DETROIT (AP) — Daz Cameron hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the eighth inning and the surging Detroit Tigers held on to beat the slumping Minnesota Twins 3-2 Thursday.
Cameron’s 416-foot shot to left-center off Emilio Pagan (1-2) scored Eric Haase, who hit a one-out single for the Tigers.
Alex Lange (3-1) gave up two walks and struck out one in the pivotal eighth inning and Gregory Soto closed or his 10th save.
AL Central-leading Minnesota, the division’s only team with a winning record, has lost seven of 10 games.
The fourth-place Tigers, meanwhile, have won seven of their last nine games to make up some ground in the standings after a poor start.
Jonathan Schoop has had a lot to do with the turnaround, hitting an RBI single in the first inning of the series finale to account for seven of Detroit’s 10 runs over two-plus games.
FOR STARTERS
Minnesota’s Chris Archer gave up one run on three hits. Detroit’s Alex Faedo allowed two runs on five hits and two walks.
BENCHED BAEZ
The Tigers gave SS Javier Baez a second straight day off to reset physically and mentally. Baez, who signed a six-year deal for $140 million deal in December, has his lowest batting average (.197) since he was a Chicago Cubs rookie in 2014 and has just three homers and 13 RBIs in 40 games.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Twins: RHP Sonny Gray, pulled from his last start, went on the 15-day injured list with a strained chest muscle. ... OF Gilberto Celestino, who went on the COVID-19 list last Friday, tested negative for two straight days and is expected to join the team for its upcoming series in Toronto.
Tigers: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez, on the IL with a rib sprain since May 22, will join the team on its upcoming road trip and expects to pitch for Triple-A Toledo within a week. ... OF Austin Meadows, on the IL with since May 16, has not had vertigo symptoms recently and feels great, according to manager A.J. Hinch.
UP NEXT
Twins: Open a three-game series at Toronto.
Tigers: Hit the road for a three-game set with the New York Yankees on Friday night.
