Series Recap: Twins sweep the Tigers in Early April Series

(Charlie Riedel/The Associated Press)

After losing 6 of their first 9 games, the Minnesota Twins have rallied off 4 wins in a row, all over the Detroit Tigers. Each matchup featured unique features and highlights- so let’s take a look at how the Twins prevailed, sweeping their division foe.

Game One: Twins Win 7-3 

W: Joe Ryan | L: Casey Mize | S: Cody Laweryson

Player of the Game: Luke Keaschall 

Game one of the series saw a pitching matchup of 2025 all-stars in Twins ace Joe Ryan and Casey Mize. The teams were quiet offensively until Byron Buxton laced a double into left field to open the bottom of the 3rd. He then advanced to 3rd on a Trevor Larnach single before scoring on Victor Caratini's sacrifice fly (1-0). Larnach would then score from a Matt Wallner single (2-0). The Twins wrapped up their scoring in the 3rd with a Royce Lewis single that scored Luke Keaschall who had walked earlier in the inning (3-0). The Tigers struck right back with 3 runs of their own in the top of the 4th. Their first tally came from a Colt Keith double that scored Kevin McGonigle (3-1) before the added 2 more on a Zach McKinstry single that sent Keith and Gleyber Torres home (3-3). After two outs to start the 4th inning, Trevor Larnach reached first base on a single to right field, bringing Keaschall back to the batters box. In this at-bat, the Twins second baseman sent the ball into the first row of the left field bleachers for his first home run of the season (5-3). Casey Mize finished the inning and was replaced in the bottom of the 5th by Drew Anderson. Joe Ryan pitched through the end of the top of the 5th inning before Anthony Banda took to the mound to start the 6th. Cody Laweryson entered in the top of the 8th in line for the save with 2 runners on and one out. He escaped the inning without allowing the Tigers to pull closer. The Twins put 2 security runs on the board in the bottom of the 8th with a Victor Caratini single that scored Buxton and Austin Martin (7-3).  

Luke Keaschall earns player of the game honors here because of his 2-RBI long-ball to break the tie. He also added in 2 walks and 2 runs. 

Game Two: Twins Win 4-2

W: Taj Bradley | L: Tarik Skubal | S: Justin Topa

Player of the Game: Taj Bradley

The Tuesday night pitching advantage appeared to be with the visitors as they trotted out 2-time defending AL Cy Young award winner Tarik Skubal. On the mound for the Twins was Taj Bradley, making his 3rd start of the season. These two went back and forth through 5 ½ scoreless innings until the twins came up in the bottom of the 5th. After Buxton and Martin walked, Keaschall singled to center field, scoring the longest-tenured Twin (1-0). Ryan Jeffers then stepped up to the plate, firing a double into right field that scored both Martin and Keaschall (3-0). After a Victor Caratini strikeout, Josh Bell doubled to left field, sending Jeffers from 2nd to home (4-0). Bradley continued to pitch for the Twins until he was replaced by Taylor Rogers in the top of the 7th inning. Rogers inherited runners on 1st and 2nd, but his first out (the second of the inning) advanced a runner to 3rd. McGoningle singled in the next at-bat, giving Detroit their first run of the night (4-1).​​ The Tigers would add one final run in the top of the 9th off of a McGonigle single that scored Javier Báez (4-2).

Taj Bradley went 6.1 innings allowing only 6 hits for 1 earned run with 10 strikeouts. This performance nets him player of the game. His season ERA sits at an astonishing 1.08 in 3 games started with a record of 2-0. 

Game Three: Twins Win 8-6 

W: Bailey Ober | L: Framber Valdez | S: Kody Funderburk

Player of the Game: Royce Lewis

Having won the first 2 games, the Twins knew they could take the series with a win Wednesday night behind Bailey Ober. 2022 World Series champion Framber Valdez started the game for Detroit. Minnesota started the ball game off fast with an offensive showing in the first inning. A Buxton single, Martin HBP, and Keaschall fielder’s choice loaded the bases only 3 batters in. With Ryan Jeffers at the plate, Valdez threw the ball into the dirt, bouncing away from Dillon Dingler behind the dish. Buxton came home on this wild pitch to open the Twins’ scoring (1-0). Later in at-bat, Jeffers grounded out to 3rd, sending Martin in (2-0). The Twins would then score off of 3 straight at-bats starting with a RBI single from Josh Bell (3-0), then a RBI single from Matt Wallner (4-0), and finally a 2-RBI single from Royce Lewis (6-0). No runs came across for either group in the following two innings. In the 4th, Keaschall knocked Buxton through with an RBI single to center field (7-0). The Tigers picked up two runs from RBI singles in the 6th, the first from Kerry Carpenter (7-1) and the second off the bat of Dillon Dingler (7-2). In the bottom of that same inning Emmanuel De Jesus attempted to pick Austin Martin off at 1st and while Martin ran around caught in a pickle, Byron Buxton made a dash for the plate. Buxton reached without a throw and extended the Twins lead (8-2). The Tigers would add 4 runs in 7th coming from a Torres 2-RBI double (8-4), Riley Greene RBI single (8-5), and a wild pitch from Cole Sands that sent Dingler home (8-6).

Royce Lewis earned Wednesday’s player of the game nod after his 2-RBI single, he went 2/3 on the day, adding in a single in the 5th inning and a walk. 

Game Four: Twins Win 3-1

W: Garrett Acton | L: Will Vest | S: Eric Orze

Player of the Game: Brooks Lee

Former Phillie Mick Abel made his 3rd start of the season for Minnesota, this time against Jack Flaherty. The first 3 innings were quiet at Target Field until veteran Josh Bell blasted a ball to deep left-center field to break the tie (1-0). Garrett Acton replaced Mick Abel to start the 7th inning on the mound for Minnesota. After allowing 2 runners on from a single and HBP, Gleyber Torres hit a sacrifice fly to score one runner (1-1). Will Vest came out of the bullpen to pitch in the bottom of the 8th for Detroit. With one out, Matt Wallner walked and Victor Caratini singled. Then with two gone, Royce Lewis singled to load the bases. Brooks Lee stepped into the left-handed batters box and grounded a ball through the left side of the infield for a 2-RBI single (3-1). The Tigers could not put any additional runs on the board in the top of the 9th and the Twins took the final game of the series. 

Brooks Lee is awarded player of the game in this spot for his clutch base hit to break the tie. He ended the day going 1/1 with 2 RBI’s after coming in as a defensive substitution in the 8th inning replacing Austin Martin.

The Twins will head to Toronto for a 3 game series with the Blue Jays next before returning home to host the Red Sox. The team improves to 7-6 (.538) and 5-2 at Target Field. They are second in the American League Central, trailing Cleveland by 1 game.

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