Quebec’s Édouard Julien hit his third major league home run in Minnesota on Wednesday afternoon to give the Twins a 7-1 win over the San Francisco Giants.
As the Twins’ leadoff hitter in the game, Julien catapulted pitcher Anthony DeSclafani’s offer 407 feet off home plate behind the Target Field fence on the bottom of the first half. His teammates greeted him in the dugout by presenting him with the fisherman’s jacket reserved for the team’s newest hitter with a long ball.
“It was my first time at Target [Field] “And I will always remember that,” Julien commented on his circuit, quoted on the Twins website at the end of the meeting. It was cool, in opposition and more. It’s always satisfying to hit a home run into an opponent’s field.
Julien’s bombshell set the tone for the game as Minnesota took a 5-1 lead after the first three innings. The 24-year-old Quebecer himself managed a second run that game, in the Twins’ second batting stroke, using a sacrifice flight that pushed teammate Matt Walner home.
Scored two points
Two RBIs in the game, but also two runs scored. In the fourth round, Julien passed DeSclafani, only to cross the number plate a little later after a bad shot by the Giants shooter.
DeSclafani (3-4) was credited with the loss after conceding seven runs in five innings, including four earned. He also allowed a home run for Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers.
Starter Joe Ryan also earned the seventh win in eight decisions for the Minnesota club this season by giving up just one run in five innings. With a record of 26-24, the Twins lead the American League Central Division.
On the second pillow
Julien was officially recalled by the Twins on Saturday and had hit his first two home runs last month during his first term in Major League Baseball. In his second career game, he hit a long ball at Yankee Stadium on April 13 before repeating the feat at Fenway Park the following week.
Julien played defensively at second base in Wednesday’s game. He had an error in the fifth inning, but before that he had made a good play early in the second inning and pinned runner Casey Schmitt, who was trying to score from third base after landing in the infield.
Julien was playing his 13th game in Major League Baseball. He now has a .205 batting average, six RBIs and as many runs scored.