MINNEAPOLIS _ When a team underachieves, as the Twins have this season, changes are often made.
So all eyes will be on the Twins front office and ownership to see if, in addition to new players, if they will also push for changes among the coaching staff.
One person who wants a shot to turn things around next season is manager Paul Molitor.
Molitor, before Wednesday's game against the Tigers, was asked if he wants to return in 2019, and Molitor didn't hesitate.
"Yeah," he said. "I don't have any doubts about that."
Molitor later picked up his 300th career victory after the Twins beat Detroit, 11-4.
The Twins pulled ahead in the fourth on the second of two home runs by Johnny Field, then erupted for five runs in the fifth, including a bases-loaded triple by Jorge Polanco.
Detroit took a 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI triple by Christin Stewart. Stewart's drive hit the wall in right-center and deflected away from center fielder Jake Cave, and Stewart attempted to score on an inside-the-park home run before being thrown out.
The Twins bounced back with three runs in the bottom of the inning, including Tyler Austin's two-run homer. Field added a solo homer in the second for a 4-1 lead.
But Detroit scored twice in the third and once in the fourth to tie the score at 4-4. Twins right-hander Jake Odorizzi was knocked out of the game in the fourth without getting an out. He gave up four runs on six hits and five walks.
In the bottom of the fourth, Field sent a drive to right that appeared to bounce off the wall for a double. Umpires checked the replay and saw the ball had cleared the wall for a home run, giving the Twins a 6-4 lead.
The Twins sent nine batters to the plate in the fifth as they broke open the game. Polanco's triple was the Twins' 11th hit of the night, scoring Cave, Chris Gimenez and Joe Mauer.
Field, a September call-up, is one of several unexpected faces on the roster as the Twins finish a disappointing season. It will be in the weeks following Sunday's season finale during which the club will meet and determine if any changes are needed among the coaching staff.
After winning a wild-card berth in 2017, the Twins are fighting to avoid 90 losses a year later.
Twins owner Jim Pohlad, during an interview Wednesday, said he will listen to any recommendations made by Chief Baseball Officer Derek Falvey and general manager Thad Levine. He then was asked if he wanted Molitor to return next season.
"I have no idea what they are going to come with," Pohlad said. "No matter if we win the World Series or have a disappointing season like this, they are going to come with recommendations. Some of those recommendations could be personnel changes, could be methodology changes. I don't know, but I look forward to that."
Falvey would not speculate on the future of Molitor and the coaching staff, but said there will be meetings right after the season ends to determine if changes are necessary.
"Get to the end of the season," Falvey said, "let the season end and meet and then start talking about what that looks like. But we'll do that in a thoughtful manner."
