Ugly inning, twin killings cost Minnesota in 1-run loss to Tigers

Triple. Strikeout. Walk. Hit batter. Hit batter. Error.

That’s how the Tigers scored two runs in an ugly second inning by the Twins on Monday, and it proved devastating as Detroit would go on to defeat Minnesota by a score of 5-4.

Joe Ryan, in his return from the injured list, gave up a solo homer to Rookie of the Year favorite Kevin McGonigle in the first inning, and then struggled with control in the second inning.

The All-Star right-hander gave up a triple and struck out a batter to start the second inning, and then his control vanished. Ryan walked Max Clark and then hit John Peck and Colt Keith on back-to-back pitches, the second hit batsman coming with the bases loaded.

The next batter, McGonigle, hit a grounder to Royce Lewis at first base, and Lewis threw home to catcher Ryan Jeffers. What should’ve been a routine force out turned into a disaster as the throw forced Jeffers to stretch to make the catch, causing his foot to drift an inch away from home plate, allowing the runner to score.

Ryan wound up striking out seven batters in four innings. He was replaced by lefty Connor Prielipp, who worked the next four innings for the Twins. Prielipp made one mistake, and it was a big one, as Riley Greene took him deep for a two-run homer in the fifth inning.

Walker Jenkins drove in two runs with a double in the sixth, cutting the Tigers’ lead to one at 5-4. But Minnesota couldn’t come through from there, stranding the tying runner on base in the sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth innings.

• Kody Clemens struck out looking with the bases loaded to end the sixth.

• Royce Lewis grounded into a double play to end the seventh.

• Brooks Lee flied out with runners at the corners to end the eighth.

• Josh Bell grounded into a double play to end the game.

Kody Clemens struck out looking with the bases loaded to end the sixth.

Royce Lewis grounded into a double play to end the seventh.

Brooks Lee flied out with runners at the corners to end the eighth.

Josh Bell grounded into a double play to end the game.

Minnesota grounded into four double plays in the game, including once in each of the final three innings. Bell grounded into a double play to end both the first and ninth innings.

The Twins (68-76) are now eight games under .500. They remain 4 1/2 games behind Cleveland (73-71) for the final wild-card spot (the Guardians lost to Baltimore), but they’re also chasing the Orioles (70-75), Rangers (71-73), and Blue Jays (72-72).

The Blue Jays had yet to play on Monday as of this writing.

Up next: Twins at Tigers, Tuesday at 5:40 p.m. CT.

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This story was originally published by Bring Me The Sports on Sep 7, 2026, where it first appeared in the MN Twins section. Add Bring Me The Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.