Luke Keaschall doubled twice and knocked in three runs, Thomas Hatch tossed 4 1/3 innings of scoreless relief, and the visiting Minnesota Twins topped the Detroit Tigers 9-4 on Wednesday afternoon.
It was Keaschall’s second consecutive three-RBI game since coming off the injured list. Brooks Lee and Alan Roden each had two hits, including solo home runs, and scored twice. Austin Martin notched his first-career homer, while Ryan Jeffers added two hits, a run scored and an RBI.
Hatch (1-0) allowed only two hits and a walk while striking out three. Minnesota starter Pierson Ohl surrendered four runs and four hits in 2 2/3 innings. The Twins took two of three games in the series against the American League Central leaders.
Kerry Carpenter belted a two-run home run for the Tigers, his 20th homer of the season. Spencer Torkelson and Zach McKinstry also supplied solo homers.
Detroit starter Jack Flaherty (6-11) gave up six runs (five earned) and eight hits in 4 2/3 innings. Coupled with Cleveland’s victory over the New York Mets, the Tigers’ lead in the division is now down to six games from a season-high 14.
Minnesota led 3-1 after two innings, but the Tigers rallied with three runs in the third. McKinstry hit an opposite-field shot that bounced off the glove of left fielder Kody Clemens and over the left-field wall. Colt Keith then reached on a one-out single before Carpenter launched his long ball to right field.
The Twins regained the lead with two runs in the fifth inning. Matt Wallner reached on a Gleyber Torres error and scored on a Jeffers double. One out later, Keaschall smacked a ground-rule double to bring home Jeffers.
Minnesota extended its lead to 8-4 in the sixth inning off Tyler Holton as Martin ripped his breakthrough homer over the left-field wall. Roden then clubbed his second-career homer to right-center.
Tommy Kahnle issued three straight walks in the seventh, and Mickey Gasper grounded out against Brant Hurter to bring in Royce Lewis and push the Twins’ lead to 9-4.
Twins offense erupts to book 9-4 win over division-leading Tigers
