Colt Keith had a triple, home run and three RBIs to lead the Detroit Tigers to a 7-2 home win over the Minnesota Twins on Saturday in the second game of a three-game series.
Matt Vierling added two hits and three runs for Detroit.
Royce Lewis hit a two-run homer in the first inning for Minnesota.
Pitching in his last game before Tuesday’s trade deadline, Detroit ace left-hander Tarik Skubal (12-3) earned the win, allowing five hits, two earned runs and two walks while striking out eight in seven innings.
Right-hander Joe Ryan (6-7) took the loss. He surrendered three runs on four hits and a walk in six innings. He also fanned eight.
Minnesota held a 2-1 lead until the bottom of the sixth when the Tigers scored twice.
Following leadoff single by Vierling, Keith hit an RBI triple down the right field line. The ball caromed off a side wall and went toward the infield, allowing Vierling more time to score and Keith to get to third. Two batters later, Mark Canha’s sacrifice fly made it 3-2.
With two outs in the seventh, Javier Baez hit a two-run homer to left-center to give Detroit a 5-2 lead. It was his third straight game with a homer after having just one in his first 63 games.
After Vierling walked, Keith launched a two-run blast to right off Minnesota left-handed reliever Steven Okert to give Detroit a 7-2 lead.
Minnesota opened the scoring in the first on Lewis’ two-run shot, a blast to left-center for his 11th home run of the season.
Detroit got one back in the bottom of the first when Canha chopped and RBI single to center that scored Vierling.