Buxton homers twice, Ryan works 7 scoreless innings as Twins end 7-game skid by beating Nationals

WASHINGTON (AP) — Byron Buxton hit two homer and drove in three runs, Joe Ryan pitched seven scoreless innings and the Minnesota Twins halted a seven-game losing streak with a 10-0 victory over the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night.

Jose Miranda added a two-run homer as the Twins scored eight runs off Nationals left-hander Patrick Corbin (1-5). Willi Castro added a two-run shot off reliever Jacob Barnes as Minnesota responded following a players-only meeting after Monday night's 12-3 loss in the series opener.

Overall, the Twins scored more runs in the game than in the first six games of their skid combined.

Corbin allowed nine hits and three walks, and all of his season-worst eight runs allowed were earned.

Jacob Young had two of Washington's three hits as the Nationals were shut out for the third time in seven games. The loss came a day after snapping their own five-game losing streak.

Buxton has had hits in all three of his starts in his return after missing 14 games due to right knee inflammation.

He opened Tuesday's scoring in the second when he took Corbin's 0-1 offering the opposite way for a solo shot. In the fifth, he drove a two-run homer, his third of the season, slightly closer to dead center to stretch Minnesota's advantage to 6-0.

That was more than enough support for Ryan (3-3), who allowed three hits and two walks in his first scoreless outing since June of last season.

Both free passes came in Ryan's final inning, marking just the second time a Nationals runner reached scoring position. He got out of the inning by fanning Joey Gallo for his sixth strikeout.

TRAINERS ROOM

Twins: 3B/SS Royce Lewis (right quad strain) ran the bases on Monday for the first time since going on the 10-day injured list in late March. ... RHP Josh Winder (scapular stress fracture) was slated continue his rehab assignment by throwing two-plus innings for Triple-A St. Paul on Tuesday and Friday. He's allowed eight runs — seven earned — in his first five rehab outings.

Nationals: OF Lane Thomas (left knee sprain) went 0 for 3 and stole a base in his first rehab game Tuesday for Double-A Harrisburg. He will play again on Wednesday.

UP NEXT

Nationals RHP Jake Irvin (2-4, 3.91 ERA), a Twin Cities area native and former Twins draft selection in high school, pitches for the first time against Minnesota, which sends rookie RHP Simeon Woods Richardson (1-0, 2.97 ERA).

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Joe Ryan throws to a Washington Nationals batter during the second inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 21, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Minnesota Twins' Byron Buxton hits a home run against the Washington Nationals during the second inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 21, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Minnesota Twins' Carlos Correa runs to third on his triple against the Washington Nationals during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 21, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Minnesota Twins' Byron Buxton celebrates his home run against the Washington Nationals during the second inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 21, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Patrick Corbin throws to a Minnesota Twins batter during the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 21, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Minnesota Twins' Byron Buxton celebrates his two-run home run against the Washington Nationals during the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 21, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Joe Ryan throws to a Washington Nationals batter during the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 21, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Minnesota Twins' Byron Buxton celebrates his two-run home run against the Washington Nationals during the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 21, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Cam Rising threw for 92 yards and two touchdowns before leaving the game due to an injury to his throwing hand as No. 11 Utah beat Baylor 23-12 on Saturday.

Rising scrambled and released the ball just before being driven out of bounds and was shoved into the water coolers on the Baylor sideline with 1:55 left in the second quarter, and went to the locker room for X-rays. Backup quarterback Isaac Wilson led the Utes’ offense after halftime for a second straight game.

Micah Bernard rushed for 118 yards to lead Utah (2-0).

Dequan Finn threw for 115 yards and a touchdown in his second start for Baylor (1-1). Finn struggled against Utah’s defense, losing a fumble and getting sacked three times.

Utah controlled play on both sides of the ball in the first half.

The Utes got on the board midway through the first quarter when Money Parks caught a short pass and turned it into a 28-yard reverse. Rising faked a handoff to Dijon Stanley before flipping the ball to Parks, who scored untouched.

Utah extended its lead to 14-0 on a 2-yard catch by Micah Bernard 20 seconds later. Connor O’ Toole forced Finn to fumble on a blindside hit and Karene Reid recovered the ball at the Baylor 3, setting up the Utes’ second touchdown.

Baylor had minus-10 yards on 10 plays in the first quarter.

Tao Johnson grabbed the ball on a blocked 50-yard field goal attempt and raced 77 yards down the sideline to extend Utah’s lead to 23-0 with 5:21 left in the second quarter. Johnson was the first Utah player to score a touchdown off a blocked field goal since Jay Hill in 1999 against Wyoming.

THE TAKEAWAY

Baylor: The Bears had a nightmarish start on offense and never fully recovered. Baylor did not gain a first down until midway through the second quarter and totaled 48 yards by halftime.

Utah: Another dominant performance for the Utes came at a price. Rising suffered an apparent injury to his throwing hand and an extended absence could affect the trajectory of Utah’s season.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

Utah should move into the top 10 in the next AP Poll on Sunday following the victory.

UP NEXT

Baylor: Hosts Air Force on Saturday.

Utah: At Utah State on Saturday.

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

Utah quarterback Cameron Rising (7) throws against Baylor in the first half during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Utah quarterback Cameron Rising (7) tcarries the ball; against Baylor in the first half during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Utah quarterback Cameron Rising (7) runs past Baylor linebacker Keaton Thomas (11) in the first half during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)