*Photo from MLive*
Someone in this AL Central battle had to win. Spencer Torkelson doubled in two runs, Javier Baez had two RBI's, and the Detroit Tigers defeated the Minnesota Twins with a 8-4 victory on Thursday in Minneapolis.
The win halts the Tigers long skid temporarily, giving them just their second win in 13 games. They are 4th in the AL Central with a 28-39 record and got the series started on the right foot. Torkelson and Baez led the team with their two RBI's, with Baez in particular playing well.
Detroit manager AJ Hinch said of Baez's game that "For him, the No. 1 thing is seeing the ball. All I hear about is how he’s picking the ball up, how long he’s able to track it. The posture, the open stance, it’s all an attempt for him to try to find that rhythm."
Matt Vierling gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead in the second, hitting an RBI single that brought home Andy Ibanez. In the bottom of the second, the Twins tied the game thanks to an RBI single from Willi Castro. Later in the inning, Donovan Solano gave the Twins a 4-1 lead thanks to a 3 run home run. In the 4th, Baez scored on a groundout from Miguel Cabrera to cut the Tigers deficit to 4-2.
When the 5th came around, Baez delivered a triple to left center field, scoring two runs to tie the game 4-4. Baez then scored on a ground out from Eric Haase to put the Tigers ahead 5-4. In the 9th inning, Torkelson hit a two run double to pad the lead to 7-4. Zack Short then made it an 8-4 game with an RBI double that scored Torkelson.
Hinch said of the lineup's performance that "I think all in all, falling behind and still maintaining our discipline, drawing a couple of walks, trying to work the ball to the middle, we drove the ball to the opposite field, a lot of guys did some good things."
Getting the start for the Tigers was Matthew Boyd, who allowed 4 runs on 7 hits and a walk in 6 innings, getting the win. In relief of Boyd, a bullpen trio of Will Vest, Jason Foley, and Alex Lange each pitched a scoreless inning to seal the win.
Sonny Gray was the starter for the Twins, allowing two runs on 3 hits, walking 4 hitters in 4 innings pitched. Jovani Moran got the loss by allowing 3 runs in the 5th inning. Emilio Pagan pitched two scoreless innings before Jorge Lopez allowed 3 runs in two innings.
Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said of the loss that "The way the game played out after that makes it even more frustrating for all of us, myself included. No one feels good about that game, the way that it went, up and down. The decisions are challenging sometimes; we have to make them and live with them."
Up next, the series continues on Friday night. The Tigers haven't announced a starter, while the Twins send Joe Ryan to the mound.
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