Joey Gallo had been scuffling offensively in a 4-for-43 skid.
But Gallo broke out in a big way with the second four-hit game of his career to give the Minnesota Twins a major boost.
Gallo homered twice, singled twice and drove in four runs in an 8-1 victory over the host Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday.
After three lackluster losses to the Detroit Tigers and a 13-2 defeat to the Phillies on Friday, the Twins very much needed Gallo’s offensive explosion. Matt Wallner hit a home run, single and knocked in two runs, and Carlos Correa added a solo homer. Max Kepler had two hits and an RBI.
The Twins will now look to win the series in the finale on Sunday afternoon.
“Things went well for me today and the whole team,” Gallo said in a postgame interview on Bally Sports North. “Just from the get-go, we were making them throw strikes, taking our walks. It was a good overall game for us at the plate.”
“Gallo had a fantastic day at the plate,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli added. “That was awesome.”
The Twins will hand the ball to Sonny Gray (5-5, 3.18 ERA).
In Gray’s last start, he allowed seven hits and three runs (two earned) in six innings against the Tigers on Tuesday.
Gray is 0-1 with a 4.29 ERA in four career starts against the Phillies.
Third baseman Willi Castro is day-to-day after missing Saturday’s game with back tightness.
Infielder Donovan Solano (right knee) also could play Sunday as the designated hitter.
“I can’t tell you it’s likely,” Baldelli said. “It’s truly day to day. … He’s showing some good signs.”
One night after exploding for 13 runs, the Phillies fell a bit flat.
Philadelphia went 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position with nine left on base.
Trea Turner led the way with three hits and Nick Castellanos had two hits to extend his hitting streak to 13 games in a row. Bryce Harper returned to the lineup and hit a double after missing the previous game with back spasms.
Kyle Schwarber also played left field and hit leadoff one day after leaving in the seventh inning with a minor contusion on his foot. Schwarber went 0-for-5 with two strikeouts.
The Phillies had homered in every game in August before Saturday’s setback.
The goal now is to bounce back and win the series and end the 10-game homestand with a 7-3 mark.
“We always seem to bounce back,” Harper said.
Ranger Suarez (2-5, 3.96) is scheduled to start for the Phillies.
In Suarez’s last start against the Washington Nationals, the left-hander gave up six hits and two runs in 5 2/3 innings.
Suarez, who has never faced the Twins, could give the Phillies a big lift with a strong start.
Since acquiring Michael Lorenzen from the Detroit Tigers before the trade deadline, the Phillies decided to go with a six-man starting rotation.
Taijuan Walker struggled Saturday with a season-high six walks in five innings as he failed to become the league’s first 14-game winner.
Phillies manager Rob Thomson said he’s likely to skip Walker’s next start to rest his arm.
“Control is off, command is off, velocity is down,” Thomson said. “So I think it’s time to just give him a little breather.”
–Field Level Media
