Detroit Tigers vs Minnesota Twins Match Player Stats On Aug 17, 2018

Joe Mauer's three-run, pinch-hit homer highlighted a four-run seventh and the host Minnesota Twins edged the Detroit Tigers 5-4 on Friday at Target Field.

Mauer's second career pinch-hit homer made a winner out of Kyle Gibson (7-9), who gave up three runs on eight hits and struck out five in seven innings. Eddie Rosario and Tyler Austin also homered for the Twins, who have taken the first two games of the four-game series.

Taylor Rogers recorded the last out for his first career save.

Victor Martinez had three hits and drove in a run for Detroit. Matthew Boyd (7-11) was charged with four runs on four hits while striking out seven in 6 1/3 innings.

Gibson retired the first two batters in the fourth but got into trouble when he walked Nicholas Castellanos. Niko Goodrum followed with a double to right. Castellanos scored on a wild pitch and Goodrum came home on Martinez's single to center.

Boyd didn't allow a hit until Austin singled to lead off the fifth.

Detroit tacked on a run in the sixth for a 3-0 lead. Jeimer Candelario led off the inning with a double, advanced on a sacrifice and scored on Castellanos' bouncer into left field. The Tigers eventually loaded the bases with two outs but Gibson responded by striking out James McCann.

Rosario broke up Boyd's shutout bid in the sixth with his two-out solo blast over the right field wall.

Minnesota put four more runs on the board in the seventh to take the lead. Austin crushed a Boyd changeup 451 feet over the left field wall with one out in the seventh.

Boyd then allowed a single and hit a batter, prompting manager Ron Gardenhire to bring in Louis Coleman. Mauer drilled a 3-2 offering over the wall in right-center to make it 5-3.

Detroit made it suspenseful in the ninth. Ronny Rodriguez's two-out bloop single to center brought in pinch-runner Jose Iglesias. Victor Reyes drew a walk against Matt Magill in a 13-pitch at-bat. Manager Paul Molitor then brought in Rogers, who got Candelario to ground out.

--Field Level Media