Twins 3, Angels 2 (12 innings)
MINNEAPOLIS -- Oswaldo Arcia's two-out single in the bottom of the 12th inning lifted the Minnesota Twins to a 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday afternoon at Target Field.
Arcia lifted a 2-2 offering from Angels closer Huston Street into the left-field corner, just out of reach of a diving Rafael Ortega. Byron Buxton, who had stolen second base a pitch earlier, scored the winning run.
Twins right-hander Michael Tonkin pitched two innings of shutout relief for his first win as Minnesota swept the Angels.
Angels right-hander Cory Rasmus was charged with the loss after allowing one run on a hit and a walk in one-third of an inning.
Twins right-hander Kyle Gibson allowed two runs on four hits and a pair of walks over seven strong innings, striking out four. Gibson retired 10 straight batters through the middle innings and didn't allow a hit after the fourth.
Albert Pujols' two-run blast off Gibson gave the Angels a 2-0 lead just four batters into the game. But Gibson settled down from there.
All the Twins could muster against Angels starter Nick Tropeano came in the fourth inning when Miguel Sano and Trevor Plouffe smacked back-to-back doubles to get a run across to make it 2-1.
It was the only run allowed by Tropeano in 5 2/3 innings. He gave up five hits and walked two while striking out three, leaving in line for the victory.
Los Angeles' bullpen flirted with disaster often late in the game, allowing the Twins seven hits in a stretch of 10 at-bats at one point, but somehow wiggling out of trouble each time.
In one instance, the Twins got consecutive two-out singles from Eduardo Nunez and Brian Dozier in the bottom of the seventh ahead of Joe Mauer, who wrapped a single through the hole at short. Nunez flew around third but was cut down at the plate on a strong throw by Angels left fielder Rafael Ortega, preserving the 2-1 lead.
Things caught up to the Angels in the eighth, however, when Sano and Plouffe began the inning with back-to-back singles off Joe Smith. Arcia smoked a grounder that looked like it was headed for right field, but second baseman Cliff Pennington made a nice play to start a 4-6-3 double play. Still, it scored pinch runner Byron Buxton from third, tying the game at 2-2.
Minnesota loaded the bases for Buxton against Smith in the ninth, but Buxton grounded out sharply to shortstop Andrelton Simmons to end the inning.
NOTES: Twins OF Danny Santana (strained right hamstring) is progressing enough to where he may be ready to go on a rehab assignment next week. ... Los Angeles will continue its 10-game road trip on Monday night when it opens a four-game series against the Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field. Angels LHP Hector Santiago (0-0, 3.95 ERA) will oppose White Sox LHP Carlos Rodon (1-1, 1.38 ERA). ... Minnesota will begin a four-game, home-and-home series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday night at Target Field. Twins RHP Phil Hughes (0-2, 4.38) will matchup against Brewers RHP Chase Anderson (1-0, 0.00 ERA).