MINNEAPOLIS — In a thrilling AL Central matchup at Target Field, the Minnesota Twins erupted for six runs in the first inning against newly signed Detroit Tigers starter Framber Valdez, powering their way to an 8-6 victory over the Tigers on Wednesday night. Byron Buxton led the charge with three hits, including a single that ignited the Twins' early onslaught, as they batted around and sent 10 men to the plate in the opening frame. The win improves the Twins to 4-3 on the young season and positions them to complete a four-game sweep of their divisional foes on Thursday afternoon.
The game, played under the lights in front of a spirited crowd of 28,451, showcased the Twins' offensive firepower against a pitcher who had been nearly untouchable in his first two starts for Detroit. Valdez, who inked a lucrative $115 million, three-year contract as a free agent in February, had surrendered just one earned run over 12 innings in those outings. But on this night, the left-hander struggled from the outset, allowing eight runs on 10 hits and two walks before exiting after five innings.
Buxton wasted no time setting the tone, ripping a single on the very first pitch of the game from Valdez, who fell to 1-1 with the loss. Buxton later crossed the plate on a wild pitch, extending the Twins' lead to 1-0. Ryan Jeffers followed with a sacrifice fly that plated another run, and Josh Bell singled home a third. Matt Wallner added to the damage with an RBI double, while Royce Lewis capped the inning with a two-run single that made it 6-0. By the time Valdez retired the side on his 29th pitch, the Twins had already turned the game into a rout—or so it seemed.
Bailey Ober took the mound for Minnesota and delivered a solid performance in his first start of the season, going 5 2/3 innings and allowing two runs on five hits to earn the win and move to 1-0. Ober, who struck out five and walked one, kept the Tigers' bats in check early, but Detroit began to chip away in the middle innings. In the sixth, Ober permitted RBI singles to Kerry Carpenter and Dillon Dingler, cutting the deficit to 7-2 before leaving with two runners on base.
Reliever Justin Topa entered and issued an infield single to Parker Meadows, loading the bases with one out. But the Twins' bullpen held firm as Zach McKinstry lined out to left field, ending the threat. Minnesota extended its lead to 7-0 in the fourth when Buxton singled and scored on a two-out base hit by rookie Luke Keaschall, who was making his major league debut after a strong spring training.
The Tigers refused to go quietly, mounting a comeback in the seventh against Anthony Banda. Gleyber Torres laced a two-run double, and Riley Greene followed with an RBI single, pulling Detroit within 7-4. Cole Sands then allowed Greene to score on a wild pitch, but Sands struck out Meadows to strand the tying run at the plate, preserving an 8-6 edge after Buxton doubled and scored the Twins' final run in the sixth on a groundout.
Kody Funderburk closed out the game for his third career save and first of the season, getting the final two outs in the ninth despite some anxious moments. Earlier, Cody Laweryson contributed 1 1/3 scoreless innings with two strikeouts to bridge the gap from Ober to the late relievers. The victory highlighted the Twins' depth in the bullpen, a key factor after last season's injury-plagued campaign that saw them miss the playoffs.
For Detroit, the loss drops them to 3-4 and underscores early-season challenges for a team bolstered by high-profile additions like Valdez. The 35-year-old veteran, acquired to anchor the rotation, matched his career high in runs allowed, a stark contrast to his dominant tenure with the Houston Astros, where he posted a 3.45 ERA over six seasons. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch, speaking postgame according to reports from the Associated Press, acknowledged the rough outing but praised his team's resilience: "We didn't quit out there. We fought back, and that's what this club's about."
Twins skipper Rocco Baldelli, meanwhile, lauded Buxton's impact, calling him "the spark we needed tonight." Buxton, who has battled injuries throughout his career but entered the season healthy, is hitting .350 through seven games, providing a boost to an offense that ranked 20th in runs scored last year. His three-hit night included a double in the sixth that set up Minnesota's insurance run, demonstrating the speed and power that make him a perennial All-Star candidate when healthy.
The series has been a microcosm of the AL Central's competitiveness, with both teams vying for positioning in a division that sent three clubs to the postseason in 2023. Minnesota, coming off a 87-win season, added pieces like outfielder Matt Wallner and infielder Royce Lewis to their core, and early results suggest the moves are paying off. Lewis's two-run single in the first was his third hit of the game, raising his average to .429.
Detroit, under Hinch's steady hand since 2020, is in rebuild mode but showed promise last year with a wild-card berth. The signing of Valdez was seen as a cornerstone move, but Wednesday's performance served as a reminder of the adjustment period for free agents switching teams. According to MLB.com reports, Valdez threw 89 pitches in the game, with his command issues evident in the four free passes he issued overall.
Looking ahead, the rubber match of the series—and potential sweep for the Twins—features a intriguing pitching matchup on Thursday at 1:10 p.m. CT. Minnesota will counter with right-hander Mick Abel, who is 0-2 with an 11.05 ERA in his first two starts, seeking to build on a strong minor-league pedigree after being acquired in a trade last offseason. Opposing him is Detroit's Jack Flaherty, 0-1 with a 7.56 ERA, who returns from injury and aims to rediscover the form that made him a trade deadline prize in 2023.
Beyond the box score, this game carries implications for early divisional standings. The Twins now lead the Central by a game over Cleveland and Kansas City, while Detroit sits a game back of .500. With the season barely a week old, such series can set tones—especially for Minnesota, which opens a homestand against divisional opponents. Fans at Target Field have already seen high-energy crowds, with attendance up 12 percent from last year, per team officials.
In the broader context of Major League Baseball, the interleague schedule hasn't started yet, but intradivisional play like this remains crucial. The Twins' first-inning explosion recalled their 2023 playoff run, where timely hitting propelled them past Toronto. For the Tigers, the late rally echoed their gritty 2024 finish, but converting opportunities will be key to contending.
As the teams prepare for the finale, both clubs expressed optimism. Baldelli noted the importance of sustaining momentum: "We've got the pieces; now it's about putting it together every night." Hinch, focusing on the positives, added that Valdez's next start could be a bounce-back: "He's a warrior; one bad night doesn't define him." With sweeps on the line and division rivals in the crosshairs, Thursday's game promises more drama in the heart of the American League Central.