On a brisk evening in Minneapolis, the Tigers were on a mission to shake off a couple of tough losses. With their ace, Tarik Skubal, taking the mound, hopes were high. However, the Twins, despite fielding a lineup that hasn’t exactly been striking fear into opponents, managed to piece together enough offense to clinch a 4-2 victory.
Skubal, in his third outing of the season, had been in fine form, boasting nine strikeouts and zero walks over thirteen innings. The question on everyone’s mind: would he finally issue a walk tonight?
For the Twins, Taj Bradley was making his third start of the season. After spending two years in the Rays’ rotation, Bradley found himself in Minnesota following a trade for Griffin Jax. The Twins’ strategy of stocking up on young arms like Bradley and Mick Abel could spell trouble for the Tigers down the road.
The Tigers had a promising start in the second inning. Zach McKinstry doubled to right, and Spencer Torkelson’s single put runners on the corners. But after Parker Meadows struck out on a wicked splitter and Javier Báez got hit by a pitch to load the bases, Colt Keith grounded out, squandering the opportunity.
Skubal faced his own test in the bottom of the inning. After a Victor Caratini double and a Josh Bell single, runners were at the corners. Yet, Skubal showed his mettle, escaping with a strikeout and a flyout.
The third inning saw the Twins threaten again with back-to-back singles, but a double play by Austin Martin and a soft comebacker to Skubal kept the game scoreless.
In the fourth, a Kevin McGonigle throwing error and a single put two on with two outs. Royce Lewis sent a fly ball deep to left, but Riley Greene was there to make the catch. Skubal was flirting with danger, and in the fifth, it finally caught up with him.
Byron Buxton drew Skubal’s first walk of the year, and Austin Martin followed suit. Luke Keaschall then singled to center, bringing Buxton home for the game’s first run.
Ryan Jeffers, previously 1-for-25 against Skubal, doubled to right, scoring two more. Bell added a double to make it 4-0, ending Skubal’s night.
Tyler Holton came in to stop the bleeding, but the damage was done.
The Tigers showed some life in the seventh. With Bradley still pitching, Torkelson and Meadows hit singles, but after a Báez strikeout and a pitching change to Taylor Rogers, Jahmai Jones flew out, scoring Torkelson. McGonigle’s single brought another run home, but Gleyber Torres struck out to end the threat.
Connor Seabold took over in the seventh and delivered a clean inning. In the eighth, with two outs, McKinstry and Torkelson walked, setting the stage for Kerry Carpenter to pinch-hit. Eric Orze came in to face Carpenter, who struck out, leaving the Tigers’ hopes hanging.
Seabold returned in the eighth, allowing two singles before a strikeout and a walk loaded the bases. He struck out Brooks Lee with a surprising low fastball and got Buxton to foul out, escaping unscathed.
In the ninth, Báez doubled, and McGonigle, with a keen eye for a splitter, doubled down the right field line to score Báez, making it 4-2. Justin Topa replaced Orze, and though Torres grounded out, Greene walked to put runners on the corners. Dillon Dingler’s soft groundout ended the game, leaving the Tigers just short.
The Tigers showed flashes of potential late, but ultimately fell short. It’s a reminder that in baseball, sometimes the breaks just don’t go your way.