Twins hold off Mariners to continue hot stretch

Carlos Correa went 2-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI, and the Minnesota Twins held on for a 3-1 win over the Seattle Mariners on Monday night in Minneapolis.

Christian Vazquez and Manuel Margot had one RBI apiece for the Twins, who won the opener of a four-game series. Minnesota has 13 wins in its past 14 games.

Mitch Garver went 1-for-2 with an RBI to lead Seattle.

Twins right-hander Griffin Jax (3-2) earned the win in relief despite allowing one run on two hits in one inning. Jax was the first pitcher out of the bullpen to follow starter Simeon Woods Richardson, who allowed one hit, walked one and struck out eight in six scoreless innings.

Mariners right-hander Luis Castillo (3-5) took a hard-luck loss after giving up three runs (two earned) on two hits in 6 2/3 innings. He walked three and struck out seven.

Left-hander Caleb Thielbar collected his third save of the season for the Twins. He struck out two during a scoreless ninth inning.

Castillo carried a no-hitter into the bottom of the fifth.

The Twins got on the scoreboard shortly after their first hit of the game. Max Kepler ended the no-hit bid with a leadoff double. Correa followed with another double to drive in Kepler.

Minnesota held on to a one-run lead until the top of the seventh, when Seattle scored to even the score at 1-1. Jorge Polanco led off the inning with a single, advanced to third on a single by Mitch Haniger and scored on Garver's sacrifice fly to center.

The Twins scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh to grab a 3-1 advantage.

Vazquez drove in the first run of the inning with a sacrifice fly to center. That marked the final pitch for Castillo, who was replaced by right-handed reliever Trent Thornton.

Moments later, Margot ripped a run-scoring single to center to drive in Willi Castro.

Polanco finished 1-for-4 with a run in his first game at Target Field since the Twins traded him to the Mariners during the offseason. Minnesota fans gave a big ovation to Polanco, who spent his first 10 seasons with the Twins.