00:00Welcome to this recap of the Tigers' showdown with the Twins.
00:04The last occasion when the Tigers managed to sweep a four-game series against the Twins while playing away was back in 1948 when they were known as the Washington Senators and played at Griffith Stadium.
00:18On June 13th of that year, Dizzy Trout and Virgil Trucks each delivered complete game victories during a doubleheader, successfully completing the sweep.
00:26The most recent instance of the Tigers sweeping a four-game series against the Twins regardless of location occurred from May 27th to May 29th, 1983.
00:37In that series, Milt Wilcox was the only starting pitcher to secure a win, achieving a complete game performance while allowing just four hits.
00:45The Tigers triumphed over the same Twins reliever, Rick Lysander, on three occasions.
00:50The last time the Tigers achieved a series sweep in Minnesota was in 2016 when they dominated at target field with a remarkable 9-0 record, outscoring the Twins by a significant margin of 65-25.
01:04Victor Martinez had an outstanding performance, batting .600 with 18 hits and 30 at-bats which included three home runs, six doubles, and ten runs batted in.
01:14Regardless of the Twins' situation following the trade deadline, accomplishing a four-game series sweep on the road is a challenging feat.
01:22On Sunday, former Tiger tamer Corey Kosky made a pregame appearance.
01:27The atmosphere surrounding his induction into the Twins' Hall of Fame may have contributed to the team's performance,
01:33but the Twins' prior experience with Tigers pitcher Chris Paddock likely enhanced their chances of avoiding a sweep.
01:39After Brooks Lee hit his first career Grand Slam, which highlighted a six-run third inning,
01:45it seemed that Detroit's four-game winning streak was coming to an end, resulting in an 8-1 defeat at target field.
01:51Nevertheless, the Tigers concluded their road trip with a 5-2 record, returning home in a better position than when they departed.
01:58They still hold an 8.5-game lead over Cleveland in the American League Central, following the Guardians' third consecutive loss to Atlanta.
02:05We feel good. We're playing well. Stated manager A.J. Hinch.
02:10You aim to win every game, but you understand that it's not always possible.
02:14However, we can take pride in winning three out of four games in this series.
02:18We'll shake off this loss, head home, and prepare to face a strong Houston team,
02:24as the Detroit Tigers gear up for an important three-game series against the Houston Astros,
02:28who currently lead the AL West, and are only three games behind Detroit for the American League's second seed.
02:34This positioning would secure a first-round playoff bye.
02:39Several insights have emerged from their recent trip.
02:42The bullpen is developing, yet remains adaptable.
02:46During this trip, both Kyle Finnegan and Will Vest secured saves,
02:50with Vest achieving his first save since the Tigers acquired Finnegan from the Nationals on July 31st.
02:55However, their roles extend beyond just securing saves.
02:59Their deployment illustrates the situational flexibility that manager A.J. Hinch has been aiming for
03:04since the pitching struggles of last season.
03:06Vest managed to record four outs prior to Finnegan's save on Saturday,
03:10while Finnegan took the mound in the eighth inning three times during the trip,
03:14including both of Vest's saves against the White Sox.
03:17Finnegan commented on the importance of being prepared as a reliever, stating,
03:22You want to be careful not to just go along with the manager's plans and be ready at all times,
03:26but you begin to recognize the strategy.
03:29The Tigers departed from Detroit last Sunday with Cody Hoyer and Brant Herter included in their bullpen.
03:35However, on Wednesday, Sawyer Gibson Long stepped in to take Hoyer's place,
03:39providing additional innings to support Troy Melton during his spot start.
03:43Following this, left-handed pitcher Bailey Horn was brought in to add a fresh arm to the bullpen,
03:49particularly to address the challenge posed by Minnesota's left-handed hitters.
03:53Due to the injuries of Parker Meadows and Matt Vierling, Colt Keith has found himself playing
03:58third base more frequently. This shift has allowed Javier Baez to take on a more regular role in
04:04center field. The opportunity for consistent at-bats appears to be benefiting Keith, who has recorded
04:10six hits in 23 at-bats, including a home run and six runs scored during the recent trip.
04:16In August, he boasts an impressive batting average of .318 and an OPS of .923. On Sunday,
04:24the Minnesota Twins' familiarity with pitcher Chris Paddock played a significant role in their
04:28aggressive approach at the plate. As a result, Paddock has surrendered six home runs in his last
04:34three starts, with five of those coming against the Twins, his former team. Paddock expressed his
04:39thoughts on the situation, stating,
04:41I need to move forward and prepare for another team in our division for my next game.
04:45I have to learn from this experience and keep growing, while maintaining a positive mindset.
04:51There are aspects I need to improve. Some of my performances this year haven't lived up to my
04:55expectations overall. It's certainly frustrating, especially when playing against a former team.
05:01What's your prediction for the Tigers' upcoming series against the Astros?
05:04Stay tuned for more Tigers coverage as they continue their playoff push in this crucial stretch of the
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