Lars Nootbaar hit a two-run single with two outs in the ninth inning, leading the St. Louis Cardinals to a 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Sunday.
Victor Scott II hit a home run for St. Louis, which has won four of its last five games.
“I love this one. We just snatched it from them,” said manager Oliver Marmol.
Willi Castro hit a home run and Royce Lewis had an RBI double for Minnesota, which lost for the first time in 60 games this season when ahead after the eighth inning. The Twins are now three games behind AL Central-leading Cleveland.
Nolan Arenado started the Cardinals’ comeback with a one-out single off Jhoan Duran (6-7). Brendan Donovan then hit a grounder to second baseman Edouard Julien, who threw the ball into left field while trying to start a double play.
Pinch-runner José Fermín advanced to third, and Donovan reached second base.
“First time that I’ve ever missed on a double-play throw arm-side,” Julien said. “Maybe my feet weren’t turned enough, but I usually do that. I don’t know. It just happened in a bad moment.”
After Tommy Phan struck out, Nootbaar hit a grounder into left field.
“With a guy like that I was just, ‘Get something over the plate and put a good swing on it.’ Because he’s got such electric stuff, obviously,” Nootbaar said.
Shawn Armstrong (3-2) got two outs for the win, and Ryan Helsley earned his MLB-leading 40th save in the ninth inning.
Castro gave Minnesota the lead with a leadoff home run in the first inning against Erick Fedde. It was Castro’s 11th home run of the season.
Scott responded with his second career home run in the fifth inning against Zebby Matthews.
