Josh Naylor's Late-Game Explosion Buried the Twins and Tied Up the Series

The Mariners came to Minneapolis trailing in the fifth inning, but Josh Naylor decided that wasn't going to fly. The Seattle slugger went 3-for-5 with a homer and four RBIs to lead the Mariners past the Minnesota Twins 7-1 on Tuesday night at Target Field, evening their three-game series at one win apiece with the rubber match coming Wednesday.

This wasn't just a late-game surge. This was a complete takeover. The Twins jumped out front early when Byron Buxton crushed a 389-foot solo shot to left in the bottom of the fifth, his seventh bomb of the season and his fourth in the past seven games. But Seattle answered right back in the sixth. Julio Rodriguez doubled down the line, and four pitches later, Naylor ripped an RBI single to tie it at 1-all.

Rodriguez and Naylor Take Over in the Seventh and Eighth

The seventh inning is when the Mariners really put their foot down. Randy Arozarena led off with a double to center, which knocked Joe Ryan out of the game. Kody Funderburk came in to relieve the Twins righty, but Cole Young singled to left to make it 2-1 Seattle. Then came the dagger. Naylor smashed a three-run homer in the eighth, a 390-foot blast to right that scored J.P. Crawford and Rodriguez and stretched the lead to 5-1. Rodriguez capped it off with a two-run double to left in the ninth.

Rodriguez finished 3-for-5 with three doubles and two RBIs. Cole Young went 3-for-4 with an RBI. Meanwhile, Byron Buxton went 2-for-5 with his solo shot and swiped his first base of the season for Minnesota.

Mariners Pitching Steps Up When It Matters

On the mound, Mariners starter Logan Gilbert allowed one run on six hits over five innings, keeping the game close early. Eduard Bazardo (2-1) earned the win with one scoreless inning of relief, one of four relievers who followed Gilbert. The Twins' Joe Ryan (2-3) allowed two runs on six hits in six innings, walking one and striking out six.

Seattle's pitching staff was efficient enough to hold Minnesota to just one run after that Buxton homer. That's the kind of foundation you need when your bats are about to take over.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.