Twins 9, Tigers 4: Home Run Derby in Detroit Gives Twins a Series Win

Box Score
SP: Pierson Ohl - 2 2/3 IP, 4H, 4ER, 0BB, 3K (61 pitches, 41 strikes (71%))
Home Runs:  Brooks Lee (11); Austin Martin (1); Alan Roden (2) 
Top 3 WPA: Luke Keaschall (.248); Brooks Lee (.178);  Thomas Hatch (.175)
Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)

Since the trade deadline, the Twins have surprised many. Despite major roster shake-ups, the team is playing with grit and intensity. Wins haven’t come easily, but the effort is there. There has been timely hitting, aggressive baserunning, and pitching that’s keeping them in games. It’s a shift few expected this late in back-to-back series.

The Twins got things going early with a leadoff single from Alan Roden off Jack Flaherty. Matt Wallner followed with a fly ball misplayed by the Tigers’ defense, pushing Roden to second. Though Ryan Jeffers and Kody Clemens struck out, they drove Flaherty’s pitch count up. Then came Luke Keaschall who ripped a gapper to center. Another Detroit miscue allowed Roden and Wallner to score, giving the Twins a 2–0 lead.

It’s not just the bats showing urgency. The defense has been adapting on the fly, especially after Trevor Larnach exited with an injury. Clemens shifted to the outfield, Julien moved to first base, Brooks Lee took over at short, and Keaschall slotted in at second base, The reshuffle highlighted everyone's versatility, which has quickly become an asset.

Before the game, Clemens acknowledged the fans’ frustration but emphasized that the team is locked in and giving its all. That determination is starting to show.

Pierson Ohl opened with a sharp, efficient first inning—no hits, one strikeout, and just 12 pitches. The Twins' pitching staff has quietly been steady lately, consistently working through five or six innings, with the bullpen holding its own aside from a few rough outings. Overall, the rotation has been surprisingly solid.

In the second, Brooks Lee’s first at-bat ended with a ball off Flaherty’s glute, followed by a dropped ball that allowed Lee to reach first. Flaherty was clearly off his game. A line drive by Edouard Julien zipped past him, putting runners on base, and a wild pitch during Alan Roden’s at-bat brought Lee home to make it 3–1, Twins. One of Lee’s underrated strengths is his baserunning IQ—he knows he’s not fast, but he's smart and aggressive when it counts.

Ohl gave up a solo homer to open the bottom of the second, a frustratingly familiar sight for Twins fans, but limited the damage. He ran up his pitch count slightly but escaped with just one run allowed, stranding two and finishing two innings with only 35 pitches. By comparison, Flaherty had already faced 11 batters, while Ohl had seen just seven. Early on, this looked like a game the Twins were firmly in control of.

Kody Clemens continued to showcase his versatility, shifting from right to left field in the third inning. On a routine play turned highlight reel, he nearly robbed Zach McKinstry of a home run—gloving the ball at the wall before losing it on the way down. McKinstry's homer cut the Twins’ lead to 3–2. Still, Clemens’ athleticism has been on full display, both in this game and over the past five.

Pierson Ohl ran into trouble in the third, pushing his pitch count to 61 and surrendering a two-run homer to Kerry Carpenter with two outs, giving the Tigers a 4–3 lead. With Thomas Hatch warming in the bullpen, a slow mound visit bought time. Hatch, recently claimed from the Royals after spending most of the season with AAA Omaha, was set to make his Twins debut.

The Tigers' lead didn’t last long. Brooks Lee jumped on the first pitch of the fourth inning and crushed a 430-foot homer to right-center—his 11th of the season and longest of his career, leaving the bat at 105.2 MPH to tie the game at 4–4.

Matt Wallner followed with a single that was mishandled at second, allowing him to reach safely. Ryan Jeffers then dropped a bloop into center, and Wallner turned on the jets, scoring all the way from first to give the Twins a 5–4 lead. As he crossed home, Wallner made a gesture mimicking opening a book—a symbolic nod to the team starting a “new chapter” after the trade deadline. It was a meaningful moment for a clubhouse still processing the recent shake-up.

Luke Keaschall added to the momentum in the fifth with his fifth double of the season and third RBI of the game, driving in Jeffers to put the Twins up 6–4. That would end Flaherty’s day, with Tyler Holton coming in for the Tigers.

In the sixth, Austin Martin replaced Edouard Julien and made an immediate impact—launching a first-pitch home run to left, padding the lead to 7–4. Martin is still finding his place within the organization, and with limited opportunities left, performances like this are crucial. It was his first homer of the season with the Twins. 

The Twins weren’t done. Alan Roden joined the home run party with his second of the season—and first in a Twins uniform—pushing the lead to 8–4.

Hatch continued the sixth inning, and continued a great appearance for his Twins debut. Both innings, 1-2-3 innings. 

The seventh inning Detroits pitcher Tommy Kahnle was behind the count consistently and had two on base and one out, and walked Martin to load the bases. Pitching change ensued and the Twins scored Royce Lewis on an RBI ground out from Mickey Gasper to first a 9-4 lead. 

Hatch stayed through the start of the eighth inning until the lefty hitter Ibanez came in and Kody Funderburk came into the game to face him. Funderburk is another pitcher in relief position who has had a rocky season bouncing back and fourth four times, but has really been locked in these last two series. Ibanez has struggled against sinkers and Funderburk, the match up made a lot of sense, and Funderburk eliminated Ibanez with the first out. The Tigers got runners on the corners and a quick breather, and Funderburk pitched pinch-runner Jahmai Jones into a double play to secure the lead and eliminate damage on the way out. 

For their final act, the Twins brought out reliever RHP Brooks Kriskie to finish out the game and the ninth inning. Kriskie comes from the Cubs off of waivers. Kriskie worked his way through the first three hitters, striking out two and only one on base. His next pitch, found the barrel of the bat, but was fielded by none other than Keaschall to end the game, and the series. 

What’s Next? 
The Twins get a day off on Thursday, before heading into the third divisional series of the month with the Kansas City Royals at home.  Joe Ryan (10-5; 2.83ERA) will be taking the mound against a pitcher to be named later at 7:10PM CST, Friday.

Postgame Interviews
Coming Soon. 

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet