MINNEAPOLIS — Jose Berrios allowed two hits and struck out 11 over 7 2/3 innings as the Minnesota Twins beat the Colorado Rockies 2-0 on Thursday night, salvaging a split of an interleague doubleheader between the first-place teams in the AL Central and NL West.

The Twins scored just three runs in the doubleheader, but Berrios (2-0) made his scant support in the nightcap hold up with the best outing of his young career.

In Game 1, Nolan Arenado homered and Mark Reynolds drove in two runs to lead the Rockies to a 5-1 victory.

Berrios, Minnesota’s top pitching prospect, beat Cleveland in his 2017 debut on May 13, allowing one run while also pitching into the eighth inning. On Thursday he was even better, throwing first-pitch strikes to 21 of 27 hitters he faced. He issued his only walk of the game to pinch-hitter Tony Wolters with two outs in the eighth. Reliever Taylor Rogers came on to retire Charlie Blackmon on a fly ball.

Brandon Kintzler worked a scoreless ninth for his 11th save in 12 chances.

The Twins got RBI singles from Max Kepler in the first inning and Robbie Grossman in the fourth. They were two of five hits allowed by Tyler Chatwood (3-6), who also walked five and struck out four in five innings.
Santana struggling

Twins starter Ervin Santana (6-2) took the mound in Game 1 with the major league lead in ERA (1.50). Santana finished seven innings for the fifth time in nine tries, but he gave up five runs and six hits while walking four.