Tigers, Twins open five-game series with doubleheader
After having a six-game winning streak snapped Wednesday at Milwaukee, the revitalized Detroit Tigers begin a five-game series in Minneapolis with a doubleheader Friday afternoon against the Minnesota Twins. Left-hander Matthew Boyd will start the opener for the Tigers while Minnesota will counter with right-hander Randy Dobnak in a rematch of a…
After having a six-game winning streak snapped Wednesday at Milwaukee, the
revitalized Detroit Tigers begin a five-game series in Minneapolis with a
doubleheader Friday afternoon against the Minnesota Twins.
Left-hander Matthew Boyd (1-4, 7.27 ERA) will start the opener for the Tigerswhile Minnesota will counter with right-hander Randy Dobnak (5-2, 3.12) in arematch of a pitching matchup that took place last Saturday in Detroit in agame won by the Tigers, 8-2.
That was the first victory since September 2019 for Boyd, who allowed two runs(one earned), including a 437-foot solo homer by Nelson Cruz, on four hitsover six innings while striking out six to improve to 8-6 with a 4.69 ERA in20 career starts against the Twins. He is 3-5 with a 6.02 ERA in nine startsat Target Field.
Dobnak, who is 1-1 with a 4.76 ERA in three career appearances and two startsagainst Detroit, allowed career highs for runs (six) and hits (12) while alsowalking two and striking out one over 4 1/3 innings on Saturday.
Neither team has announced a starter for the second game, which will be amakeup of an Aug. 28 game that was rained out at Tiger Stadium. Detroit, whichswept three games with the Twins last weekend, will be the home team for thecontest and bat second.
Minnesota trailed first-place Cleveland by 1 1/2 games in the AL Centralentering Thursday after winning the final two games of its three-game serieswith the Chicago White Sox, including an 8-1 victory on Wednesday night.
Miguel Sano homered and doubled off the wall in right-center and Eddie Rosarioand Jake Cave also homered for the Twins, who welcomed back third baseman JoshDonaldson (right calf strain) from the injured list.
Donaldson, who signed a four-year, $92 million free agent contract withMinnesota last January, singled and had a two-run double into the gap inright-center in his first two at-bats since July 31 and finished 2-for-5.
The Twins, who also got starting center fielder Byron Buxton back from theinjured list on Tuesday, lost two starters to injury during Wednesday’s win.Right fielder Max Kepler pulled up slightly with left groin tightness afterrounding third on Donaldson’s double and second baseman Luis Arraez, who hadbeen battling a sore knee, left in the sixth inning after reaching base on anerror. Marwin Gonzalez took over Kepler in right while Ehire Adrianza replacedArraez at second.
“We don’t know enough right now on either guy to say anything definitely,”said Minnesota manager Rocco Baldelli. “We’re going to wait and see before wecan say anything else. For both guys, I think these are injuries that we canmanage and/or won’t keep them off the field very long. I don’t see either ofthem as a long-term concern this year.”
Detroit, which like Minnesota enjoyed a day off on Thursday, blew a 4-0 leadin an 8-5 loss at Milwaukee on Wednesday as Tigers pitchers combined to walk10 batters and hit two others.
“That’s 12 free passes,” manager Ron Gardenhire said. “You don’t win manygames that way.”
–Field Level Media
