The Detroit Tigers did more walking than hitting in their series-clinching win, but the runs counted all the same.
With help from eight walks at the plate, one away from their season high
, the Tigers beat the Minnesota Twins, 7-2, on Wednesday, Sept. 9, at Comerica Park after a 100-minute rain delay before the start of the game. Four of those walks turned into runs, which ended up being plenty for the Tigers on Wednesday.Tigers starter Keider Montero gave up two runs on back-to-back solo home runs in the fourth inning, but that was all the damage he allowed in his four-inning outing, exiting after 74 pitches. The Tigers bullpen pitched five scoreless innings after Montero's exit.
on young guys
Detroit first baseman Colt Keith hit his 10th home run of the season, giving him a double-digit home run total in all three of his MLB seasons. Catcher Dillon Dingler also recorded two RBIs, one on a sacrifice fly in the third inning and another on a two-out single in the seventh.
With the win, the Tigers brought their record to 67-79 and ended their seven-series loss streak. The Tigers improved to seven games back of the Cleveland Guardians, who played late, in the race for the third and final American League wild-card berth.
At the plate: Walks lead to runs
It took a while for the game to get started, but it didn’t take long for the Tigers to take a lead, with a two-run home run from Keith giving Detroit a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. The shot came off a 3-2 changeup from Twins starter Zebby Matthews.
2-run 💣 from Colt to get us started! pic.twitter.com/nr3iFHFWHq
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) September 9, 2026
The home run also continued Keith’s career-long heater against Matthews, with the lefty slugger now 5-for-9 with two home runs, two doubles and five RBIs against the Minnesota starter.
The Tigers added more in the third inning after walks from shortstop John Peck and second baseman Hao-Yu Lee plus a double from third baseman Kevin McGonigle loaded the bases. Designated hitter Riley Greene then brought Peck home on a one-out walk, Dingler brought McGonigle home on a sacrifice fly and left fielder Brett Callahan brought Lee home from second base on an automatic double hopping over the wall in foul territory in left field.
The three walks, sacrifice fly and two doubles gave the Tigers a 5-0 lead.
5-0 Tigs! pic.twitter.com/Az9O5GZbJK
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) September 9, 2026
The Tigers drew six walks in the first four innings, eventually doubling up their per-game average (3.43) by the seventh inning. Four of those walks turned into runs, with Lee scoring twice, Peck scoring once and center fielder Max Clark scoring once.
Lee finished with a career-high three walks, recording a multi-walk game for the fifth time this season. Dingler's two-out RBI in the seventh inning also gave him his first multi-RBI game since Aug. 6 – the catcher has endured a late-season slump, as he entered Wednesday batting .173 since the beginning of August.
On the mound: Montero's short start
It took Montero 14 pitches to get the first out of the game, a flyout from third baseman Brooks Lee, after hitting right fielder Luke Keaschall on a 3-2 pitch to start his outing. But he soon escaped the scoreless first after picking off Keaschall at first base and getting second baseman Kody Clemens to fly out to Clark.
Montero’s first hits given up were back-to-back, opposite field solo home runs to Clemens and designated hitter Josh Bell to start the fourth inning. But he then set down shortstop Kaelen Culpepper, left fielder Trevor Larnich and first baseman Royce Lewis to end the inning.
It was his last frame, as Montero threw just 74 pitches in his start, allowing two runs and two hits while striking out two batters over four innings. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said before the game the team would monitor Montero’s workload as the season winds down, especially with the righty expecting the birth of a child soon. Thursday's off day before this weekend’s home series against the Colorado Rockies also gave the Tigers a bullpen buffer in case Montero didn't pitch long.
With scoreless runs in the fifth and sixth innings, Tigers lefty Tyler Holton extended his scoreless outing streak to eight games, tied for the longest current streak of any Tigers reliever. And though Tyler Kinley had a much shorter outing immediately after Holton (allowing two hits while recording just two outs), Drew Sommers' strikeout of center fielder Walker Jenkins extended Kinley's scoreless outing streak to eight games, which tied Holton's team-high active streak.
Next up: Rock-tember
The Tigers have a day off on Thursday, Sept. 10, before facing the Colorado Rockies in a three-game weekend series starting on Friday (6:40 p.m., Detroit SportsNet). Lefty Framber Valdez (9-10, 4.17 ERA) is set to start against a Colorado pitcher yet to be announced, with the Rockies playing on Thursday before arriving in Detroit.
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You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tigers take it easy, walk their way to series win over Minnesota Twins
