Torii Hunter hit a towering two-run homer into the third deck at Target Field to help the Twins to a 9-5 win over the Tigers Saturday afternoon.
Hunter’s home run was one of 16 hits the Twins collected on the afternoon. Trevor Plouffe and Eddie Rosario each had three hits and scored twice, and Aaron Hicks brought in two runs on a triple in the third inning, the Associated Press reports.
RECAP: Everybody hits in 9-5 #MNTwins win over Detroit http://t.co/2UJZ8nqkc9 pic.twitter.com/NOZL61I2oz
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) July 11, 2015
The Twins’ hit parade continued the momentum from their dramatic late-game comeback win Friday night, when they scored seven runs in the ninth inning to beat the Tigers 8-6.
Minnesota jumped out to a big lead, scoring seven runs on 10 hits in the first three innings off Tigers starter Alfredo Simon (8-6), the Star Tribune notes.
Twins starter Phil Hughes (8-6) let the Tigers get a few of those back, giving up three runs in the fourth inning and another in the fifth before leaving the game with the score at 7-4.
In the bottom of the sixth, Hunter hit one of the longest home runs of the season, a 426-foot two-run shot that reached the third deck of the bleachers in left field.
#ICYMI No doubt about that one, eh @toriihunter48? #MNTwins http://t.co/RZcyA0mCr3 pic.twitter.com/XE1HYeIOb0
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) July 11, 2015
It was Hunter’s 14th homer of the season and the 206th of his career as a Twin, according to the Star Tribune.
https://twitter.com/TheCauldron/status/619994168786485248
Hunter has 760 RBIs with Minnesota, which moved him past Gaetti into 6th on Twins all-time list. Also passes Knoblauch for 7th with 713 runs
— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) July 11, 2015
With the win, the Twins moved within 4 1/2 games of Kansas City, which is leading the AL Central. The Tigers are eight games behind.
The two teams wrap up their series Sunday afternoon at Target Field, then will be off for the All-Star break.
Right hander Kyle Gibson will start for Minnesota.
Dozier added to All-Star roster
Second baseman Brian Dozier was added to the AL All-Star team as a replacement for Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista, who decided to skip the All-Star Game Tuesday due to a sore shoulder.
The Target Field crowd gave him a rousing standing ovation when the news was announced at the game, and another one at his next at-bat.
.@BrianDozier: An All Star. @toriihunter48: Hit a monster homer with Dozier on base in the 6th. Dance away! #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/dKpxYhbAaI
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) July 11, 2015
