Twins Triumph Over Tigers in 9-3 Victory

DETROIT (AP) — The Minnesota Twins showcased a powerful offensive performance on Friday night, defeating the Detroit Tigers 9-3. Byron Buxton led the charge with a home run and a double, while Christian Vázquez contributed significantly with a homer and three hits. Starting pitcher Pablo López (9-7) delivered a strong outing, allowing two runs on six hits over seven innings, striking out seven batters. The game began with a bang as Buxton and Trevor Larnach hit back-to-back home runs, giving the Twins an early 2-0 lead in the first inning. Matt Wallner added to the tally with another home run in the second. The Tigers responded in the third with Javier Báez hitting his second homer in as many days, narrowing the score to 3-2. However, Minnesota quickly regained control, scoring three runs in the fourth inning, highlighted by Willi Castro’s two-run single. In a notable play, Castro advanced to third after a throwing error by Tigers second baseman Colt Keith, allowing him to score on Buxton’s double. Vázquez later extended the lead with a two-run homer off Joey Wentz in the sixth inning. In roster news, the Twins activated third baseman Royce Lewis from the injured list, while the Tigers placed All-Star outfielder Riley Greene on the injured list due to a hamstring issue. The teams are set to continue their series on Saturday, featuring a matchup between Tigers ace Tarik Skubal and Twins pitcher Joe Ryan.