Larnach, Bell stay red-hot in Texas; Twins do the same

ARLINGTON -- In each of the past three contests at Globe Life Field, the Twins have seized the game’s momentum in less time than it takes to sing the national anthem. In all three games of their sweep of the Rangers, including a 9-3 win Thursday, the Twins scored in the top half of the first inning and never trailed.

“Our offense did a good job,” manager Derek Shelton said. “They came in, and they put pressure on, from sometimes the first hitter of the game, but throughout, and then they continued that. ... Overall, just a really good team offensive effort throughout the series. Everybody contributed.”

Leadoff man Trevor Larnach and No. 5 hitter Josh Bell contributed heavily to those opening barrages. Larnach singled and scored the first run Thursday after he hit a leadoff homer Tuesday, and Bell plated five first-inning runs across the three-game set, highlighted by Monday's three-run homer.

Larnach went 7-for-11 over the final two games of the series, adding three insurance runs Thursday with a two-run homer in the fourth inning and an RBI single in the sixth.

“He had really impressive swings throughout the whole series,” Shelton said.

Bell had multiple hits in all three games in Texas, pushing his multi-hit streak to four games.

“[Bell] got us going,” Larnach said. “I thought he was swinging it well this series, specifically. He looked like every at-bat, he's either gonna walk or catch a barrel, and I felt like that's what he did. I just feel like we’ve got a solid group all around, and we're just trying to pass the baton and get the next man up and just have good at-bats.”

Good at-bats have been plentiful for the Twins at Globe Life Field. The club is 14-5 all-time in MLB’s newest stadium. Larnach is batting .425 (17-for-40) in 10 games there, and Bell hitting .405 (17-for-42) in 11 games.

Brooks Lee also feasted in Texas, ripping a three-run homer in the first inning Thursday after a 2-for-5 performance Tuesday.

Staked to a four-run lead before he threw a pitch, Twins righty Joe Ryan tossed five scoreless innings to earn his fifth win of 2026. He struck out seven, walked two and scattered three hits, all singles.

The Twins needed five relievers to piece together the final four innings. In the Minnesota bullpen’s most important test Thursday, Taylor Rogers came in to face Josh Jung with runners on first and second and one out in the seventh. Rogers got Jung to hit into a double play.

Ryan threw 97 pitches (67 strikes), and lamented that he wasn’t able to go deeper into the game. He departed with a 6-0 lead anyway.

“That's a situation where I could do a couple more innings if I have a little bit better touch out there,” he said.

The Twins pitchers didn't need perfect touch with the run support they got in Arlington. Minnesota outscored Texas, 25-7, over the series. The Twins have won six of their last eight games, and their four-game winning streak is tied for their longest this season.

“[I’m] just really pleased, and hope we can build on this in Arizona,” Shelton said.