Defense returns, backs Casey Mize to help Tigers topple Twins

MINNEAPOLIS — It seemed like a fair question. Especially after a four-game stretch — which comes at the back end of a grinding 14 games in 13 days — where the Tigers made an uncharacteristic amount of errors (nine), gifting eight unearned runs and losing three close games.

Might the Tigers be showing some mental fatigue?

The answer from manager AJ Hinch was a hard no.

“At this level, that is unacceptable,” he said. “I don’t see our guys, from a focus standpoint, I don’t see that as being an issue at all. I think fatigue, extra swings, extra work, guys responding to success and failure — that’s some of the things we’re always looking into.

“Focus will never be a problem on this team, regardless of how many games in a row you play. The schedule is built with these kinds of journeys. It’s the big leagues. You’ve got to be a big boy about your readiness.”

The Tigers had their big-boy pants on Sunday, for sure, beating the Twins 6-1 and winning the series at Target Field.

They played a clean game defensively, backing a stout effort by starting pitcher Casey Mize.

Mize, despite a wobbly start, blanked the Twins over six innings. Five hits and three walks cluttered the base paths, but he allowed only three runners into scoring position.

He walked two in the first inning but stranded the bases loaded, getting Austin Martin to line one back to him and then inducing a fly out to center from Willi Castro.

Mize had four swings and misses through the first four innings, but in the fifth he unleashed his most wicked splitters. He got five whiffs with that pitch alone in the fifth.

It was the second time in Mize’s injury-interrupted career that he went at least six innings without allowing a run. And, it was his first win since Aug. 24, 2021.

Buddy Kennedy, just called up from Triple-A Toledo on Saturday, provided the offensive spark. He knocked in a run with a sacrifice fly in the first inning and then, with two outs and a runner on in the third, he lashed a center-cut cutter into the left-field seats. His second big-league homer gave the Tigers a four-run lead.

The Tigers took advantage of the command issues of Twins’ starter Louie Varland. He walked three hitters in the first inning, throwing more balls (21) than strikes (18).

Kerry Carpenter singled in one run, extending his hitting streak to seven games and his RBI streak to six games. The RBI streak is the longest by a Tiger since Justin Upton knocked in runs in six straight back in 2017.

Spencer Torkelson, still looking for his first homer this season, missed one by inches in the seventh inning. He hit a laser, 106.5 mph off his bat, that left a mark in the padding on the left field wall. It was his fourth-hardest hit ball this season, It ended up being a double, scoring Riley Greene from first.

Torkelson who also singled, had exit velocities of 102, 104 and 106.5 mph — three of the top 12 hardest balls he’s hit this season. His sacrifice fly in the ninth again plated Greene. His 10 RBIs are second only to Carpenter (13) this season.

Shortstop Javier Báez also had an active game. He walked and stole a base in the second inning. He also advanced to third on a flyout by Jake Rogers, though he was stranded. He singled in the fourth, advanced to second on a fly out to center and then stole third.

That’s four extra bases after he initially reached. He now has successfully stolen 18 straight bags dating to the end of the 2022 season.

The Twins got on the board against reliever Alex Faedo in the ninth. Martin hit his first pitch into the seats in left.

The Tigers will complete the 14-game, 13-day stretch with three games against the Rays in St. Petersburg.

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