Twins 3, Astros 0
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Twins scored enough early offense, outlasting the Houston Astros 3-0 in a pitcher's duel at Target Field on Friday.
Minnesota right-hander Kyle Gibson was the beneficiary of the support, pitching 5 2/3 innings of shutout ball and earning his first victory since July 12. Gibson allowed just four hits and walked three but was lifted after tossing 111 pitches with two on and two out in the sixth.
The win helped salvage a tough month for Gibson, who entered with a 6.35 ERA in five August starts prior to Friday night. Now 9-9, Gibson lowered his season ERA to 3.82.
Left-hander Glen Perkins, returning from back spasms, and righty Trevor May bridged the gap to temporary closer Kevin Jepsen, who worked around a pair of singles and a walk in the ninth for his ninth save overall this season and fourth since joining the Twins in a trade from the Tampa Bay Rays on July 31.
Since allowing two runs in his first game with the Twins, Jepsen has now pitched 13 1/3 innings (14 appearances) of scoreless relief.
Minnesota has won seven of its past eight games overall and remained within one-half game of the Texas Rangers for the second wild card spot in the American League.
Astros lefty Scott Kazmir took the loss, allowing three earned runs on three hits and a walk in seven innings. Kazmir dropped to 1-4 in the month of August and 0-2 in three starts against the Twins this season.
Twins third baseman Eduardo Nunez was responsible for two of the three runs scored on Friday, hitting a solo homer in the third inning and knocking in another on an RBI groundout in the fourth.
Playing without shortstop Carlos Correa, who missed his second straight game with a sore hamstring, Houston could muster just six hits -- five of them singles. The Astros have been shutout in three of their last eight games.
Houston second baseman Jose Altuve had a pair of singles, the only player from either team to have a multi-hit game.
Minnesota grabbed the lead in the third inning on a solo home run by third baseman Eduardo Nunez. The blast, his third of the season, was the first base-runner of the night for the Twins.
Control issues haunted Kazmir in the fourth as the Twins took advantage of a pair of hit-by-pitches. Kazmir first plunked first baseman Trevor Plouffe to load the bases with nobody out, then hit designated hitter Torii Hunter with one out, scoring a run.
Nunez added an RBI ground out for his second run-scoring play of the night, giving the Twins a 3-0 advantage.
NOTES: Astros SS Carlos Correa was held out of the lineup with hamstring soreness for the second consecutive game. ... Astros OF George Springer is set to head out on a rehabilitation assignment as soon as this weekend to Double-A Corpus Christi. He took batting practice on the field Friday and will head back to Houston before going out on his rehab. ... Twins 3B/DH Miguel Sano was scratched from the lineup with hamstring soreness. Manager Paul Molitor said Sano should be back in the lineup Saturday. ... Twins 1B Joe Mauer was given the day off. He was hitting .231 in 33 career at-bats against Friday's starter, LHP Scott Kazmir. ... The Astros and Twins play the second of a three-game series on Saturday at Target Field. Houston will send RHP Mike Fiers (6-9, 3.63 ERA) to the mound against Minnesota RHP Mike Pelfrey (6-7, 3.69).