ANAHEIM, Calif. — Bailey Ober began his previous start with 4 1/3 no-hit innings against the Detroit Tigers.

He outdid himself on Friday.

The Twins starter threw five hitless innings before a soft fly ball dropped between shortstop Willi Castro and center fielder Byron Buxton to break up his bid for history.

That was part of a strong performance in which Ober threw 7 1/3 innings, matching the longest start of his career, and helped lead the Twins to a 5-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. It was the Twins’ fifth straight victory and brings them within a game of .500 after a dreadful start to the season.

Ober retired the first nine batters before issuing a leadoff walk to Angels star Mike Trout to lead off the fourth. After catcher Christian Vázquez wiped Trout off the base paths, Ober walked the next batter, as well.

But for the most part, he was pounding the strike zone and inducing weak contact.

His changeup was a particularly effective pitch, as he racked up 10 of his 12 swing-and-misses on the pitch. Ober, who gave up a run in the sixth inning, left in the eighth after retiring the first batter and then allowing a double to Zach Neto.

The long outing from Ober was especially important for the Twins after they used their top two relievers — Griffin Jax and Brock Stewart — on consecutive days.

Though an inherited runner scored after his departure, Ober’s strong start was backed by just enough run support, starting with Carlos Santana’s second home run in as many days. Santana, who did not have a home run with Minnesota until Thursday, launched a ball to center field, giving the Twins (12-13) a lead they would hold the rest of the night.

They tacked on their second run an inning later, when Byron Buxton’s sharply hit ball brought home Willi Castro. Ryan Jeffers’ single over leaping shortstop Neto scored Castro in the fifth inning, and Santana’s second hit of the night, which bounced off the mound and then second baseman Luis Rengifo’s glove, produced the Twins’ fourth run.

Castro’s third hit — a double which brought home Austin Martin  — provided an important insurance run, especially because Matt Bowman ran into trouble in the ninth inning, walking a pair of batters to bring the game-tying run to the plate. Caleb Thielbar entered and allowed a run-scoring hit before retiring Trout to end the game.

Now that they’re teammates with the Vikings, edge rusher Dallas Turner joked that he wasn’t always so fond of quarterback J.J. McCarthy. Not after Alabama lost a heartbreaker to Michigan a few months ago in the semifinals of the College Football Playoff.

Turner couldn’t stomach the thought of seeing the highlight reel on social media.

“That was probably the first time I cried in a little minute,” Turner said with a laugh. “I unfollowed him on Instagram.”

Asked for his assessment on Turner heading into that particular game, McCarthy noted his new teammate was a point of emphasis in the game plan. “A game wrecker,” he said. “Somebody that could affect the game at all times.”

That’s exactly what the Vikings are hoping Turner can be after stealing him with the No. 17 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. After having to wait to hear his name called on Thursday night, Turner admitted he did not expect to fall so far down the board.

It’s safe to say the Vikings weren’t expecting that to happen, either. As the run of offensive players continued throughout the first round, however, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah made the decision to be aggressive, trading a haul of draft picks to the Jacksonville Jaguars for the chance to select Turner.

“I’m happy to be a Viking,” Turner said. “When I got that phone call, seeing where it was from, I immediately dropped my head because I knew I was going to a good organization.”

What is he most looking forward to as he prepares to work with defensive coordinator Brian Flores?

“The sacks,” Tuner said. “Just  how he frees his pass rushers up to make a lot of plays and stuff like that.”

There should be an opportunity for Turner to make a name for himself after the Vikings lost star edge rusher Danielle Hunter in free agency. That might also explain why the Vikings hosted Turner on a Top 30 visit ahead of this week’s draft. They were clearly interested in his services.

“He told me before he left he felt comfortable here and that he could really continue to ascend as a player,” head coach Kevin O’Connell said. “He’s got some lofty goals for himself.”

What are they?

“Just being the best teammate possible,” Turner said. “Just being as dudes that my teammates can trust.”

Though he likely has some numbers he’d also like to reach along the way, Turner opted to remain humble in the early stages of his career. As for the minor beef on Instagram a few months ago, Turner confirmed that he has since re-followed McCarthy.

“That’s my brother now,” Turner said with a smile. “That’s my ride or die.”

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Tyler Nubin kept the Gophers football program’s string of recent NFL Draft successes going on Friday night. The U safety from St. Charles, Ill., was selected 47th overall in the second round by the New York Giants.

Nubin extends a streak of five straight drafts for the Gophers with a first- or second-round selection dating to 2020. The previous streak was during World War II in 1941-45.

Nubin is also the 10th Gopher defensive back selected since 2014 and joins 2023 second-round pick, center John Michael Schmitz, in New York. Carter Coughlin, a seventh round pick in 2020, also remains with the Giants.

Nubin was the second-highest graded safety (89.2) in the nation in 2023, according to Pro Football Focus. The analytics site said his coverage grade was 90.1, with only six receptions allowed in 20 targets.

Nubin set the Gophers’ career interception record with 13 picks in 55 career games since 2020. His 24 pass break-ups ranked eight in program history.

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