Brooks Lee celebrates triple as Twins briefly take lead before falling to Tigers 8-5, face Chris Paddack Sunday

Twins Fall 8-5 to Tigers, Face Sweep vs Struggling Chris Paddack Sunday

August 17, 2025•5 min read

MINNEAPOLIS - Brooks Lee's Triple Ties Game Before Seventh-Inning Collapse in 8-5 Loss

The Minnesota Twins are staring down a humiliating four-game sweep at Target Field after dropping Saturday night's contest 8-5 to the Detroit Tigers. With the series now 3-0 in Detroit's favor, the Twins face the embarrassing prospect of getting swept at home by a division rival.

Series Nightmare Continues

Saturday's loss puts Minnesota in an 0-3 hole heading into the finale. The Tigers have outscored the Twins 19-8 through three games, following Thursday's crushing 11-inning defeat (4-3) and Friday's shutout embarrassment (7-0).

For a team already sitting at 57-68, a four-game sweep would perfectly sum up this lost season. The Twins haven't been swept in a four-game series at Target Field in years, making Sunday's finale a desperate attempt to avoid historical shame.

Brooks Lee Delivers Lone Highlight

In a season filled with disappointments, Brooks Lee provided the only moment that got Target Field fans on their feet. With the Twins trailing 2-0 in the fifth inning, the rookie ripped a sharp fly ball to right field off Tigers starter Casey Mize for a two-run triple that tied the game 2-2.

The triple scored Luke Keaschall and Ryan Jeffers, giving the Twins their first runs of the night. Lee then scored on Royce Lewis's sacrifice fly to put Minnesota ahead 3-2, their first and only lead of the game.

Lee finished with three RBIs, showing the kind of clutch hitting the Twins have desperately needed all season. The young infielder's performance gave Minnesota brief hope before the inevitable collapse that has defined this lost season.

Zebby Matthews Struggles Continue

Twins starter Zebby Matthews couldn't locate his fastball consistently, walking batters and falling behind in counts. The young right-hander's command problems allowed Detroit's patient hitters to work favorable situations all night.

Matthews' struggles have been a theme for Minnesota's rotation this season. While the organization remains hopeful about his future, nights like Saturday show why the Twins have had trouble competing with quality teams.

Seventh-Inning Collapse Seals Fate

After taking a 3-2 lead in the fifth, the Twins watched their hopes crumble in devastating fashion during the seventh inning. With the game tied 3-3, Detroit exploded for five runs to turn a close contest into an 8-3 rout.

Trey Sweeney's go-ahead infield single - a grounder that deflected off third baseman Royce Lewis - put Detroit ahead for good. The Tigers added four more runs in the frame, turning what had been a competitive game into another crushing defeat.

It was exactly the kind of deflating sequence that has defined Minnesota's season - brief hope followed by complete collapse.

Mize Dominates Despite Early Trouble

While the Twins managed to take the lead in the fifth, they had no answer for Casey Mize's overpowering stuff. The Tigers right-hander struck out 10 batters across 6⅓ innings, consistently getting ahead of Minnesota hitters with his slider-fastball combination.

Mize's 10 strikeouts were a season high and highlighted the Twins' ongoing struggles against quality pitching. Despite allowing four earned runs, Mize's dominant performance showed exactly why Detroit is making a playoff push while Minnesota is playing out the string.

Tigers Draw Nine Walks

Detroit's patient approach at the plate proved decisive, as the Tigers drew nine walks while working deep counts against Minnesota pitching. The disciplined hitting forced Twins pitchers into difficult situations all night, leading to the offensive explosion that decided the game.

Kerry Carpenter homered for Detroit, while Jahmai Jones added two hits and two RBIs. The Tigers' balanced attack has been a constant theme during this series - they're getting contributions throughout their lineup.

Season Slipping Away

At 57-68, the Twins are running out of time to salvage anything from this campaign. Sunday's series finale represents more than just avoiding a sweep - it's about showing some fight in what's been a thoroughly dispiriting season for Minnesota fans.

The contrast with Detroit couldn't be starker. While the Tigers (73-52) are making a legitimate playoff push with their sixth win in seven games, the Twins are playing out the string in a season that's gone wrong in almost every way imaginable.

Final Chance for Dignity

The Twins will send their yet-to-be-determined starter to the mound Sunday afternoon with one goal: avoid the embarrassment of a four-game sweep at home. After the fire sale that gutted the roster and the ownership drama, Minnesota fans deserve better than watching their team get dominated by a division rival.

While it won't change the trajectory of this lost season, avoiding complete humiliation might be the best the Twins can hope for at this point. The question isn't whether Minnesota can turn this series around - it's whether they can show enough pride to avoid the kind of complete collapse that would perfectly sum up this forgettable campaign.

Sunday's Series Finale Preview

Game Time: 1:10 PM CT at Target Field
TV/Radio: Twins TV, TIBN

The Twins will get one final chance to avoid complete humiliation when they face Tigers right-hander Chris Paddack (4-10, 4.76 ERA) in Sunday's series finale. While Minnesota's starter remains to be determined, they'll be facing a pitcher who has struggled mightily this season.

Paddack has been one of Detroit's most inconsistent starters, posting a 4.76 ERA across 25 starts. The former Padres and Twins pitcher has particularly struggled recently, with a 6.34 ERA over his last 11 starts. For a Twins team desperate to salvage some dignity, Sunday represents their best opportunity to avoid the sweep.

The right-hander, who was traded from Minnesota to Detroit earlier this season, has struggled with command and consistency. His recent stretch of poor performances suggests the Twins might finally catch a break against a pitcher they know well from his time in their organization..

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