Spencer Torkelson’s go-ahead single capped a four-run eighth as the host Detroit Tigers rallied for a 4-3 win over the Minnesota Twins on Sunday afternoon.
Javier Baez hit his first homer of the season and Mark Canha supplied a two-run double for Tigers, who split the four-game series with their Central Division rival.
Will Vest (1-0) picked up the win in relief and Jason Foley closed out the ninth for his fourth save. Starter Jack Flaherty struck out eight and allowed six hits, three runs and two walks in 6 1/3 innings.
Twins starter Bailey Ober tossed six scoreless innings. Griffin Jax (1-1) was charged with the final run and took the loss.
Christian Vazquez homered and Ryan Jeffers drove in the other two runs for the Twins.
Minnesota scored two runs in the second. Carlos Santana drew a one-out walk and advanced to third on Kyle Farmer’s two-out single. Edouard Julien drew a walk to load the bases before Jeffers singled to left to drive in Santana and Farmer.
Vasquez made it 3-0 in the fourth with his one-out homer. He ripped a first-pitch slider over the left-center field wall for his first homer this season.
Ober settled in after giving up a one-out single to Gio Urshela in the second. He didn’t allow another baserunner until Torkelson’s double off the left-field wall in the seventh.
Baez broke up the shutout bid in the eighth with his first extra-base hit of the season. He golfed a Caleb Thielbar sweeper over the left-field wall. The Twins then self-destructed.
Carson Kelly reached on an infield single that was mishandled by shortstop Willi Castro. After Riley Greene bounced a single, Canha hit a bouncer toward third that got past Farmer.
It was generously scored a double as both runners scored to tie the game. Canha reached third on the throw home and scored on Torkelson’s bloop single.
The Twins’ Matt Wallner and Julien drew two-out walks in the top of the ninth. Foley then retired Jeffers on a groundout.
–Field Level Media