Carlos Correa leads Twins to 9-3 win over Tigers
Minnesota Twins second baseman Kyle Farmer forces out Detroit Tigers' Kerry Carpenter after Zach McKinstry hit into a fielder's choice during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Monday, Aug. 7, 2023, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlso Osorio)
DETROIT (AP) — Carlos Correa homered and drove in four runs as the Minnesota Twins won their season-best fifth straight game with a 9-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Monday night.
The Twins (60-54) also got a homer and three RBIs from Ryan Jeffers, improving to 15-8 since the All-Star break.
“The biggest part of this game is consistency,” said Jeffers, who extended his hitting streak to 13 games. “We’re finally pulling the offense, pitching and bullpen together and getting some good games.”
Pablo López (7-6) won his second straight start, holding Detroit scoreless for seven innings. He gave up five hits and didn’t walk a batter while striking out eight. The Tigers only had one runner reach scoring position against him.
Donovan Solano led off the game with a double and scored on Correa’s one-out double. Max Kepler followed with an infield single and Jeffers hit his ninth homer of the year to put the Twins up 4-0.
After the nine-batter first, Solano led off the second with a single and took second on Jorge Polanco’s base hit. Correa hit Minnesota’s second three-run homer of the game to make it a 7-0 game.
Michael A. Taylor made it 8-0 with a third-inning RBI groundout.
Tigers closer Alex Lange walked the bases loaded in the eighth before hitting Kepler to increase the margin to nine.
“We know Alex is going to miss bats, but giving up free baserunners is just not a path of success you can sustain,” Hinch said of his struggling closer. “I’m (going to) root for him and keep pushing him, but this was a step back.”
Utilityman Zack Short pitched for the second time in four days and the fifth time this season. He threw a scoreless ninth inning, getting his first career strikeout when Taylor missed a 70.7 eephus.
Nick Maton hit a three-run homer in the ninth.
RUNNING OUT OF ARMS
Hinch used his top-three relievers – Tyler Holton, Jason Foley and Lange – one day after the Tigers gave up 10 runs to Tampa Bay.
“I used everyone that was available today – that’s obviously not a game those three would normally pitch,” he said. “We’re really in a bind right now, so we’ll be discussing our options.”
HOT STREAK
López is 2-1 in his last four starts with a 1.80 ERA and 28 strikeouts against three walks in 25 innings.
UP NEXT
The teams play the second of four games on Tuesday, with Minnesota RHP Sonny Gray (5-4, 3.18) facing Detroit LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (7-5, 2.96) in a battle of aces.