Twins 10, Tigers 4: Comerica Park closes out 2019 in appropriate fashion

The Detroit Tigers fell 10-4 to the Minnesota Twins in their final home game of 2019, bidding goodbye to Comerica Park a day after both teams secured their season-long goals: for one, a division title and playoff berth; for the other, the top pick in next year’s draft.

The Tigers made solid contact all day with 13 hits against Twins pitching, but couldn’t string together a big inning. Brandon Dixon led off the third inning with a triple and scored on Miguel Cabrera’s RBI groundout. Willi Castro and Victor Reyes hit back-to-back two-out singles in the fourth to briefly pull the Tigers ahead, and the pair would combine again in the sixth inning on a triple and RBI single for Detroit’s fourth run.

Meanwhile, with the Central Division clinched, the Twins went deep into their September bench, sitting most of their heavy hitters. It didn’t matter. Minnesota put up crooked numbers in the fifth and seventh innings against starter Jordan Zimmermann and reliever Jose Cisnero, respectively, to put the game out of reach after some early run trading. Twins third baseman Willians Astudillo turtled himself a four-hit day with a home run, and designated hitter Jonathan Schoop led all batters with three RBIs, including a back-breaking two-run home run in the seventh. Zimmermann pitched 4 ¹⁄₃ innings, allowing six runs (four earned) on seven hits. He ends his season with a 4.86 FIP and an eye-popping 6.99 ERA.

Detroit earned its 59th home loss in the effort, bringing their overall record to 46-112. The Tigers finish up the season on the road against the Chicago White Sox.