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Festa strikes out career-high 9, Twins beat Cubs 3-0 and close within 3 1/2 games of Guardians

CHICAGO (AP) David Festa struck out a career-high nine over five innings, and the Minnesota Twins beat the Chicago Cubs 3-0 on Monday night.

Minnesota drew within 3 1/2 games of AL Central-leading Cleveland, the closest the Twins have been to first place since before play on May 18.

Making his fifth big league start since his debut on June 27, Festa (2-2) allowed two hits and two walks while throwing 82 pitches, one more than the previous high for the 24-year-old right-hander.

“It really just comes down to execution,” Festa said. “I thought I didn’t execute enough important pitches in the first couple outings. There’s been guys on, but I’ve made that important pitch, and I’m just happy about that.”

Festa emphasized the importance of staying in command through the second and third times through the batting order.

“Another really good outing from him in a packed stadium, in a place with a lot of emotion. He was able to slow it down really good,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. “Came out really sharp. He missed a bunch of bats today. He had a lot of different things working, and then towards the end of the outing, he held it together really well.”

Caleb Thielbar, Jorge Alcala, Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax finished a four-hitter, with Jax getting three outs for his eighth save in 12 chances.

Royce Lewis hit a third-inning sacrifice fly and Manuel Margot homered in the fifth off Kyle Hendricks (3-10), who allowed five hits in six innings. Ryan Jeffers grounded into a run-scoring double play in the ninth.

Matt Wallner followed Lewis’ fly in the third with a drive that center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong lost in the twilight. Right fielder Mike Tauchman couldn’t react quickly enough and the ball fell on the warning track. Trevor Larnach tried to score from first base on what was scored a double, but Crow-Armstrong threw to shortstop Dansby Swanson, whose one-hop relay to catcher Miguel Amaya was in time for the tag.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Twins: LHP Steven Okert was placed on the bereavement list on Monday and RHP Josh Winder was recalled from Triple-A St. Paul.

Cubs: RF Seiya Suzuki sat out with neck soreness but is expected by manager Craig Counsell to return to the lineup Tuesday. Cody Bellinger has been Chicago’s DH since returning from a fractured left middle finger last week, but Counsell said that he’s still been struggling when he tries to “make throws with intent.” Bellinger will not play in the field during the Cubs’ series against the Twins. ... RHP Adbert Alzolay is scheduled to undergo right forearm surgery on Tuesday.

UP NEXT

Twins RHP Pablo López (10-7, 4.65) starts Tuesday seeking his third consecutive winning decision. LHP Shota Imanaga (8-2, 3.09) starts for the Cubs with three straight no-decisions following a July 10 win at Baltimore.

---

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Twins MIN63-48	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	1	3	8	0
Cubs CHC55-60	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0

Wrigley FieldChicago, IL

W: D. Festa (2-2)L: K. Hendricks (3-10)S: G. Jax (8)
HR: MIN - M. Margot (4)

MINTwins

CHCCubs

.D. FestaDavid Festa
P
5.0 IP, 2 BB, 9 SO, 82 P
.K. HendricksKyle Hendricks
P
6.0 IP, 2 ER, BB, 5 SO, 93 P

HITTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	HR	BB	SO	LOB	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	FPTS
W. Castro SS	3	1	0	0	0	1	2	0	.263	.350	.412	.762	1.0
T. Larnach LF	4	0	2	0	0	0	1	0	.248	.324	.430	.755	3.5
R. Lewis 3B	3	0	0	1	0	0	1	1	.281	.360	.669	1.029	0.5
M. Wallner DH	4	1	2	0	0	0	2	1	.269	.402	.628	1.030	4.0
M. Kepler RF	4	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	.264	.317	.407	.724	1.0
R. Jeffers C	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.229	.312	.451	.763	0.0
C. Santana 1B	4	0	1	0	0	0	2	0	.243	.328	.422	.750	1.0
M. Margot CF	3	1	2	1	1	0	0	1	.243	.299	.352	.651	7.0
A. Martin 2B	3	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	.238	.313	.340	.653	-0.5

HITTERS	AB
W. Castro SS	3
T. Larnach LF	4
R. Lewis 3B	3
M. Wallner DH	4
M. Kepler RF	4
R. Jeffers C	4
C. Santana 1B	4
M. Margot CF	3
A. Martin 2B	3

HITTERS	AB	H	BB	SO	LOB	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	FPTS
I. Happ LF	3	1	1	2	2	.229	.336	.432	.769	2.0
M. Busch 1B	4	0	0	4	3	.257	.343	.454	.797	-2.0
I. Paredes 3B	4	0	0	1	0	.238	.347	.423	.770	-0.5
C. Bellinger DH	4	1	0	2	0	.274	.330	.424	.753	0.0
M. Tauchman RF	4	0	0	3	1	.246	.341	.369	.710	-1.5
N. Hoerner 2B	4	0	0	1	1	.254	.324	.341	.665	-0.5
D. Swanson SS	3	1	0	0	0	.224	.296	.348	.644	1.0
P. Crow-Armstrong CF	3	1	0	0	1	.198	.244	.324	.568	2.0
M. Amaya C	2	0	1	1	1	.214	.278	.307	.585	0.5

HITTERS	AB
I. Happ LF	3
M. Busch 1B	4
I. Paredes 3B	4
C. Bellinger DH	4
M. Tauchman RF	4
N. Hoerner 2B	4
D. Swanson SS	3
P. Crow-Armstrong CF	3
M. Amaya C	2

2B - M. Wallner 2 (8), C. Santana (22)
HR - M. Margot (4)
SF - R. Lewis (2)
RBI - R. Lewis (29), M. Margot (26)
Runners left in scoring position, 2-Out - M. Wallner, M. Margot

2B - I. Happ (25), P. Crow-Armstrong (7)
Runners left in scoring position, 2-Out - I. Happ, M. Busch 2 (2)

SB - T. Larnach (4)

Outfield Assist - P. Crow-Armstrong
DP - (Swanson-Hoerner-Busch)

PITCHERS	IP	H	BB	SO	ERA	WHIP	FPTS
D. Festa (W, 2-2)	5.0	2	2	9	5.55	1.27	22.5
C. Thielbar (H, 7)	1.0	0	0	3	5.34	1.64	4.5
J. Alcala (H, 13)	1.0	0	0	0	1.96	0.97	3.0
J. Duran (H, 5)	1.0	1	0	1	3.57	1.05	2.5
G. Jax (S, 8)	1.0	1	0	1	2.01	0.89	9.5

PITCHERS	IP
D. Festa (W, 2-2)	5.0
C. Thielbar (H, 7)	1.0
J. Alcala (H, 13)	1.0
J. Duran (H, 5)	1.0
G. Jax (S, 8)	1.0

PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA	WHIP	FPTS
K. Hendricks (L, 3-10)	6.0	5	2	2	1	5	1	6.60	1.45	10.5
J. Lopez	1.0	1	0	0	0	2	0	2.63	1.34	3.0
N. Pearson	2.0	2	1	1	0	2	0	5.36	1.46	4.0

PITCHERS	IP
K. Hendricks (L, 3-10)	6.0
J. Lopez	1.0
N. Pearson	2.0

Pitches-Strikes - D. Festa 82-51, C. Thielbar 15-9, J. Alcala 9-7, J. Duran 15-10, G. Jax 13-10
Ground Balls-Fly Balls - D. Festa 3-0, J. Alcala 2-0, J. Duran 1-1, G. Jax 2-0
Batters Faced - D. Festa 19, C. Thielbar 3, J. Alcala 3, J. Duran 4, G. Jax 4

Pitches-Strikes - K. Hendricks 93-64, J. Lopez 11-9, N. Pearson 18-12
Ground Balls-Fly Balls - K. Hendricks 7-4, J. Lopez 2-0, N. Pearson 2-0
Batters Faced - K. Hendricks 23, J. Lopez 4, N. Pearson 7

.D. FestaDavid Festa
P
5.0 IP, 2 BB, 9 SO, 82 P
.K. HendricksKyle Hendricks
P
6.0 IP, 2 ER, BB, 5 SO, 93 P

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Twins MIN63-48	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	1	3	8	0
Cubs CHC55-60	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0

Wrigley FieldChicago, IL

HITTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	HR	BB	SO	LOB	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	FPTS
W. Castro SS	3	1	0	0	0	1	2	0	.263	.350	.412	.762	1.0
T. Larnach LF	4	0	2	0	0	0	1	0	.248	.324	.430	.755	3.5
R. Lewis 3B	3	0	0	1	0	0	1	1	.281	.360	.669	1.029	0.5
M. Wallner DH	4	1	2	0	0	0	2	1	.269	.402	.628	1.030	4.0
M. Kepler RF	4	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	.264	.317	.407	.724	1.0
R. Jeffers C	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.229	.312	.451	.763	0.0
C. Santana 1B	4	0	1	0	0	0	2	0	.243	.328	.422	.750	1.0
M. Margot CF	3	1	2	1	1	0	0	1	.243	.299	.352	.651	7.0
A. Martin 2B	3	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	.238	.313	.340	.653	-0.5
Total	32	3	8	2	1	1	9	5	-	-	-	-	-

HITTERS	AB
W. Castro SS	3
T. Larnach LF	4
R. Lewis 3B	3
M. Wallner DH	4
M. Kepler RF	4
R. Jeffers C	4
C. Santana 1B	4
M. Margot CF	3
A. Martin 2B	3
Total	32

HITTERS	AB	H	BB	SO	LOB	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	FPTS
I. Happ LF	3	1	1	2	2	.229	.336	.432	.769	2.0
M. Busch 1B	4	0	0	4	3	.257	.343	.454	.797	-2.0
I. Paredes 3B	4	0	0	1	0	.238	.347	.423	.770	-0.5
C. Bellinger DH	4	1	0	2	0	.274	.330	.424	.753	0.0
M. Tauchman RF	4	0	0	3	1	.246	.341	.369	.710	-1.5
N. Hoerner 2B	4	0	0	1	1	.254	.324	.341	.665	-0.5
D. Swanson SS	3	1	0	0	0	.224	.296	.348	.644	1.0
P. Crow-Armstrong CF	3	1	0	0	1	.198	.244	.324	.568	2.0
M. Amaya C	2	0	1	1	1	.214	.278	.307	.585	0.5
Total	31	4	2	14	9	-	-	-	-	-

HITTERS	AB
I. Happ LF	3
M. Busch 1B	4
I. Paredes 3B	4
C. Bellinger DH	4
M. Tauchman RF	4
N. Hoerner 2B	4
D. Swanson SS	3
P. Crow-Armstrong CF	3
M. Amaya C	2
Total	31

2B - M. Wallner 2 (8), C. Santana (22)
HR - M. Margot (4)
SF - R. Lewis (2)
RBI - R. Lewis (29), M. Margot (26)
Runners left in scoring position, 2-Out - M. Wallner, M. Margot

2B - I. Happ (25), P. Crow-Armstrong (7)
Runners left in scoring position, 2-Out - I. Happ, M. Busch 2 (2)

SB - T. Larnach (4)

Outfield Assist - P. Crow-Armstrong
DP - (Swanson-Hoerner-Busch)

PITCHERS	IP	H	BB	SO	ERA	WHIP	FPTS
D. Festa (W, 2-2)	5.0	2	2	9	5.55	1.27	22.5
C. Thielbar (H, 7)	1.0	0	0	3	5.34	1.64	4.5
J. Alcala (H, 13)	1.0	0	0	0	1.96	0.97	3.0
J. Duran (H, 5)	1.0	1	0	1	3.57	1.05	2.5
G. Jax (S, 8)	1.0	1	0	1	2.01	0.89	9.5
Total	9.0	4	2	14	-	-	-

PITCHERS	IP
D. Festa (W, 2-2)	5.0
C. Thielbar (H, 7)	1.0
J. Alcala (H, 13)	1.0
J. Duran (H, 5)	1.0
G. Jax (S, 8)	1.0
Total	9.0

PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA	WHIP	FPTS
K. Hendricks (L, 3-10)	6.0	5	2	2	1	5	1	6.60	1.45	10.5
J. Lopez	1.0	1	0	0	0	2	0	2.63	1.34	3.0
N. Pearson	2.0	2	1	1	0	2	0	5.36	1.46	4.0
Total	9.0	8	3	3	1	9	1	-	-	-

PITCHERS	IP
K. Hendricks (L, 3-10)	6.0
J. Lopez	1.0
N. Pearson	2.0
Total	9.0

Pitches-Strikes - D. Festa 82-51, C. Thielbar 15-9, J. Alcala 9-7, J. Duran 15-10, G. Jax 13-10
Ground Balls-Fly Balls - D. Festa 3-0, J. Alcala 2-0, J. Duran 1-1, G. Jax 2-0
Batters Faced - D. Festa 19, C. Thielbar 3, J. Alcala 3, J. Duran 4, G. Jax 4

Pitches-Strikes - K. Hendricks 93-64, J. Lopez 11-9, N. Pearson 18-12
Ground Balls-Fly Balls - K. Hendricks 7-4, J. Lopez 2-0, N. Pearson 2-0
Batters Faced - K. Hendricks 23, J. Lopez 4, N. Pearson 7

SCORING

ALL PLAYS

3RD INNING
Lewis hit sacrifice fly to center, W. Castro scored 1 0
5TH INNING
M. Margot homered to left 2 0
9TH INNING
Jeffers grounded into double play shortstop to second to first, M. Wallner scored, Kepler out at second 3 0

3RD INNING
	Lewis hit sacrifice fly to center, W. Castro scored	1	0

5TH INNING
	M. Margot homered to left	2	0

9TH INNING
	Jeffers grounded into double play shortstop to second to first, M. Wallner scored, Kepler out at second	3	0

1ST INNING
Twins
K. Hendricks Pitching:
W. Castro: Ball, Strike looking, Strike looking, Ball, Strike looking, Castro struck out looking
T. Larnach: Strike looking, Ball, Strike swinging, Foul, Foul, Foul, Foul, Ball, Ball, Larnach singled to right
R. Lewis: Strike looking, Strike swinging, Ball, Strike looking, Lewis struck out looking
M. Wallner: Foul, Strike swinging, Larnach stole second, Ball, Strike swinging, Wallner struck out swinging
Middle of the 1st (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
Cubs
D. Festa Pitching:
I. Happ: Strike looking, Ball, Ball, Ball, Foul, Foul, Strike swinging, Happ struck out swinging
M. Busch: Strike looking, Foul, Strike swinging, Busch struck out swinging
I. Paredes: Strike looking, Strike looking, Ball, Paredes grounded out to second
End of the 1st (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
2ND INNING
Twins
K. Hendricks Pitching:
M. Kepler: Strike looking, Kepler grounded out to shortstop
R. Jeffers: Ball, Ball, Strike looking, Jeffers grounded out to third
C. Santana: Strike looking, Ball, Foul, Ball, Santana doubled to right
M. Margot: Ball, Ball, Margot fouled out to third
Middle of the 2nd (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
Cubs
D. Festa Pitching:
C. Bellinger: Strike swinging, Foul, Bellinger lined out to third
M. Tauchman: Strike looking, Ball, Strike swinging, Strike looking, Tauchman struck out looking
N. Hoerner: Foul, Foul, Ball, Ball, Foul, Foul, Foul, Foul, Strike looking, Hoerner struck out looking
End of the 2nd (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
3RD INNING
Twins
K. Hendricks Pitching:
A. Martin: Foul, Strike looking, Ball, Ball, Martin grounded out to third
W. Castro: Foul, Foul, Ball, Foul, Ball, Ball, Ball, Castro walked
T. Larnach: Pickoff attempt, Ball, Ball, Ball, Strike looking, Larnach singled to center, Castro to third
R. Lewis: Strike looking, Lewis hit sacrifice fly to center, W. Castro scored
M. Wallner: Pickoff attempt, Strike looking, Wallner doubled to deep right center, Larnach out at home
Middle of the 3rd (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
Cubs
D. Festa Pitching:
D. Swanson: Ball, Ball, Ball, Strike looking, Swanson singled to right center
P. Crow-Armstrong: Crow-Armstrong lined out to left
M. Amaya: Foul, Pickoff attempt, Strike swinging, Ball, Swanson to second on passed ball, Strike swinging, Amaya struck out swinging
I. Happ: Ball, Ball, Ball, Ball, Happ walked
M. Busch: Strike looking, Ball, Ball, Foul, Ball, Strike swinging, Busch struck out swinging
End of the 3rd (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
4TH INNING
Twins
K. Hendricks Pitching:
M. Kepler: Strike looking, Foul, Ball, Foul, Kepler popped out to second
R. Jeffers: Ball, Strike swinging, Foul, Jeffers lined out to third
C. Santana: Strike looking, Ball, Santana flied out to center
Middle of the 4th (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
Cubs
D. Festa Pitching:
I. Paredes: Ball, Strike looking, Foul, Paredes grounded out to second
C. Bellinger: Strike looking, Strike swinging, Strike swinging, Bellinger struck out swinging
M. Tauchman: Ball, Ball, Strike looking, Ball, Strike swinging, Foul, Strike looking, Tauchman struck out looking
End of the 4th (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
5TH INNING
Twins
K. Hendricks Pitching:
M. Margot: Strike looking, Foul, M. Margot homered to left
A. Martin: Strike looking, Ball, Martin flied out to deep left
W. Castro: Strike swinging, Ball, Strike swinging, Ball, Castro grounded out to first
T. Larnach: Strike looking, Strike looking, Ball, Strike swinging, Larnach struck out swinging
Middle of the 5th (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
Cubs
D. Festa Pitching:
N. Hoerner: Hoerner popped out to second
D. Swanson: Ball, Strike swinging, Ball, Swanson grounded out to second
P. Crow-Armstrong: Ball, Crow-Armstrong doubled to deep right
M. Amaya: Ball, Pickoff attempt, Ball, Ball, Strike looking, Strike looking, Ball, Amaya walked
I. Happ: Strike (foul tip), Strike swinging, Ball, Ball, Strike swinging, Happ struck out swinging
End of the 5th (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
6TH INNING
Twins
K. Hendricks Pitching:
R. Lewis: Lewis grounded out to third
M. Wallner: Foul, Strike looking, Foul, Strike swinging, Wallner struck out swinging
M. Kepler: Strike looking, Foul, Kepler popped out to third
Middle of the 6th (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
Cubs
Caleb Thielbar relieved David Festa
M. Busch: Ball, Ball, Foul, Ball, Strike looking, Strike looking, Busch struck out looking
I. Paredes: Ball, Ball, Strike looking, Foul, Strike swinging, Paredes struck out swinging
C. Bellinger: Ball, Strike looking, Strike looking, Strike swinging, Bellinger struck out swinging
End of the 6th (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
7TH INNING
Twins
Jorge Lopez relieved Kyle Hendricks
R. Jeffers: Jeffers grounded out to shortstop
C. Santana: Ball, Strike looking, Foul, Strike swinging, Santana struck out swinging
M. Margot: Foul, Margot singled to center
A. Martin: Pickoff attempt, Strike looking, Ball, Foul, Strike swinging, Martin struck out swinging
Middle of the 7th (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
Cubs
Jorge Alcala relieved Caleb Thielbar
M. Tauchman: Strike looking, Strike looking, Ball, Tauchman grounded out to shortstop
N. Hoerner: Strike looking, Ball, Foul, Hoerner lined out to left
D. Swanson: Swanson grounded out to shortstop
End of the 7th (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
8TH INNING
Twins
Nate Pearson relieved Jorge Lopez
W. Castro: Strike swinging, Strike swinging, Strike swinging, Castro struck out swinging
T. Larnach: Ball, Larnach fouled out to third
R. Lewis: Lewis lined out to left
Middle of the 8th (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
Cubs
Jhoan Duran relieved Jorge Alcala
P. Crow-Armstrong: Foul, Strike swinging, Crow-Armstrong flied out to center
M. Amaya: Ball, Strike swinging, Foul, Amaya grounded out to third
I. Happ: Ball, Happ doubled to left
M. Busch: Ball, Foul, Ball, Strike looking, Ball, Strike swinging, Busch struck out swinging
End of the 8th (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
9TH INNING
Twins
N. Pearson Pitching:
M. Wallner: Ball, Ball, Wallner doubled to deep right center
M. Kepler: Strike swinging, Kepler singled to right, Wallner to third
R. Jeffers: Ball, Ball, Pickoff attempt to first, Jeffers grounded into double play shortstop to second to first, M. Wallner scored, Kepler out at second
C. Santana: Strike looking, Foul, Ball, Strike swinging, Santana struck out swinging
Middle of the 9th (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
Cubs
Griffin Jax relieved Jhoan Duran
I. Paredes: Strike looking, Foul, Ball, Paredes grounded out to shortstop
C. Bellinger: Bellinger singled to left
M. Tauchman: Strike looking, Strike looking, Ball, Strike swinging, Tauchman struck out swinging
N. Hoerner: Ball, Strike looking, Strike swinging, Hoerner grounded out to first
End of the 9th (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)