Ryan Jeffers caps Twins' rally, Brewers suffer first loss

Field Level Media|published: Wed 3rd April, 16:32 2024

Apr 3, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Minnesota Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers (27) hits a home run against the Milwaukee Brewers in the seventh inning at American Family Field. credits: Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports

Ryan Jeffers cranked a go-ahead three-run homer with two outs in the top of the seventh to lift the Minnesota Twins to a 7-3 victory over the host Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday afternoon.

Jeffers' blast capped a five-run rally that Minnesota used to erase a 3-1 deficit. Alex Kirilloff and Byron Buxton opened the frame with back-to-back doubles to pull the Twins within 3-2, and Carlos Correa tied things up with an RBI single.

Milwaukee reliever Joel Payamps (0-1) recorded just one out and was charged with four of the runs, while Bryse Wilson, who served up Jeffers' homer, was tagged with the fifth.

Daniel Duarte (1-0) provided two innings of one-run relief and was credited with the win.

Kirilloff was a home run shy of the cycle, going 4-for-4 with two runs and a walk. Buxton and Jeffers each added a pair of hits for the Twins, who split the two-game set with Milwaukee.

Jeffers had a run-scoring single in the ninth to cap the scoring.

Rookie Jackson Chourio hit his first major league home run as the Brewers fell short of their fourth 5-0 start in franchise history. Rhys Hoskins also went deep, and Sal Frelick went 2-for-3 with a run.

Milwaukee set itself up for a big inning after loading the bases with one out in the first, but Hoskins grounded into a 5-4-3 double play to end the frame.

Brice Turang got the Brewers on the board in the second, though, driving in Frelick with a sacrifice fly.

It looked like Minnesota drew even in the fourth when Manuel Margot bunted with the bases loaded and beat third baseman Joey Ortiz's throw to first. However, a successful Milwaukee challenge found that Margot was out, ending the inning.

Hoskins made the overturned call sting even more when he homered to open the home half of the fourth, making it 2-0.

Carlos Santana grounded into a forceout in the fifth to halve the Twins' deficit. Chourio answered with a solo shot in the bottom of the inning.

Pitching in the majors for the first time since 2021, Brewers starter Joe Ross allowed two hits across 3 2/3 scoreless innings. Minnesota's Chris Paddack gave up two runs on six hits in four innings.

—Field Level Media