DETROIT (AP) — With a four-run eighth inning, capped by a two-run double by Mark Canha, the Detroit Tigers rallied to defeat the Minnesota Twins 4-3 on Sunday.
After seven innings, the Tigers were behind 3-0, but they overcame Caleb Thielbar and Griffin Jax to take the lead.
In the eighth, Javier Báez drove a single home run against Thielbar to make it 3-1. Making his debut for the season, Thielbar let up two groundball singles that put runners on the corners with only one out.
Jax (1-1) was called in by Twins manager Rocco Baldelli, but Canha’s hack down the third base line escaped Kyle Farmer for a double that scored two runs. After Canha advanced to third base on the throw to the plate, the Tigers took the lead thanks to an RBI single from Spencer Torkelson, who looped a Texas Leaguer into right center.
With one and a third innings of scoreless relief, Will Vest (1-0) earned the victory. Jason Foley earned his fourth save while pitching the ninth.
Bailey Ober, the Twins’ starter, had thrown six plus shutout innings and given up just three hits, but the Twins wasted the good start.
Jack Flaherty, the Tigers’ starter, allowed three runs in six and a half innings on six hits and two walks. He had eight strikeouts.
After two walks and a single, the Twins loaded the bases for a two-run single by Ryan Jeffers to take a 2-0 lead.