10-run inning fuels Twins’ blitz of Tigers
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MINNEAPOLIS -- Royce Lewis and Ryan Jeffers hit three-run homers during a 10-run sixth inning for the Minnesota Twins to highlight a 15-2 victory over the skidding Detroit Tigers on Tuesday night.
Kody Clemens homered for the second straight game and Kalen Culpepper had two hits and three RBIs for the Twins (67-72), who won their third straight game after losing seven of eight. Minnesota is 3 1/2 games behind Cleveland for the third wild-card spot in the AL, with three other teams between them.
Luke Keaschall drove in two runs on two hits and Lewis went 3 for 4 with a walk as the Twins followed an 11-1 victory in the series opener with a 13-hit romp over a Tigers team (63-75) that has lost 14 of its last 17 games.
Tigers starter Troy Melton (7-4) gave up the three-run shot to Lewis before yielding to Kyle Finnegan, who bore the brunt of the inning with five runs allowed and only one out recorded as the Twins sent 15 batters to the plate.
Jeffers, who homered twice on Monday, finished Finnegan’s night with his three-run shot before Beau Brieske relieved.
Connor Prielipp (4-7) struck out five over five scoreless innings for the win in his first career relief appearance, following opener Andrew Morris.
Riley Greene returned from the injured list for the Tigers, who are 13-28 against AL Central opponents.
Detroit Tigers right fielder Javier Baez tries to catch a triple hit by the Minnesota Twins’ Ryan Jeffers in the first inning on Tuesday in Minneapolis. (AP photo)