Overview
- Minnesota defeated the Chicago Cubs 8-1 in the opener of their interleague series at Target Field.
- Byron Buxton ignited the offense with a leadoff double and scored on Ryan Jeffers’s second-inning double.
- Ryan Jeffers, Willi Castro and Harrison Bader each hit homers during a six-run eighth inning to break the game open.
- Starter Simeon Woods Richardson delivered five scoreless innings before the bullpen preserved the rout.
- David Festa will make his start for Minnesota against Chicago rookie Cade Horton in Wednesday’s game two.