Sometimes it’s not how you start, or how you finish. In baseball, the last two weeks of July can carry as much weight as any stretch of the entire calendar.

The Twins enjoyed a stroll in the ballpark Sunday, waltzing to a 7-1 victory over the walk-happy Rockies. Colorado pitchers issued four leadoff walks — three by starter German Marquez — and Minnesota hit four home runs, denying Colorado a rare three-game sweep at Coors Field.

Makes sense, though — this series must look to Rockies fans like the closest thing to sure wins on the 2025 schedule. Ryan McMahon smacked a two-run homer for the second straight night, Ezequiel Tovar crushed a tiebreaking three-run homer to straightaway center field,

After grabbing an early three-run lead Saturday, the Twins’ offense went to sleep, and the Colorado Rockies roared to life. Home runs by Ryan McMahon, Ezequiel Tovar and Hunter Goodman powered the Rockies, who clinched only their third series victory of the season in 32 tries with a 10-6 win over the Twins in front of 42,131 at Coors Field.

Coors Field finally acted like Coors Field for the Minnesota Twins on Sunday, and Royce Lewis finally acted like Royce Lewis. And Joe Ryan, well, he acted like the All-Star he already is. Lewis, frustrated and baffled by his slump-ridden season,

This story was excerpted from Matthew Leach’s Twins Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

Minnesota Twins ace Joe Ryan struck out 11 over seven innings on Sunday afternoon as the Twins beat the Colorado Rockies 7-1. The Twins moved to 48-51 with the