Twins right fielder Max Kepler improved his hitting streak to seven games Wednesday when he connected for an RBI double in the second inning, driving in Miguel Sano with the winning run in the Twins' 4-3 victory over the Orioles to complete a three-game sweep in Baltimore.
Kepler is hitting .359 over his past 10 games with three home runs, five doubles, nine RBI, seven runs scored and six walks. During that stretch, his batting average has jumped from .235 to .270.
The Twins are 25-18, the third-best record in the American League, trailing only Houston (31-16) and the New York Yankees (27-17).
It has been an incredible turnaround for the Twins. Through 43 games last year they were 11-32 and 14 ½ games out of first place. They wouldn't win their 25th game until June 28, when they defeated the White Sox 4-0 to move to 25-51.
Kepler was asked on Sunday, before leaving for Baltimore, about what has turned around the Twins.
"It's early. I wouldn't compare any teams," he said. "I don't really compare in general. The team is gelling nicely and everyone is coming together as a group and everyone has each others' back, which makes the ballgame fun when you see your teammates fighting for you. It's always nice to see."
Does Kepler see any big changes in his own performance?
"It's probably the same," he said. "I try and approach and attack every game with the same confidence and energy, so nothing really changes in that aspect."