MINNEAPOLIS -- The Twins¡¯ bullpen capped off a phenomenal series against the A¡¯s on Sunday, combining for 6 2/3 scoreless frames to carry the team to a 4-3 victory and a sweep of the three-game series at Target Field.

The problem is that they were pressed into such extended action because Chris Paddack exited the game in the third inning with right elbow inflammation -- which put a bit of a damper on the Twins¡¯ 14th victory in their last 17 games.

Paddack was abruptly removed with one out in the third inning after his final fastball of the game was clocked at 90.6 mph, nearly three miles an hour below his average heater in the early innings. His changeup velocity had also noticeably diminished in his final five pitches, as he allowed a single and a double before he mentioned elbow tightness to pitching coach Wes Johnson during a mound visit, leading to his exit.

The right-hander was not available for comment after the game as he continued to undergo imaging, and the Twins did not have any firm information regarding his condition. They expect to know more ahead of Tuesday¡¯s series opener against Houston.

With that said, any elbow troubles are potentially more worrying when it comes to Paddack, because the 26-year-old sustained a season-ending right UCL sprain last September, necessitating a platelet-rich plasma injection in the area. He also previously underwent Tommy John surgery as a Minor Leaguer in 2016.

¡°He has dealt with some things in the past with that,¡± Twins acting manager Jayce Tingler said. ¡°It comes and goes at times, but he¡¯s done a great job of kind of working through it and managing it.¡±

Tingler, who managed Paddack in San Diego from 2020-21, said for now that Paddack¡¯s injury history did not yet give him reason for extra concern.

¡°No -- I think with all our guys, we¡¯ve got a pretty firm lens on it, and obviously, you see what¡¯s going around in the league with some of the pitching,¡± Tingler said. ¡°So I think it¡¯s something that we try to be on top of, and hopefully we catch this one early.¡±

If the Twins have to forge ahead with the next man up in the short-term, they¡¯re fortunate that rookie right-hander Josh Winder, the club¡¯s No. 6 prospect, has adjusted quickly to the Majors with a 1.61 ERA in his first five MLB appearances, including two starts. He has yet to allow an earned run in 12 innings as a starter.

It also helps that Sonny Gray made his return to the rotation with four scoreless innings on Saturday, though the Twins are now down to only four healthy starters out of their original seven with both Bailey Ober (right groin strain) and Dylan Bundy (COVID-19) on the injured list.

Ober threw an 18-pitch bullpen on Saturday and could be in line for another during the Twins¡¯ upcoming series, Tingler said, while Bundy was expected to fly back to Minneapolis on Sunday after quarantining in Baltimore, though it remains unclear when either can be expected to join the rotation -- especially if Ober requires one or more rehab starts before being activated. If the Twins needed another starter in the meantime, No. 17 prospect Cole Sands could be the next man up.

It also helps when the bullpen has been this reliable, giving the club an extra buffer in these extenuating circumstances. Cody Stashak came into Sunday¡¯s game cold and provided 2 2/3 innings of solid relief before Caleb Thielbar, Joe Smith, Tyler Duffey and Emilio Pag¨¢n closed out the Twins¡¯ third straight one-run victory, their longest such streak since 2015.

Spurred by success from less expected contributors in Stashak, Danny Coulombe, Griffin Jax and Jhoan Duran, the Twins¡¯ bullpen threw 14 2/3 scoreless innings during the three-game series. That group entered Sunday with a 3.21 ERA, fifth-best in the American League, and lowered that mark to 3.03 by picking up the Twins after Paddack¡¯s injury.

With the depth dwindling, it¡¯s more important than ever that they keep that going.

¡°It¡¯s been different guys stepping up, and that¡¯s a little bit of our identity right now,¡± Tingler said. ¡°It¡¯s something we talked about in Spring Training. We know we¡¯re going to need a handful of guys. We know nobody¡¯s going to feel sorry for you. Other teams have guys that are out, whether it¡¯s pitching or in the lineup, and so we kind of understand the task at hand.¡±