Tigers 5, Twins 4: Another winnable game that Minnesota loses (simulated)

Today’s lineups:

MIN: Mitch Garver C, Ehire Adrianza 1B, Luis Arraez 2B, Miguel Sano DH, Eddie Rosario LF, Jorge Polanco SS, Josh Donaldson 3B, Jake Cave RF, Byron Buxton CF, Jose Berrios P

DET: Cameron Maybin RF, Victor Reyes CF, C.J. Cron 1B, Christin Stewart DH, Jeimer Candelario 3B, Niko Goodrum SS, Willi Castro 2B, Travis Demeritte LF, Austin Romine C, Tarik Skubal P

Another day, another blown lead. This time, Jose Berrios was working on a shutout going into the seventh, but the hook didn’t come quick enough, and the Tigers jumped all over him.

The Twins’ infielders staked Berrios an early lead. All three men to right of Josh Donaldson hit home runs in the early going today. In the first inning, Utilityman extraordinaire (playing first tonight) Ehire Adrianza gave the Twins a 1-0 lead with one to left-center. Leading off the second, it was Jorge Polanco’s turn. Finally, Luis Arraez hit one of his own, to almost the same spot Adrianza’s landed, in the sixth inning.

In the seventh, Berrios found himself in a jam he couldn’t get out of. C.J. Cron hit a one out single. Christin Stewart followed that up with a two-run home run. In hindsight, that should have ended Berrios’ night. Instead he stayed in the game to give up a single to Jeimer Candelario and then RBI doubles to Willi Castro and Travis Demeritte before he could escape.

In the eighth inning, Detroit again got to Sergio Romo for their final tally. Not a good series for Romo. Cameron Maybin hit a leadoff single, which was compounded by Victor Reyes and Christin Stewart were both walked to load the bases, and then a sac fly by Jeimer Candelario brought in the runner.

The Twins’ final run, in the ninth, was not enough. Jake Cave reached on catcher’s interference. Max Kepler, hitting for Buxton, moved Cave over with a grounder, and then Mitch Garver moved him home by hitting a double.

Notes

• Ehire Adrianza and Jake Cave are both hitting .320. That’s what you want to see from your bench.
• Despite the meltdown, OOTP still gave Berrios “player of the game.”
• Another Cleveland loss, but this next series is still huge.

STUDS:

Luis Arraez: 2-4, HR, RBI
Mitch Garver: 3-4, double, RBI, BB

DUDS:

Josh Donaldson: 0-4, K
Eddie Rosario: 0-4, K

Tomorrow: At Cleveland. 6:10 pm First pitch

Standings:
MIN 50-38 —
CLE 47-40 2 1/2
DET 45-42 4 1/2
CHW 44-43 5 1/2
KCR 31-56 18 1/2