DETROIT -- The new-look Twins are scrappy, competitive, and … kind of fun to watch?
Luke Keaschall turned in another big game, Minnesota batters hit three home runs and new acquisition Thomas Hatch pitched 4 1/3 outstanding innings as the Twins won their first series since the All-Star break on Wednesday, beating the Tigers, 9-4, at Comerica Park.
The win secured a 3-3 road trip to Cleveland and Detroit, and while that may not sound dazzling, it represents a solid rebound for a team that saw 10 players dealt off of its Major League roster in the four days before the trip. They were competitive in every game and outscored their opponents for the week.
They also frequently played an entertaining brand of baseball, marked by aggressive baserunning, some strong defense and a good number of quality at-bats. If the first week after the Deadline is any indication, there may be more to watch over the remaining 48 games than a lot of observers would have thought.
“I think we responded like a team,” said manager Rocco Baldelli. “Guys were showing up all over the field, making plays, doing things. … We turned some nice double plays today. We ran the bases great. Guys are going up there just winning at-bats. … We faced a good team and a good starter today, one of the better pitchers in the league. And we came ready to go.”
Rookie Pierson Ohl was touched for four runs in 2 2/3 innings at the start, but Hatch quieted the Tigers after that, allowing just two hits and a walk before handing off to Kody Funderburk in the eighth. Keaschall drove in three runs with a pair of doubles, increasing his career-opening hitting streak to eight games and added three sharp plays on defense. And Brooks Lee, Alan Roden and Austin Martin all hit solo homers.
For Hatch, it was quite a debut. The veteran right hander pitched the 2024 season in Japan, and spent most of this year pitching for the Royals’ Triple-A Omaha affiliate. He was called up by Kansas City, made one appearance, and was designated for assignment shortly thereafter. The Twins claimed him off waivers, and one day after he arrived, he was pitching key innings.
“It felt good,” he said. “I’ve thrown one inning in the last 10 or so days, but I feel like my command was there. My stuff was good. We mixed well. [Catcher Ryan] Jeffers called a great game.”
He wasn’t even the only pitcher who impressed in his Twins debut. Brooks Kriske, claimed off waivers from the Cubs Tuesday and activated Wednesday, allowed a single in a shutout ninth to finish off the win. Funderburk, not a newcomer but a player whose role is expanding after the trades, continued a strong run by pitching a clean eighth.
On the offensive side it was likewise a day for new additions and players receiving new opportunities. Keaschall, making his second game after missing more than three months due to injury, kept up the form he’s shown throughout his extremely brief Major League career. He turned one sharp double play, started another and made a nifty, confident play for a force for the last out of the game.
Martin, one of the players called up after the trades, hit the first pinch-hit homer of his career.
Roden, the only player acquired on Deadline day who was added immediately to the Major League roster, hit his first Twins homer while making his first Major League start in center field.
“I think there's a lot of energy,” Roden said. “Guys are pulling for each other. That's really, really obvious. Everybody's trying to be first to congratulate some success. That's fun to be a part of, and we'll continue to build that.”