Twins 9, Tigers 4: Detroit loses another game we don’t care about

The Detroit Tigers lost yet another game en route to what will likely be their worst record since the infamous 2003 season when they lost nearly 120 games. The Minnesota Twins delivered on every level — offensively, defensively, the works — and emerged victorious with a final score of 9-4.

Mikie Mahtook hit a home run into the visiting bullpen, just out of reach of left fielder Eddie Rosario, in the first inning to give the Tigers an early 1-0 lead. But Detroit starting pitcher Anibal Sanchez got into trouble in the fourth inning when he put two Twins on base. Unfortunately, Rosario capitalized and crushed a home run into the Tigers bullpen to put Minnesota ahead. The Twins added on an inning later with a home run by Max Kepler.

The Tigers got a couple runs back later in the fifth when they sent eight runners to the plate and chased Twins starter Kyle Gibson from the game. The rally didn’t last long though, and the Twins piled on two more runs in the seventh. Joe Mauer made it a 9-4 game in the ninth when he hit a bases-loaded single that scored two.

The Tigers were mercifully put out of their misery shortly thereafter.

Roars

Mikie Mahtook hit his eighth dinger of the season in the first inning.

Twins defense, for making these two plays against Detroit in the fourth and eighth innings:

Hisses

Anibal Sanchez threw 40 pitches between the fourth and fifth innings and gave up two home runs in that period. He had a final line of six innings, eight hits, five runs, and six strikeouts on 90 pitches (61 strikes).

Stats and stuff

• Sanchez entered the game with an ERA of 6.62. It is now up to 6.69. But he actually actually lowered it over the course of the game -- at one point it was up to 6.78.
• Additonally, Sanchez has given up 21 home runs this season and “only” 20 walks (h/t to George Sipple of the Free Press).
• Minnesota has won six games in a row.
• The Tigers’ season record against the Twins is 6-4.