Detroit Tigers score: The Tigers left 14 runners on base and still scored eight runs as Casey Mize struck out 10 Twins in an 8-5 win on Saturday.
MINNEAPOLIS — The Detroit Tigers let the Minnesota Twins hang around for too long.
Blame the lack of timely hitting for that.
Eventually, the Tigers capitalized on all their baserunners by scoring three runs in the seventh inning, propelling them to an 8-5 win over the Twins on Saturday, Aug. 16, in the third of four games in the series at Target Field. The offense finished 4-for-21 with runners in scoring position.
The Tigers (73-52) have won their fourth game in a row — and they've won for the 13th time in their past 19 games. More importantly, the Tigers extended their lead in the American League Central to 8½ games over the Cleveland Guardians.
Leading the Tigers, right-hander Casey Mize responded from a stretch of poor starts with dominance against the Twins, allowing three runs on three hits and one walk with a season-high 10 strikeouts across 6⅓ innings. He registered double-digit strikeouts for the second time in his five-year MLB career, spanning 82 games.
It was his best start since July 5.
The Tigers and Twins were tied, 3-3, entering the seventh inning. The AL Central rivals combined for five runs in the seventh — three from the Tigers, two from the Twins.
Here's how the Tigers scored their three runs: Trey Sweeney drilled a ground-ball single that deflected off the glove of third baseman Royce Lewis; Jahmai Jones — pinch-hitting for Colt Keith — delivered a double off left-handed reliever Kody Funderburk, who had just taken over for a right-handed reliever; Funderburk threw a wild pitch that allowed Sweeney to scamper home.
The Tigers took a 6-3 lead, but the Twins responded soon after.
Left-handed reliever Tyler Holton replaced Mize with one out and a runner on first in the seventh. He immediately gave up a double to Matt Wallner, putting two runners in scoring position. The Twins cut the deficit to 6-4 on Brooks Lee's groundout, then to 6-5 when James Outman slapped a grounder to first base; Spencer Torkelson fielded it but Holton, covering first, missed the catch for an error and an unearned run.
In the eighth inning, the Twins loaded the bases against right-handed reliever Will Vest, but Vest escaped the jam. He struck out Lee swinging on a nasty slider below the strike zone.
Vest screamed in celebration.
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The Tigers padded their lead with two runs in the top of the ninth inning, making it 8-5.
Zach McKinstry, who provided a leadoff single, scored the first of two runs when right-handed reliever Justin Topa made a terrible mistake. He fielded a weak grounder from Sweeney and checked on McKinstry heading to third, only to turn and then sail his throw over the first baseman's head.
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Casey Mize bounces back
Although Mize entered Saturday's game with a 7.32 ERA over 19⅔ innings in his past five starts, the 28-year-old flashed the success — a 2.63 ERA in 15 starts — that led him to his first All-Star Game appearance.
He struck out 10 of 23 batters.
Mize faced the minimum 12 batters through four innings, with catcher Dillon Dingler throwing out a runner trying to steal second base in the first inning.
The Twins finally got to Mize in the fifth inning, which began with a six-pitch walk.
After the walk, Ryan Jeffers blooped a single into left field, and Brooks Lee capitalized with a two-run triple off the wall in left-center field, just beyond the reach of leaping center fielder Wenceel Pérez. Royce Lewis delivered a sacrifice fly to cap the scoring, putting the Twins ahead, 3-2.
With four runs allowed on Saturday, Mize owns a 3.63 ERA in 21 starts.
Six runs on offense
Before the seventh inning, the Tigers were 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position.
The one hit occurred on the second opportunity, as Spencer Torkelson stepped to the plate after Riley Greene struck out swinging with runners on first and second. He bailed out the Tigers with an RBI single with two outs in the first inning for a 1-0 lead.
In the third, Kerry Carpenter pulled a solo home run off right-hander Zebby Matthews' up-and-in 96 mph fastball for a 2-0 advantage. The ball was hit high enough, but it barely traveled over the wall in right-center field.
It was Carpenter's 22nd homer in 96 games.
The Tigers tied the game, 3-3, in the sixth inning with Greene's sacrifice fly after Gleyber Torres and Carpenter drew back-to-back walks with one out.
Contact Evan Petzold at [email protected] or follow him @EvanPetzold.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers mash Minnesota Twins, 8-5, for 4th straight win
Category: Baseball
