The Twins had the Tigers on the ropes Wednesday night but setup man Addison Reed was torched for four runs in the eighth inning and Detroit went on to beat the Twins 5-2.
Reed, the right-handed late-inning specialist, gave up five hits and four runs (three earned) and is not guilty for five losses out of the Twins’ bullpen this season. It also ruined a brilliant start by Jose Berrios, who struck out seven and allowed just one run over six innings, lowering his ERA to 3.51 on the season.
Reed’s ERA has skyrocketed over the last three weeks, going from 2.36 on May 27 to to 3.78. He’s allowed a home run and/or multiple baserunners in seven of his last eight appearances, allowing seven runs in just seven innings during that stretch.
“The worst part of tonight is letting down Jose [Berrios],” Reed said, via TwinsBaseball.com. “He threw a hell of a game. That was fun to watch. He works his tail off, and it shows when he’s out there. The thing that I’m most [upset] about tonight is not getting him the ‘W’.”
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Reed has struggled with command all season, and his 11 walks in 33 1/3 innings are just four fewer than he allowed in 76 innings with the Mets and Red Sox last season. He’s also blown four saves for the Twins, which is double what he had last season and equals the amount he blew in 2015 and 2016.
Three of his four blown saves are against division opponents, which is critical considering the Twins are still just five games behind Cleveland, who has yet to get rolling like they did last season.
Minnesota can still win the series in Detroit with a victory Thursday afternoon. First pitch is at 12:10 p.m.
