The Minnesota Twins didn't waste any time making a statement on Wednesday night, turning a highly anticipated pitching matchup into a first-inning fireworks display. Led by a resurgent Byron Buxton and a relentless lineup that batted around before the first out was even a distant thought, the Twins exploded for six runs in the opening frame to chase an early lead they would never relinquish, eventually holding off the Detroit Tigers for an 8-6 victory.
A First Inning to Remember Against Framber Valdez
The story of the night began and almost ended in the bottom of the first inning. Facing Tigers starter Framber Valdez, the Twins’ bats were white-hot from the jump. Buxton set the tone by lining a single on the very first pitch he saw, eventually coming around to score on a wild pitch. The carousel didn't stop there. Ryan Jeffers added a sacrifice fly, Josh Bell drove in a run with a sharp single, and Matt Wallner kept the pressure on with an RBI double.
The knockout blow of the inning came from Royce Lewis, who cleared the bases with a two-run single to make it 6-0. Valdez, who had allowed only one earned run in his first two starts for Detroit since signing a massive free-agent deal in the winter, was visibly rattled. By the time he finally retired the side on his 29th pitch of the inning, the damage was done. Valdez would eventually exit in the sixth inning having allowed eight runs on 10 hits, matching a career high.
Bailey Ober Provides Stability on the Mound
While the offense was busy building a cushion, Bailey Ober (1-0) provided the Minnesota Twins with exactly what they needed: strikes and stability. Ober cruised through the early innings, keeping the Tigers' bats quiet while his teammates added insurance runs. Buxton continued his stellar night by scoring again in the fourth on a Luke Keaschall base hit, and once more in the sixth after a lead-off double.
Ober pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing just two runs on RBI singles from Kerry Carpenter and Dillon Dingler. He exited with two runners on in the sixth, but the Twins' bullpen managed to navigate the immediate threat, leaving the bases loaded to preserve an 8-2 lead heading into the final third of the game.
Tigers Mount a Late-Inning Threat
Despite the early deficit, the Detroit Tigers refused to go quietly in front of their home crowd. The comeback attempt began in earnest during the seventh inning against Twins reliever Anthony Banda. Gleyber Torres delivered a clutch two-run double, and Riley Greene followed with an RBI single to trim the lead to 8-5. A wild pitch from Cole Sands allowed Greene to cross the plate, making it an 8-6 game and putting the tying run at the plate.
However, the Twins' bullpen regained its composure just in time. Sands struck out Parker Meadows to end the seventh-inning threat, and Cody Laweryson provided 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief to bridge the gap to the ninth.
Funderburk Slams the Door
In the final frame, the Twins turned to Kody Funderburk to navigate the heart of the Tigers' order. Funderburk remained calm under pressure, recording the final two outs to secure his third career save and his first of the season. The victory ensures the Twins remain in the driver's seat as they look to complete a four-game sweep of their AL Central rivals on Thursday afternoon.
The Minnesota Twins will send right-hander Mick Abel (0-2, 11.05 ERA) to the mound for the series finale, while the Tigers will look to Jack Flaherty (0-1, 7.56) to help them avoid the sweep.
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