Elly De La Cruz defeats the Twins with a Grand Slam, the Reds win 8-4

Ober’s changeup was nearly unhittable, resulting in an incredible 16 mishits on 23 at-bats by the Reds batters. Still, he allowed five runs on six hits and two walks in 6 2/3 innings, including a home run to Friedl in the second inning, an inside cutter hit into the flower pots just beyond the right field wall.

The Twins totaled just two hits in their first six innings against right-hander Julian Aguiar, one of which was an infield single. Byron Buxton, playing his first game since being released from the injured list, got the second hit when he grounded an inside changeup and slammed it over the left-field fence for a solo home run.

Buxton, happy to be back after a month away, ran quickly around the basepaths, clapped twice after touching home plate and pointed to someone in the crowd. Royce Lewis jumped out of the dugout to celebrate with a special handshake. Buxton had a big smile on his face while holding the Rally Sausage as he went through a series of high-fives in the dugout, repeating “Let’s go!” as he passed his teammates.

It was Buxton’s 132nd career home run, tying him with Jacque Jones for 15th place on the Twins’ all-time list.

After trailing by six runs in the seventh inning, the Twins offense finally showed signs of life. Willi Castro hit an RBI single through the left side of the infield against Reds relief pitcher Buck Farmer, and Brooks Lee hit a two-strike, two-out changeup into right field for a two-run single.

After Edouard Julien hit a soft line drive to third base and left a runner on first base in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Twins were without another baserunner.