bell launched a two-run shot for the Twins, who led 5-1 before Travis Adams gave up a two-run homer to Taylor Trammell with two outs in the ninth.

Yoendrys Gómez entered and immediately served up Cam Smith’s second home run of the game before retiring Joey Loperfido on a grounder for his ninth save.

Minnesota Twins' Royce Lewis celebrates as he tags home after hitiing a solo home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Monday, June 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Shapley)

Houston had won five of six.

Matthews (4-5) limited the Astros to one run and four hits while striking out seven and walking one.

Peter Lambert (6-5) held Minnesota hitless until Lewis and Caratini went deep in the fourth. Bell’s drive made it 4-1 in the sixth, and Kody Clemens added an RBI groundout in the seventh.

Lambert allowed four runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings. He had won four straight decisions.

Smith pulled a hanging slider onto the train tracks above left field for a solo homer in the fifth.

Astros reliever Miguel Ullola made his major league debut, striking out four in two scoreless innings.

Houston returned home from a 5-2 trip and entered Monday an AL-best 15-10 in June.

Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña sat out with left leg discomfort.

Minnesota placed left-handed reliever Anthony Banda on the 15-day injured list with a left lat strain. The Twins recalled right-hander Cody Laweryson from Triple-A St. Paul.

Up next

Twins RHP Joe Ryan (5-4, 3.18 ERA) faces Astros RHP Mike Burrows (3-8, 5.48) in the middle game of the series Tuesday night.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb