Cardinals wear down Twins for third straight win

Lars Nootbaar and Masyn Winn drove in two runs apiece, and the St. Louis Cardinals pulled away for a 6-1 win over the Minnesota Twins on Friday night in Minneapolis.

Brendan Donovan hit a solo home run for the Cardinals, who won their third game in a row. Victor Scott II also notched an RBI.

Austin Martin drove in the lone run for Minnesota, which opened a nine-game homestand.

Cardinals right-hander Andre Pallante (6-6) limited the Twins to one run on five hits in seven innings. He walked two, struck out five and threw 58 of 99 pitches for strikes.

Twins right-hander David Festa (2-3) gave up three runs on three hits in 3 2/3 innings. He walked two and struck out five before he was replaced by left-hander Caleb Thielbar.

Cardinals relievers John King and Ryan Fernandez tossed one scoreless inning apiece to preserve the victory. Fernandez got Max Kepler to line out to right for the game's final out.

The Twins opened the scoring in the bottom of the second. Ryan Jeffers singled to lead off the inning, advanced to third on a hit by Kepler and scored on Martin's infield single.

The Cardinals pulled even at 1-1 in the third. Winn ripped a single to left field to drive in Scott from second base.

Nootbaar put the Cardinals on top 3-1 in the fourth. Willson Contreras hit a leadoff double, Donovan drew a walk and Nootbaar drove in both with a double to right.

St. Louis increased its lead to 4-1 in the sixth. Donovan squared up a 97 mph fastball for a 414-foot shot to right-center field for his 10th homer of the season.

A two-run eighth boosted the Cardinals' advantage to 6-1. Scott drew a bases-loaded walk with one out to score Nolan Arenado, and Winn followed with a sacrifice fly to left to drive in Nootbaar.

--Field Level Media