Michael Fulmer and Jorge Lopez, the newest members of the Minnesota Twins bullpen, helped shut down the Detroit Tigers in a 4-1 win at Target Field Wednesday afternoon.
Fulmer, who the Twins acquired from the Tigers before Tuesday’s MLB trade deadline, gave up one hit and struck out one in a clean sixth inning after starter Joe Ryan struck out nine while allowing one run on three hits in five innings.
Caleb Thielbar struck out two in the seventh before Jhoan Duran mowed down the Tigers in the eighth, paving the way for Lopez to earn a save in his Twins debut after he was traded from Baltimore on Tuesday.
Lopez needed just seven pitches to get through a 1-2-3 ninth inning, good for his 20th save of the season.
Twins pitchers struck out 14 batters and walked just one in the game.
Offensively, Sandy Leon, who was also traded to the Twins on Tuesday, knocked in a pair with a double in the second inning, proving to be the game-winning hit.
Carlos Correa later drove in Byron Buxton with a single and the Twins scored their fourth run of the day on a sacrifice fly by Gio Urshela in the eighth.
The Twins (55-49) lead the AL Central by 1.5 games over the Cleveland Guardians.
Up next: Minnesota welcomes the Blue Jays to Target Field for a four game series beginning Thursday at 6:40 p.m.
