MINNEAPOLIS -- Despite the Twins leading, 5-0, over the Astros during the third inning of Wednesday's game at Target Field, the game was ultimately postponed due to weather. It'll be made up as part of a split doubleheader Thursday with the first game at 12:10 p.m. CT and the second game at 6:10 p.m.
The rain delay began with one out in the top of the third at 8:05 p.m. CT, and after a lengthy wait, the game was called at 10:35 p.m. CT. It spoiled a strong start to the game for the Twins, who knocked around reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel, while right-hander Ervin Santana looked sharp.
"There's not much to say," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "You get off to a good start against a good pitcher and you have your best guy out there and you have to wipe it off the slate like it never happened. We tried hard to play. We had some optimism it would stop after the delay but it kept building."
Thursday's original starters for the scheduled 12:10 p.m. game will remain the same, as Twins rookie right-hander José Berríos will start opposite Astros right-hander Doug Fister. Left-hander Tommy Milone will start the nightcap for Minnesota against Astros right-hander Chris Devenski. The Twins will call up lefty Andrew Albers as their designated 26th man for the second game, while Houston will bring up left-hander Kevin Chapman.
Santana started for the Twins on Wednesday, tossing 2 1/3 scoreless innings and allowing one hit and a walk. He outpitched Keuchel, who was hurt by two errors in the second inning and allowed five runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks with three strikeouts in two innings.
The postponed game erased a leadoff homer from Brian Dozier, which would've been the 14th career leadoff blast for him. It also took away RBIs from Miguel Sanó, Eduardo Escobar and Eddie Rosario.
"It's unfortunate," Molitor said. "Good for [Houston]. Not to say, you know exactly how the game would go from that point. But Dozier got us going and we took advantage of a couple errors to put together a nice inning. So we'll have to turn the page on it and come back here tomorrow."
Fans holding tickets to Wednesday's postponed game have two options. They can use their tickets for admission into the rescheduled game or exchange their unused ticket for any future Twins regular-season game in 2016, subject to availability.