Full Breakdown
Twins Edge Cardinals 9-8 in Rain-Interrupted Thriller
6/13/2026, 9:49:13 PM
Game Overview
On Friday night in Minneapolis, the Minnesota Twins defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 9–8 after a 29-minute rain delay. Six home runs were hit, three of them surrendered by Cardinals reliever Ryne Stanek. Anthony Banda earned the win for Minnesota, and Andrew Morris closed with a perfect ninth for his second career save.
Background & Context
The Cardinals entered the game 37-29, holding the first Wild Card spot after a series of roster moves by GM Chaim Bloom. Their offense had been humming, highlighted by Alec Burleson’s four-game home-run streak. The Twins were looking to build on a solid start from right-hander Joe Ryan, who had struck out eight in six innings in his previous outing.
Key Players & Performances
- Royce Lewis (Twins) – fifth homer of the season in the eighth, tying the game at 8-8.
- Brooks Lee (Twins) – 11th homer of the season a batter later, delivering the winning run.
- Kody Clemens (Cardinals) – three-run shot in the seventh to knot the game at 7-7.
- Alec Burleson (Cardinals) – 419-foot homer in the first, his 12th of the season and fourth straight.
- Byron Buxton (Cardinals) – 425-foot solo shot in the second, his 21st of the year.
- Blaze Jordan (Cardinals) – RBI single in his MLB debut, becoming the 11th Cardinal to single in a run his first time up.
- Jordan Walker (Cardinals) – two-out double that cleared the bases, extending the Cardinals’ lead to 7-4 in the seventh.
Chronology of Lead Changes
- 1st Inning: Burleson HR -> Cardinals 1-0.
- 2nd Inning: Buxton HR -> Tied 1-1; JJ Wetherholt RBI single -> Cardinals 3-1.
- 5th Inning: Lewis single, Tristan Gray RBI -> Twins 3-2; Josh Bell double -> Cardinals 3-3.
- 6th Inning: Lewis sac fly -> Twins 4-3.
- 7th Inning: Clemens three-run HR -> Tied 7-7; Walker double -> Cardinals 7-4.
- 8th Inning: Lewis HR -> Tied 8-8; Lee HR -> Twins 9-8.
Statistical Snapshot
- Home runs: 5 (Burleson, Buxton, Lewis, Lee, Clemens).
- Hits: Twins 13, Cardinals 12 (derived from play-by-play).
- Pitching: Joe Ryan 6 IP, 8 K, 3 R, 6 H; Kyle Leahy 5 IP, 8 H, 4 R; Stanek (2-1) allowed three HRs; Banda (2-0) earned the win; Morris recorded a perfect 9th.
Impact & Implications
The loss exposed the Cardinals’ bullpen fragility, as Stanek surrendered two decisive home runs after entering with a slim lead. Defensive concerns surrounding rookie Blaze Jordan were also highlighted. For the Twins, the comeback reinforced their resilience and kept them within striking distance in the AL Central race. Both clubs head into Saturday’s matchup with momentum questions.
Criticism & Opposition
Analysts noted the Cardinals’ inability to preserve a three-run lead despite a strong offensive start, attributing the collapse to late-inning reliever performance and the timing of pitching changes. Additionally, Jordan’s defensive readiness remains under scrutiny, with the organization weighing his long-term role.
Official Responses
Cardinals manager Oli Marmol removed starter Kyle Leahy after five innings and brought in George Soriano, who allowed the tying sac fly. He later summoned Ryne Stanek, whose pitches resulted in the decisive home runs. The Twins’ staff kept Joe Ryan on the mound through six innings and relied on Anthony Banda to navigate a bases-loaded jam in the eighth.
What’s Next
The Cardinals will start left-hander Matthew Liberatore (3-3, 4.48 ERA) on Saturday, while the Twins will counter with left-hander Connor Prielipp (2-4, 5.15 ERA). Both teams will look to address the highlighted pitching concerns as the series continues.
