Twins lose to Tigers, match worst start in franchise history

Chris Paddack took to social media this week, imploring Twins fans to “Keep the faith,” during the team’s slow start. On Saturday, the starter did his part to help instill some faith — and yet, his efforts went for naught on a day when the Twins offense went almost silent. The Twins fell 4-0 to the Detroit Tigers, collecting just four hits off rookie starter Jackson Jobe and the Detroit bullpen.

With the loss — its third straight — Minnesota fell to 4-11, matching the worst start in Twins history through 15 games. ADVERTISEMENT The Twins couldn’t do anything in six innings against the 22-year-old Jobe, who is among Major League Baseball’s top prospects, managing just two hits a day after their offense broke out for 12 in a 7-6 loss to Detroit. “We weren’t able to win those at-bats the way we need to,” manager Rocco Baldelli said.



“We weren’t able to muster much against him.” Prior to Carlos Correa’s double with one out in the ninth inning, just one Twins runner, leadoff hitter Matt Wallner in the first inning, had even reached second base. They got close one other time.

After Jose Miranda collected a pinch-hit single in the eighth, he ran to second and would have been safe on a force play because second baseman Colt Keith did not touch the bag. Miranda, who also never touched second, thought he was out and started heading back to the dugout, at which point he was tagged out by Keith. Miranda called the play “a learning thing.

” “He didn’t yell,” Miranda said of second base umpire Malachi Moore, who had signaled safe. “I just didn’t know. I slid in, but (Keith) had the ball.

I thought he would throw to first, but I had no clue. Not until he tagged me.” ADVERTISEMENT It was that kind of day for the Twins.

The Tigers, meanwhile, played with a lead from the beginning after Zach McKinstry, their leadoff hitter, walked to begin the game. A rare but costly Correa throwing error allowed him to reach third, and he scored on Spencer Torkelson’s sacrifice fly. Torkelson was in the middle of everything for the Tigers (9-5), scoring their second run of the game and later hitting a two-run home run in the sixth off reliever Kody Funderburk.

Funderburk entered in the sixth after five strong innings from Paddack, who had given up 13 runs through his first two starts over 7 1/3 innings. He allowed two runs, though the first was unearned, and both scored on sacrifice flies. Paddack said he was “very satisfied” with how his stuff played, how his body felt and, how he executed the game plan with catcher Christian Vázquez.

But he was beating himself up for the two walks he issued, particularly the batter that came around to score. Still, it was a promising sign for Paddack and a team desperately in need of one. But on a day where the offense finished with just four hits, his performance wasn’t enough.

ADVERTISEMENT “We have to believe in ourselves. We have to stay consistent,” Paddack said. “In this game, it’s not how you start.

It’s how you finish.” ______________________________________________________ This story was written by one of our partner news agencies. Forum Communications Company uses content from agencies such as Reuters, Kaiser Health News, Tribune News Service and others to provide a wider range of news to our readers.

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