Angels beat Twins 1-0 behind some slick defense

MINNEAPOLIS — Score a victory for the Angels’ defense.

The Angels beat the Minnesota Twins 1-0 on Saturday afternoon, thanks to a handful of impressive defensive plays.

Shortstop David Fletcher and second baseman Michael Stefanic combined for a pair of double plays, including a spectacular turn in the eighth inning. Fletcher also made a diving stop of a sharp grounder in the third inning.

Center fielder Jo Adell, who produced the only run with a 428-foot homer, also made a leaping catch at the fence in the sixth inning. (Adell also misplayed a catchable ball into a single earlier in the game.)

Right fielder Jared Walsh leapt at the warning track to make a play in the fourth.

“Just a really good defensive day for us,” Angels manager Phil Nevin said.

The glove work helped Kenny Rosenberg get through the first five innings, followed by one-inning outings from Jimmy Herget, Ben Joyce, José Soriano and Carlos Estévez.

Soriano was on the mound in the eighth when Fletcher and Stefanic made the play of the game. Edoard Julien hit a 106-mph one-hopper back through the middle. Fletcher, who was shading toward the bag, snagged it and flipped the ball backward to Stefanic. He made a bare-hand grab and then threw it to first to retire the side.

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“It’s like you expect (Fletcher) to do something like that, but when he does, it’s like ‘Wow,’” said Adell. “And Stefanic to finish it. That’s a special play.”

Fletcher’s defense has always been a strength, but Stefanic has not been known for his work in the field. In the past week, though, he’s made several tough plays, including a diving stop at third base earlier this week in Tampa.

The defense helped Rosenberg pick up the victory with his best outing of the season. He gave up five singles and two walks to a Twins team that was resting a few of its key players the day after clinching the division.

Rosenberg has been the Angels’ starter or bulk pitcher five times this season, and he’s lasted five innings or more each time. This, however, was the first time that he’s been so effective. He came into the game with a 5.48 ERA.

“I felt like I was good. I didn’t feel like I had my best stuff, but navigated some some runners on base, (loading the bases) in the first inning and then a couple really nice plays behind me defensively, the double play ball in that fifth inning,” Rosenberg said. “Just bearing down and making pitches when I needed to and getting those guys to hit into weak contact, strikeouts when I needed to. Just limiting the damage when there were guys on base.”