Minnesota second baseman Brian Dozier drilled a two-run homer to cap a five-run seventh inning, while Eduardo Nunez had two hits and three R-B-I for the Twins, who dropped the opener of the three-game set 1-0 on Monday.
Advertisement
Manager Paul Molitor received assurances from Pohlad that he’ll retain his job the rest of this season and into next season, regardless of whether Antony has the interim tag removed. “It’s not like he’s been stringing together a lot of hits but when he has gotten hits, they seem to be at large moments to give us a chance to win games”. I thought the middle of the game he fell behind some guys, but he got it back together. The rookie right fielder smashed a 3-2 pitch from Francisco Rodriguez (1-1) into the right-field stands. Kepler has 10 home runs, including nine over the last 26 games. “Luckily, he left it up”.
“I felt good [in the ninth]”, said Milone, who threw 109 pitches. That marked the fourth time this year the Twins had been shut out, but the first time since April 23 at Washington. “Let’s get a win, ‘” he said. I felt good (in the ninth), felt like all the other innings.
Max Kepler and Eddie Rosario each homered in the top of the ninth giving the Twins a 4-1 lead – which they held on to for the victory. It was his longest outing since he tossed 8 1/3 innings against the Kansas City Royals on July 5, 2013.
The last-place Twins took two of three from the playoff-chasing Tigers, who were looking for their 50th win of the season.
The 40-year-old’s ninth home run came after Ivan Nova (7-5) left the bases loaded in the first and stranded the leadoff hitter in the second.
Victor Martinez and Nick Castellanos drove in Detroit’s runs. They’re still in the big leagues.
Right now, the Tigers aren’t getting them on offense. “Don’t forget about that”.
After seeing eight innings of two-hit ball turn into a no decision, the most optimistic person in the Detroit clubhouse was starter Justin Verlander.
“He’s been so good”, Verlander said. “Yeah, I think we were close, but …”
Tigers: LHP Daniel Norris (right oblique strain) allowed a run and five hits in four innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Toledo.
“He was strong, he was fresh”, Molitor said of Santana. There was a brief pause before the game restarted, and a couple umpires joined in the clapping. He has eclipsed his home run total from 2015, when he was hobbled by injuries and still won his fourth American League batting title, hitting.338.
The firing of longtime executive Terry Ryan on Monday looms as the first of several changes in store for the woeful Minnesota Twins.
The Tigers nearly untied it in the bottom of the eighth. Naquin’s six RBIs are a career high and it was his first multi-homer game.
“It still bothers him a little bit to throw, not so much to hit”, Ausmus said. “He’s just not swinging the bat well right now”, he said.
Advertisement
Meanwhile, Jordan Zimmermann pitched what could be his final bullpen session before going off on a rehab assignment. And that’s exactly what Detroit Tigers starter Matt Boyd did when asked about his bungled attempt at going around the horn after making a nifty grab with his glove to snag Joe Mauer’s line drive in the sixth inning. OF Tyler Collins was scratched before the game because of neck spasms….
