Jul 20, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Minnesota Twins right fielder Max Kepler (26) hits a home run in the ninth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Photo Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
DETROIT — Max Kepler hit a tie-breaking solo homer with two outs in the ninth inning to power the Minnesota Twins to a 4-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday at Comerica Park.
The rookie right fielder smashed a 3-2 pitch from Francisco Rodriguez (1-1) into the right-field stands. Kepler has 10 home runs, including nine over the last 26 games.
Eddie Rosario provided some insurance later in the inning with a two-run shot off Rodriguez, who had not allowed a run in his previous 10 appearances.
Joe Mauer blasted a first-inning homer and Ryan Pressly (3-5) picked up the win with an inning of scoreless relief. Brandon Kintzler collected his sixth save.
Ian Kinsler’s leadoff homer provided the Tigers’ run.
Detroit starter Justin Verlander gave up one run on two hits while striking out nine in eight innings. Counterpart Ervin Santana surrendered a run on six hits in seven-plus innings.
Following a couple of early blasts, the game developed into a pitcher’s duel.
Mauer, the Twins’ No. 2 hitter in the lineup, drove in a 2-1 offering into the visitors’ bullpen in left-center field. The blast was Mauer’s fourth career homer off Verlander.
The Tigers got that run back quickly, as Kinsler jumped on a first-pitch fastball for his fourth leadoff homer this season. He now has 36 career leadoff homers, eighth-most in major-league history.
Santana retired the next 10 batters he faced and Minnesota couldn’t get much going against Verlander, either. The only hit the Twins managed off the Tigers’ ace the rest of the afternoon was Kurt Suzuki’s leadoff single in the third.
Detroit’s first two batters in the sixth reached base but the Twins snuffed out that threat with a double-play grounder and a foul pop. Santana wiggled out of another jam in the seventh. The Tigers had runners in scoring position with two outs, but Santana retired James McCann on a weak flyout.
Verlander walked Eduardo Nunez with two out in the eighth. Manager Brad Ausmus visited the mound but left Verlander in. That decision paid off as Verlander retired Mauer in a bounce out.
The Tigers almost untied it in the bottom of the inning. With two on and two outs and Pressly pitching, Victor Martinez drove a deep shot into left-center field that Rosario snared while crashing into the wall.
NOTES: Detroit 1B Miguel Cabrera entered Wednesday’s game batting .208 with no homers and two RBIs in July. Ausmus said there’s nothing physically wrong with the slugger. “He’s just not swinging the bat well right now,” he said. “It’s nothing different than what happens to other hitters, it just happens to Miguel Cabrera less often than it does with other hitters.” … Tigers RHP Jordan Zimmermann (right neck strain) will throw his second bullpen session this week on Thursday. If all goes well, he’ll make a rehab start on Sunday. … Detroit RF Tyler Collins was a late scratch on Wednesday due to neck spasms. … The Twins have used 17 relievers this season and have converted just 13 of 25 save opportunities. … Minnesota RHP Tyler Duffey, who has won three of his last four starts, will start the first contest of a four-game series at Boston on Thursday.
