Joe Mauer got a statue and the Twins beat the Tigers
The Detroit Tigers, already having secured a series win against the Twins in Minneapolis, were going for the series sweep today. It was also a scheduled celebration at the park as Hall of Famer Joe Mauer had a statue unveiled outside of Target Field.
Gleyber Torres led off the game against Twins righty Simeon Woods Richardson. The team is definitely glad to have his bat and defense back, as Colt Keith has scuffled of late – particularly with some brutal miscues on defense. Torres flied out but Kerry Carpenter was able to hit a gorgeous double off the right field wall. Unfortunately, Riley Greene continued to struggle too, striking out before Spencer Torkelson grounded out.
On the flip side, Casey Mize has had a fantastic start to the season so far, truly looking like the 1:1 draft pick he was. However, nobody told Byron Buxton. He rocketed a massive HR to left center, luckily of the solo variety, but Mize allowed no other baserunners in the inning.
After the Tigers went meekly in the 2nd, Mize was back out there and ran into more trouble. Ty France, recently of the Mariners and Reds, hit a single, advanced to second on a groundout, took third on a wild pitch, then scored on a single from Brooks Lee. Lee was called up today from across the river (St. Paul Saints are the AAA affiliate) because of Jose Miranda’s boneheaded base-running gaff in yesterday’s game. It was 2-0 Twins after 2 innings.
The Tigers tried again in the third. Trey Sweeney led it off with a single. Ryan Kreidler, playing CF because the Tigers have FIVE outfielders on the IL (Meadows, Margot, Perez, Baddoo, Vierling), struck out swinging. So did Torres. Carpenter, undaunted, knocked a solid single to put runners on first and third. Unfortunately, Greene continued his slump by striking out, too.
Mize rebounded with a 1-2-3 clean inning, a much needed relief.
The Tigers finally broke through in the top of the fourth. Torkelson lead off with a massive HR to deep left; it was a no-doubter. That makes five on the year already. At the same time there were fireworks going on OUTSIDE the stadium, as a car was on fire in an adjacent parking lot. The smoke began to drift over the field, clouding camera views. Tigers didn’t tack on, however, as the next three batters were retired.
Spencer Torkelson hits his 5th home run of the season. Dan Dickerson on the call #RepDetroit pic.twitter.com/3HCoq8eAPn
— Dan Dickerson Calls (@dannydHRs) April 13, 2025
Mize found his groove, keeping the Twins off the bases for another clean inning. The offense responded by getting two more on with two outs, but Riley flew out. At this point he was 0-3 with runners on base, leaving 5 men on. Overall a fairly brutal outing offensively, but they were probably due for one. Related:
Riley Greene has been prone to some brutal slumps throughout his short MLB career. The hope, though, is that these valleys will eventually smooth out. pic.twitter.com/ua19t2kDBE
— Cody Stavenhagen (@CodyStavenhagen) April 13, 2025
Mize was dominating at this point, retiring the side again with no drama.
The Twins went to the bullpen in the 6th, bringing on Louis Varland. The reliever hit 100 mph multiple times and struck out the side, just overpowering Tigers hitters.
The game entered the bottom of the 6th and Mize started to get hit hard. Edouard Julien hit a fly ball off the foul pole, resulting in a solo HR. Buxton knocked a double, Willi Castro hit a classic twinshit infield single to put runners on first and third, and things were looking rough. Mize got Matt Wallner to strike out but France singled in a runner. Mize got one more out before AJ Hinch went to his bullpen, bringing in lefty Brant Hurter who induced a grounder to end the inning.
Cole Sands relieved Varland. Dingler flied out then Sweeney worked a walk. Hinch pinch-hit Justyn-Henry Malloy for Kreidler, but he hit a deep fly ball to left field that was caught in a midair dive by Harrison Bader; it was an incredible defensive play. Torres grounded out to end the inning with the team still down 4-1.
Hurter stayed in the game. He put a hurting on the Twins, retiring the side.
Griffin Jax came in for the home team in the 8th. The Tigers continued to struggle and Jax struck out the side.
Hurter came out again and got into trouble. Malloy had to make a highlight catch on a Buxton fly ball. Torres and Carpenter couldn’t get to a blooper, putting Castro on. Wallner stroked a double to left about 6 inches inside the line, scoring Castro. At that point Hurter’s day was done and Kenta Maeda came in to try to stem the bleeding. He got a grounder, walked a guy, and ended the inning with another grounder.
Tigers were down to their final chance, facing elite closer Jhoan Duran. Groundout, strikeout, flyout. Game over. Twins 5, Tigers 1, and Detroit fell to 9-6.
Still, it’s a promising start to the season and the team has won four straight series. The Tigers will travel one state over to cheeseland to take on the Milwaukee Brewers in a three game series starting on Monday. The Tigers are scheduled to face LHP Tyler Alexander on Monday with Tarik Skubal on the mound.