MINNEAPOLIMEDIA SPORTS | Josh Bell Powers Twins Past Astros After Storm Delay as Rookie Kendry Rojas Escapes Early Pressure

MINNEAPOLIS, MN (May 19, 2026) The Minnesota Twins opened their home series against the Houston Astros with a 6-3 victory Monday night at Target Field, overcoming both severe weather delays and early-game pressure behind a breakout performance from designated hitter Josh Bell and a poised first Major League start from rookie left-hander Kendry Rojas.

Minnesota entered the matchup looking to build momentum following Sunday’s narrow 5-4 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers, a win that prevented a sweep and capped a weekend series in which all three games were decided by a single run. Monday’s victory pushed the Twins to 22-26 on the season while Houston dropped to 19-30.

While the final score suggested a relatively controlled night for Minnesota, the opening inning nearly unraveled immediately.

Making his first career Major League start, 22-year-old Kendry Rojas walked into one of the most pressure-filled situations imaginable for a rookie pitcher. Just nine pitches into the game, the Astros had loaded the bases with nobody out after Rojas hit Jeremy Peña, surrendered a single to Isaac Paredes, and issued a walk to Yordan Alvarez.

Against one of the American League’s most dangerous middle-of-the-order combinations, Rojas responded with remarkable composure.

The rookie induced an infield fly before getting a critical 6-4-3 inning-ending double play to escape the jam without allowing a run. The sequence immediately energized the Target Field crowd and stabilized Minnesota’s dugout after what could have been a disastrous opening frame.

Rojas ultimately delivered four scoreless innings, allowing just two hits while striking out three batters in a performance that showcased both poise and pitch control under pressure.

Following the game, Rojas acknowledged the nerves of the moment but emphasized his focus on trusting his approach despite the chaotic start.

“I just tried to slow everything down,” Rojas said through the club’s postgame media availability. “Once the bases got loaded, I knew I had to attack the zone and trust my defense behind me. Getting that double play changed everything for me mentally.”

Manager Rocco Baldelli praised the young left-hander’s ability to settle in after the early turbulence.

“For a young pitcher making his first start, that was a huge moment,” Baldelli said. “A lot of guys can spiral there. He didn’t. He kept competing, kept throwing strikes, and gave us exactly what we needed.”

Minnesota’s offense meanwhile received a major boost from veteran slugger Josh Bell, who delivered one of his strongest performances of the season.

Bell opened the scoring in the second inning with a solo home run off Houston starter Tatsuya Imai before adding a two-run homer in the fourth inning to extend Minnesota’s lead to 3-0. The two-home-run performance marked the 12th multi-homer game of Bell’s 11-year Major League career.

Bell later added an RBI single in the sixth inning after play resumed following a lengthy weather interruption.

Severe thunderstorms moving through Minneapolis halted the game in the bottom of the fifth inning with two outs and forced grounds crews to deploy the tarp during a delay lasting one hour and 57 minutes.

When play resumed, Minnesota quickly widened the lead to 6-0 against Houston reliever Jayden Murray, appearing poised to cruise to victory.

The Astros, however, mounted a late challenge in the seventh inning, capitalizing against Minnesota’s bullpen with a three-run rally that briefly tightened the contest and forced the Twins into higher-leverage relief decisions than anticipated.

Reliever Eric Orze earned the victory after recording 1.1 scoreless innings in relief, improving to 2-1 on the season. Veteran left-hander Taylor Rogers secured the final two outs in the ninth inning to record his first save of the year, including a critical strikeout of Yordan Alvarez during Houston’s final push.

The game also unfolded against the backdrop of mounting injury concerns for Houston.

The Astros entered the series without longtime franchise cornerstone Jose Altuve, who was officially placed on the 10-day injured list after suffering a Grade 2 left oblique strain during the weekend series against the Texas Rangers.

Houston officials confirmed the diagnosis following an MRI examination conducted Sunday. Industry recovery timelines for Grade 2 oblique strains often range between six and eight weeks depending on healing progression and baseball activity tolerance.

Astros manager Joe Espada acknowledged the significance of losing one of the organization’s veteran leaders but stressed the team’s need to continue competing despite the setback.

“You don’t replace a guy like Altuve easily,” Espada told reporters prior to Monday’s game. “But we still have to find ways to win baseball games.”

Houston first baseman Christian Walker echoed that frustration while emphasizing the club’s determination to remain competitive.

“It’s frustrating,” Walker told MLB.com. “You want everybody on the field, especially a guy like that. But it’s getting into that ‘win anyway’ category for us.”

Despite Houston’s struggles, the Astros remain dangerous offensively even while navigating injuries and inconsistency throughout the opening portion of the season.

The Twins will now attempt to secure the series victory Tuesday night at Target Field behind right-hander Zebby Matthews, who is scheduled to face Houston starter Mike Burrows in Game 2 of the three-game set.

Minnesota currently sits third in the American League Central standings at 22-26, trailing the division-leading Cleveland Guardians by 4.5 games entering Tuesday’s action.

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