CHICAGO -- Luke Keaschall seemingly never stopped running Friday night.
The youngster saw an opportunity, created his own lane and, in one split-second decision, turned what looked like a routine double play into the play that changed the game.
Keaschall’s baseball instincts ignited a four-run third inning Friday night at Wrigley Field, helping the Twins erase an early deficit and open the second half with a 5-2 victory over the Cubs. It was the kind of play that won’t show up in the box score, but inside Minnesota’s clubhouse, it was viewed as the turning point.
“That’s huge baserunning execution by Keash,” catcher Ryan Jeffers said. “As far as baseball-type plays that go under the radar, but are huge in that moment.”
The Twins entered the break having won eight of their previous nine series, but with just over two weeks remaining before the Trade Deadline, they also understand every game carries added weight.
Friday’s win pushed Minnesota back to .500 (49-49) for the first time since April 22, when the club sat at 12-12. More importantly, it was another example of the identity the Twins believe has fueled their climb back into the American League postseason race.
One player passes the baton. The next delivers it.
“It makes it a lot easier,” Keaschall said. “You’re always at your best when you’re not trying to do too much. You’re trying to get a good pitch to hit, get on base and trust the next guy to do their job. I think everyone in this lineup is doing a great job.”
That sequence unfolded perfectly in the third inning.
Keaschall beat out a slow roller to shortstop for an infield single before Tristan Gray hit a tailor-made ground ball to first baseman Michael Busch. As Busch looked to start a double play, Keaschall intentionally drifted inside the baseline, forcing an awkward relay that nicked off his hand and struck shortstop Dansby Swanson in the face before skipping away. Keaschall raced to third while Gray reached safely.
“We’re told all the time to try and create your own lane, make it hard on the guy,” Keaschall said. “I ran a little bit more inside than normal and it clipped my sliding mitt. I felt bad when it hit him in the face, but that’s baseball.”
The Twins immediately capitalized.
Trevor Larnach lined a game-tying RBI single to left before Jeffers unloaded on a hanging sweeper, sending a three-run homer just over the left-field wall to suddenly give Minnesota a 4-1 lead.
Manager Derek Shelton credited Keaschall’s awareness as the catalyst.
“The key to that inning is Keaschall’s baserunning there,” Shelton said. “Unfortunately Dansby gets hit in the face, which you never want to see, but great baserunning play by him to get inside the line and then Ryan comes up with the big hit after that.”
Shelton said the awareness wasn’t accidental.
“It’s something we talk about a lot,” Shelton said. “Just to be able to think right there, ‘OK, we’re going to make this play. We’re going to get inside.’ Then Jeffers comes through with the big hit after that.”
Keaschall wasn’t finished.
The rookie reached base three times, finishing 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored, with his free pass helping Minnesota’s insurance rally in the seventh. He also made one of the night’s biggest defensive plays, ranging into left-center for a sliding catch in the eighth inning.
“I kind of surprised myself when I caught it at first,” Keaschall said with a smile. “I was happy I caught it.”
Shelton has watched Keaschall steadily grow into the player the organization envisioned after a slow start to his rookie season.
“I think we’re seeing the Luke Keaschall that we thought we were going to see,” Shelton said. “The ability to control at-bats and get hits. He’s done a nice job, especially over the last three or four weeks.”
The Twins have now won seven of their past nine games and 10 of their past 14. They’ve also hit 56 home runs since June 4, but arguably Friday’s biggest offensive moment had nothing to do with power.
It started with a player who simply refused to take the easy path down the baseline.
One instinctive decision. One inning flipped. And one more step in Minnesota’s climb back into the playoff picture.