ARLINGTON, Texas (Interstat) — Byron Buxton launched two home runs, including a decisive three-run shot in the eighth inning, and Bailey Ober combined with three relievers on a three-hit shutout as the Minnesota Twins blanked the Texas Rangers 4-0 on Thursday afternoon at Globe Life Field.

The game was a pitcher’s duel for seven innings before Buxton provided the necessary insurance, ensuring the Twins would take three of four in the series.

Buxton set the tone immediately, driving the game’s fourth pitch from Texas starter Tyler Mahle over the center field wall for a solo home run, his 33rd of the season. That lone run held up for much of the afternoon thanks to Ober’s dominance.

Ober was superb in earning his sixth win, scattering two hits over six scoreless innings. He walked one and struck out five, effectively neutralizing the Rangers’ lineup. The right-hander worked out of his only significant jam in the third inning after Ezequiel Duran singled. Ober induced an inning-ending double play from Joc Pederson to escape unscathed.

Mahle, saddled with the loss, was nearly as effective for Texas. He limited the Twins to one run on five hits across five innings, striking out four. The Rangers’ bullpen initially kept the game close, with Jacob Webb firing two perfect innings and Hoby Milner recording four outs without allowing a hit.

The game’s complexion changed dramatically in the top of the eighth. With Milner still on the mound, Edouard Julien led off with a single and Christian Vázquez followed with another single. After a pitching change, Buxton stepped in and connected for his second homer of the day, a towering blast to center field off reliever Cole Winn that broke the game open. The three-run shot was Buxton’s 34th of the year and accounted for all four of the Twins’ runs batted in.

Minnesota’s bullpen preserved the shutout with authority. Kody Funderburk struck out two in a perfect seventh inning, Cole Sands worked a 1-2-3 eighth, and Pierson Ohl allowed a two-out double to Billy McKinney in the ninth before securing the final out.

The Twins outhit the Rangers 10-3. Julien and Royce Lewis each had two hits for Minnesota. The Rangers, who were held to just three singles before McKinney’s ninth-inning double, saw their modest two-game winning streak snapped.

The victory improves the Twins’ record to 69-90. The Rangers fall to 80-79 with the loss. The game was played in 2 hours, 29 minutes before an announced crowd of 23,298.

Minnesota travels to Philadelphia for a three-game series starting Friday, while Texas heads to Cleveland to begin its final series of the season.