MINNEAPOLIS _ Michael Pineda will probably make one more start before the two-year anniversary of his career-altering elbow surgery. But it's starting to look like he's all the way back.
Pineda, who has quietly gained strength all season and become a dominant starter once more, was brilliant on Saturday, allowing one run over six innings and pitching the Twins to their second consecutive victory, 7-4 over Texas at Target Field.
The tall right-hander has pitched six times since the start of June, and the numbers are what the Twins envisioned when they signed him after his Tommy John surgery two winters ago: In 33 2/3 innings, Pineda has posted a 3.21 ERA, and that's inflated by a five-run hiccup in Kansas City two starts ago.
Perhaps this is the most precise sign that Pineda is back: He struck out nine Rangers hitters on Saturday, the most he's had since April 2017 _ pre-surgery.
With Pineda recording the first 18 outs, and Taylor Rogers racking up the final seven _ the longest stint a reliever has pitched to earn a save in a close Twins game since Bob Wells in 2000 _ the Twins were able to lean on their offense for the usual output of big innings. Byron Buxton singled home a pair of runs with a second-inning single, Jason Castro knocked in two with a sacrifice fly and a single, and Marwin Gonzalez put a cap on the day with his 10th home run of the season, becoming the 10th Twin to reach double figures.
The only worrisome note for the Twins: Rookie outfielder LaMonte Wade Jr., called up earlier in the day, dislocated his right thumb in a collision with the left-field fence while trying to catch Elvis Andrus' sixth-inning home run off of Pineda.
After Pineda, now 6-4 after his second straight victory, left with a 5-1 lead, Tyler Duffey came on and allowed three quick runs on two singles, a balk and Willie Calhoun's two-run homer. But Rogers,who had pitched only once in the last nine days, relieved him, retired Andrus on a ground out, then struck out five of the next six Rangers hitters he faced to earn his 10th save of the season.
