On the day he was officially left off the All-Star Game roster, Brian Dozier smacked a three-run walk-off home run to complete an improbable comeback as the Twins beat the Detroit Tigers 8-6 at Target Field Friday night.
The Twins entered the ninth trailing 6-1, but put together a rally against Tigers relievers Bruce Rondon and Joakim Soria.
After Danny Santana hit a two-run single to cut the the Tigers lead to 6-5, Dozier stepped up and ended the game with a dramatic blast, his second walk-off homer of the week and 19th round-tripper of the season.
Remember when #MNTwins and fans were about ready to give up on Dozier? Wasn't that long ago! #hero #patience #faith https://t.co/WkIfmFHjne
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 11, 2015
Brian Dozier was forced to settle for second in the MLB Final Vote, but he proved yet again why he's a worthy All-Star. Walk-off 3-run blast
— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) July 11, 2015
19 homers, 49 RBI for Dozier, the second place finisher in the Final Vote contest
— LaVelle E. Neal III (@LaVelleNeal) July 11, 2015
Dozier also singled in the Twins first run in the eighth inning. He finished the night 2-for-5 with four RBIs and the homer. Eddie Rosario added a pair of hits and scored two runs, helping the Twins complete the comeback.
Brian Dozier is the 1st @Twins player with multiple walk-off HR in a week since Roy Sievers in 1958 (when they were the Senators).
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) July 11, 2015
It wasn’t the home debut that Twins starter Ervin Santana was hoping for. He was roughed up for eight hits, six runs and three home runs in four innings of work.
Tigers starter Justin Verlander returned to form. He held the Twins to one run and five hits in 7 2/3 innings. Verlander struck out six and walked one.
Three Tigers went deep in the game. Victor Martinez, Yoenis Cespedes and JD Martinez all homered off of Santana.
Trevor May (6-7) pitched a scoreless ninth inning to pick up the win in relief.
Phil Hughes (7-6) takes the mound for the Twins Saturday afternoon against Detroit’s Alfredo Simon (8-5).
