Kepler homers twice to even SL Finals

After an MVP season, Max Kepler was not producing his usual numbers in the playoffs. On Thursday, he returned to form.

"I've been struggling a little," the Twins' No. 6 prospect admitted. "I can tell that people are trying to pitch me differently or pitch around me, and I'm not going to lie -- it got to me. I really want to hit. I got into swinging at some stuff I shouldn't have. Today I was much more patient in my at-bats and tried to get back to that same mind-set and not be greedy in looking for my pitch."

Kepler cracked a grand slam and a solo shot while boosting Double-A Chattanooga to a 6-1 win at Biloxi. The Game 2 victory tied the best-of-5 Southern League Championship Series and sent the Lookouts home on a high note.

"We knew off the bat this was not going to be an easy series against this team, so it was good. It's always good to get a win, regardless of when in the series," Kepler said. "It's going to be a long bus ride. Hopefully everyone gets some Z's and is rested for [Saturday]."

The 22-year-old outfielder delivered his first multiple-hit performance of six playoff games, raising his postseason average to .217. In the regular season, slashed .322/.416/.531 with 32 doubles, 13 triples, nine homers, 71 RBIs and 18 stolen bases over 112 games on the circuit.

With two outs in the first inning, Kepler put together a seven-pitch at-bat against Shuckers starter and 28th-ranked Brewers prospect Adrian Houser, culminating in a dinger over the right-field wall.

"I didn't know it was seven pitches, because it was a blur to me and it actually went by kind of fast. But with each pitch. you get more information -- how he's throwing the ball, if he's cutting it and sinking it. The ball got bigger for me with each pitch," he said, adding that the long ball gave the Lookouts some momentum after Wednesday's 7-1 loss.

"Hitting a home run, actually just taking the lead in the opposing team's stadium -- their fans were all hyped up -- it was good for our team," he said. "They had a great crowd today, very loud, and it was good to silence them for an inning or two and get our team in the race."

The German-born slugger popped out to Biloxi third baseman Yadiel Rivera in the third, but instigated another hush in the fifth. With two down, Houser gave up a single to Shannon Wilkerson followed by back-to-back walks to Stephen Wickens and Jorge Polanco.

"They had a mound visit. I was assuming they were telling him to throw strikes, because I think he tried to make [Polanco] chase something," Kepler said. "He threw me a changeup up and in. It's my first this year, and grand slams are always fun. It's a great feeling, touching home and having three guys waiting to greet you there."

He was intentionally walked in the seventh and popped out to shortstop Orlando Arcia in the ninth.

Jason Wheeler, Minnesota's No. 25 prospect, started the game with five no-hit innings for Chattanooga and ended up allowing a run on three hits and three walks while striking out five to earn the win.

"It was big," Kepler said. "He pitched a great game. He's one of the most confident people I know on this team. That's the great thing about him. He's not scared of anybody. He'll attack anybody with any pitch he has. It was just what we needed -- we needed to be aggressive on the mound and at the plate. It worked out, and it was a great game."

The Lookouts host Game 3 at 7:15 p.m. ET on Saturday.