Tigers Beat Twins 4-3 in Extra Innings: Riley Greene Homer Sparks Comeback
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins' bullpen woes continued Wednesday night as the Detroit Tigers rallied for a 4-3 victory in 11 innings at Target Field, extending Minnesota's frustrating season with another late-game collapse. Gleyber Torres' sacrifice fly in the 11th inning scored Colt Keith with the winning run, capping Detroit's comeback from a 3-0 deficit.
Riley Greene's Power Display Sparks Tigers Comeback
The turning point came in the fourth inning when Riley Greene launched his team-leading 28th home run, a two-run blast that cut the Twins' lead to 3-2. After Bailey Ober retired the first two batters, Kerry Carpenter doubled to set up Greene's crucial swing that changed the game's momentum.
Greene's homer highlighted Detroit's resilience, as the Tigers have now won four of their last five games and five of seven, improving to 71-52 and maintaining their grip on first place in the AL Central.
Bailey Ober's Solid Start Goes to Waste
Bailey Ober delivered another quality start for the Twins, working efficiently through his outing and keeping his team in the game. The right-hander, now 4-7 on the season, pitched well enough to win but received no support from Minnesota's struggling bullpen.
The Twins jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the third inning, capitalizing on early scoring opportunities that seemed to set up another home victory. However, the familiar pattern of strong starting pitching followed by bullpen struggles plagued Minnesota once again.
Extra-Inning Drama and Defensive Plays
The game was tied 3-3 as the end of the 9th, setting up extra-inning drama at Target Field. In the 10th inning, both teams failed to capitalize on their opportunities, with the Tigers making a crucial defensive play by throwing out the Twins' runner at home plate from first baseman Spencer Torkelson.
The decisive 11th inning saw Detroit break through against Twins reliever Erasmo Ramírez (0-1), who took the loss. Rafael Montero (1-1) earned the victory for Detroit, continuing his solid relief work this season.
Fan Frustration Mounts Amid Ownership Drama
The loss adds to mounting frustration among Twins fans, who are already dealing with the aftermath of the Pohlad family's controversial decision to retain ownership after months of trade speculation. Social media reactions reflected the familiar disappointment, with one prominent Twins fan account questioning the team's bullpen management: "starter pitched well, only tossed 63 pitches, yet Rockhead still wants to go to the 'bullpen?'"
Series Implications
Thursday's loss was particularly painful given the Twins' recent struggles against division rivals. The defeat drops Minnesota further behind in the AL Central race, while Detroit continues to build momentum toward a potential playoff berth.
The attendance of 24,123 at Target Field reflected continued fan support despite the team's struggles, though the 2-hour, 49-minute game ended in familiar disappointment for the home crowd.
What's Next
The Twins will need to address their bullpen issues as they finish out what has become a disappointing season. With Bailey Ober providing quality starts, the team's inability to close out games has become a recurring theme in a year already defined by their fire sale.
For Detroit, the victory continues their impressive second-half surge and demonstrates the type of resilience that championship teams display. Greene's power surge and the team's clutch hitting in pressure situations have them well-positioned for October baseball.
The series continues with both teams looking to build momentum, but for vastly different reasons - Detroit chasing a playoff spot while Minnesota simply tries to salvage some pride from a lost season that has been defined by missed opportunities and organizational uncertainty.
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