DETROIT (AP) — Luke Keaschall hit his first homer in the majors and Trevor Larnach also cleared the fences against former teammate , helping the beat the 6-3 on Tuesday night.
The AL Central-leading Tigers lost for just the third time in nine games. The rebuilding Twins had dropped seven of their previous nine games.
Keaschall was activated from the 60-day injured list earlier the day and in the eighth game of his career, he hit a two-run homer in the first inning to give Minnesota a 3-0 lead. His RBI single in a two-run fifth put the Twins ahead 6-1.
Larnach’s 15th homer of the season and second in two days was a solo shot that gave Minnesota a 4-1 lead in the fourth.
Zebby Matthews (3-3) allowed one run on five hits and a walk while striking out six over five innings.
Paddack (4-10) gave up four runs on six hits over four innings in his second start since Detroit acquired him from Minnesota for catcher Enrique Jimenez last week before the .
Jahmai Jones hit a two-out, two-run triple in the eighth inning to pull the Tigers within three runs.
Detroit gave All-Star outfielder Riley Greene the night off and All-Star second baseman Gleyber Torres was a late scratch, missing the game with a tight right forearm.
Matt Vierling appeared to misjudge the ball off Ryan Jeffers’ bat in the first, turning a potential inning-ending catch into a double and the Twins went on to score three runs.
Paddack is 0-3 in three Minnesota-Detroit games this season, losing against the Tigers on April 12 and June 29 and against his former team Tuesday night.
Detroit RHP Jack Flaherty (6-10, 4.36) ERA is scheduled to start the series finale on Wednesday while Minnesota plans to use its bullpen to get through the game.
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