By admin 
SAN FRANCISCO – Taj Bradley was the Twins’ best pitcher all season, and he gave a fitting performance in his final start.
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Bradley allowed three hits and one run over six innings, leading the Twins to a 3-2 victory over the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Luke Keaschall and Brooks Lee gave the Twins their first lead with consecutive run-scoring hits in the sixth inning, and rookie Walker Jenkins added a solo homer in the seventh.
The Twins survived an eventful final three innings with their bullpen. Keaschall made a sliding catch in the right-center gap in the seventh inning, which allowed him to double off a runner at second base for an inning-ending double play. A.J. Minter stranded two runners in the eighth with a strikeout.
Jeff Hoffman gave up a run in the ninth inning, after two walks and a hits batsman loaded the bases with one out, before he secured his first save since joining the Twins. He became the 15th Twins pitcher to record a save.
Bradley made things look much easier during his six innings. He recorded his 200th strikeout of the season against his first batter, laughing as he waited for catcher Victor Caratini to pass the ball to the dugout so he could keep it.
Bradley became the 10th pitcher in Twins history to reach the 200-strikeout milestone, the first since Pablo López in 2023. Bradley, acquired from Tampa Bay for Griffin Jax at last year’s trade deadline, was the ninth MLB pitcher to total 200 strikeouts this season.
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He ranks fourth in the American League in strikeouts (205), trailing only Cleveland’s Gavin Williams (244), Toronto’s Dylan Cease (239) and New York’s Cam Schlitter (234). Cease and Schlitter are expected to be finalists for the Cy Young Award.
Bradley put up a 2.95 ERA over his final seven starts of the season, compiling 54 strikeouts in 42⅔ innings. He threw a first-pitch strike to 19 of his 24 batters Tuesday and hit 99 mph with his 100th pitch.
The Giants scored their lone run against Bradley during the second inning. Shay Whitcomb and Scott Bandura produced back-to-back singles, putting runners on the corners with one out. Giants catcher Drew Cavanaugh followed with a squeeze bunt, which scored Whitcomb.
Bradley, who allowed a first-inning run in 11 of his last 15 road starts, was saved by a strong throw from Kreidler on Tuesday. Jonah Cox drew a one-out walk, then advanced to third when he stole second and Caratini’s throw went into center field.
With one out, the Twins drew their infield in. Victor Bericoto responded with a grounder to Kreidler at shortstop, and Cox was thrown out at the plate.
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