The Minnesota Twins entered Detroit this weekend having won just five of their past 20 games — and only 13 of 35 games since their impressive 13-game winning streak in early May.
Somehow, the Detroit Tigers were limited to one run by a struggling Twins pitcher.
The Tigers lost, 4-1, to the Twins on Friday, June 27, in the opener of a three-game series at Comerica Park, limited to just three hits. Two of those hits occurred in the first 5⅔ innings against right-hander David Festa, who entered with a 6.39 ERA.
Festa improved his ERA to 5.40.
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The Tigers (51-32) scored their only run in the eighth inning against right-handed reliever Griffin Jax, as Colt Keith ripped a fastball into the right-field corner for a triple and scored on an ensuing single from Gleyber Torres.
After that, the Tigers threatened to mount a comeback.
There were two runners in scoring position with one out, thanks to Torres’ single and Zach McKinstry’s pinch-hit single and stolen base. Those hits created an opportunity for Riley Greene and Spencer Torkelson.
But Greene struck out swinging.
And then Torkelson struck out swinging.
Before the eighth, the Tigers had their best scoring chance with two outs in the second inning after Torkelson’s hit by pitch and Dillon Dingler’s single. There were runners on the corners for Parker Meadows, but Meadows grounded out softly.
The next scoring chance didn’t come until the seventh inning, facing right-handed reliever Louie Varland. In the seventh, Torkelson singled and Wenceel Pérez walked, but Dingler grounded into a force out and Meadows popped out.
The Tigers finished with six hits and one walk.
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Sawyer Gipson-Long starts
Right-hander Sawyer Gipson-Long made a traditional start rather than serving as the bulk reliever behind an opener. He allowed three runs on four hits and two walks with five strikeouts across 5⅓ innings, throwing 77 pitches.
It was just his second traditional start in five games since returning from the injured list.
The Twins scored one run apiece in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, with the big swing from Byron Buxton in the fifth. He hit a middle-middle sinker for a 425-foot solo home run to left field, giving the Twins a 2-0 lead.
It was Buxton’s 18th homer in 65 games.
Gipson-Long owns a 4.70 ERA through 23 innings this season, following his return from elbow surgery and hip surgery. Before this year, he hadn’t pitched in MLB since September 2023.
What’s wrong with Brant Hurter?
The third run charged to Gipson-Long crossed home plate with left-handed reliever Brant Hurter on the mound, as Brooks Lee singled home Willi Castro.
That made it 3-0 in favor of the Twins.
Hurter hasn’t recorded an out in his past 11 batters, responsible for one double, two singles, five walks and three hit-by-pitches during that stretch.
In his past four games, Hurter has surrendered 10 runs (five earned runs) on seven hits, six walks, one intentional walk and three hit by pitches — in 1⅔ innings.
The Twins scored their fourth and final run on a sacrifice bunt for a 4-0 advantage in the seventh inning, facing right-handed reliever Carlos Hernández.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
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