Ryan Jeffers' homer propels Twins past Cubs

Ryan Jeffers belted a go-ahead three-run home run in the fourth inning and the Minnesota Twins held on for a 5-2 win over the host Chicago Cubs on Friday night.

Trevor Larnach and Ryan Kreidler also drove in one run apiece for Minnesota, which won the opener of a three-game series. The Twins have won three games in a row after entering the All-Star break with back-to-back victories.

Seiya Suzuki went 1-for-3 with a double and a run for Chicago. Michael Busch notched the lone RBI for the Cubs.

Twins right-hander Bailey Ober (7-3) allowed two runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings. He walked two and struck out seven.

Cubs right-hander Colin Rea (7-6) gave up four runs (three earned) on five hits in six innings. He walked one and fanned six.

Twins right-hander Yoendrys Gomez pitched a scoreless ninth to collect his 12th save. The Cubs had the tying run on deck, but Carson Kelly flied out to the warning track in right-center field to end the game.

The Cubs opened the scoring in the bottom of the first. Busch ripped an RBI single to right to drive in Pete Crow-Armstrong, who worked a leadoff walk and stole second.

The Twins bounced back with four runs in the third.

Larnach sparked the big inning with an RBI single to left to score Luke Keaschall. One batter later, Jeffers lifted a 369-foot shot over the ivy-covered wall in left-center field for his eighth home run of the season and his first since May 17.

Chicago cut the deficit to 4-2 in the sixth. Suzuki hit a leadoff double, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch by Twins right-hander Tommy Nance.

The Twins quickly regained a three-run lead in the seventh. Austin Martin and Keaschall drew back-to-back walks, and Kreidler capitalized moments later with an RBI single to left to make it 5-2.

Cubs relievers Drew Pomeranz and Gavin Hollowell teamed up to get the next three outs as the Twins stranded runners on second and third.

-Field Level Media