Kody Clemens blasted a go-ahead, two-run homer in the sixth inning and the visiting Minnesota Twins held on for a 3-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday night.
Clemens’ 25th homer of the season made a winner of Minnesota starter Dean Kremer (3-5), who allowed two runs and five hits while striking out three in five innings. It was Kremer’s second victory since he was acquired from Baltimore in a trade early last month.
Josh Bell knocked in the other run for the Twins (69-76). Yoendrys Gomez got the last three outs for his 22nd save.
Kevin McGonigle’s two-run homer accounted for the Tigers’ offense. Detroit (66-79) was limited to five hits. Minnesota also had five hits, four of which went for extra bases.
Detroit starter Drew Anderson gave up three runs and four hits in 5 1/3 innings. He walked three and struck out four.
The Twins scored in the first inning. Brooks Lee smacked a one-out double and Anderson walked Clemens and Ryan Jeffers. Bell then hit a sacrifice fly to bring home Lee. Anderson struck out Royce Lewis to leave the other runners stranded.
McGonigle and Gleyber Torres led off the bottom of the inning with singles but a double play allowed Kremer to escape the jam.
Minnesota’s Luke Keaschall led off the third with a double but was thrown out trying to advance on Lee’s fly ball.
Detroit took a 2-1 lead in the fifth. Zach McKinstry reached on a two-out single before McGonigle hit his second homer in as many days, an opposite-field shot to left for his 16th of the season.
The Twins regained the lead in the sixth. Keaschall drew a leadoff walk before Clemens launched a fastball over the right-center-field wall.
Detroit had a threat in the seventh. Ben Malgeri walked, stole second and reached third on a throwing error by catcher Jeffers. Max Clark grounded out, Hao-Yu Lee struck out and McKinstry flied out, leaving Malgeri stranded.
Jeffers was left stranded by Minnesota after a one-out double in the ninth.
