MINNEAPOLIS - Zack Greinke worked six solid innings and Yasiel Puig recorded an RBI and two runs scored as Los Angeles took the opener of a three-game interleague set from host Minnesota 6-4 on Wednesday at Target Field in Minneapolis.
Juan Uribe drove in two and Adrian Gonzalez and Andre Ethier each had two hits and an RBI for the Dodgers, who will try to take the series in a doubleheader on Thursday. Greinke (5-0) allowed an unearned run on seven hits while striking out six to join St. Louis’ Adam Wainwright as the only five-game winners in the majors.
Kyle Gibson (3-2) was reached for five runs on nine hits and three walks to suffer the loss for the Twins, who dropped back to .500 at 12-12. Eduardo Escobar went 4-for-4 with two RBIs and Trevor Plouffe drove in two in the bottom of the ninth as a late rally fell short.
Josmil Pinto singled and moved up on a passed ball before scoring on Escobar’s double in the second to give the Twins a quick lead, but the Dodgers came back in the next half-inning. Drew Butera led off with a single and scored on Hanley Ramirez’s two-out single before Gonzalez’s base hit to left scored Puig with the go-ahead run.
Puig led off the seventh with a single and scored on Ethier’s two-out double before Uribe greeted right-hander Michael Tonkin with a two-run single to right to put the game out of reach. Puig’s infield hit scored a run in the eighth and the Twins threatened in the ninth with a run before Kenley Jansen came in and gave up Plouffe’s double but retired Chris Colabello for the final out and his 10th save.
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Notes: Dodgers LHP Clayton Kershaw struck out nine in five innings during his second rehab start for Double-A Chattanooga on Wednesday. ... Los Angeles optioned C Tim Federowicz to Triple-A Albuquerque and purchased the contract of veteran C Miguel Olivo. ... The Twins challenged a play at the plate in the third inning when Butera scored from second, but umpires confirmed the safe call after review.
