MINNEAPOLIS _ The Twins battered a beleaguered Detroit pitching staff on the way to a 15-8 victory at Target Field on Thursday night.
Logan Forsythe went 5-for-5. Jorge Polanco, Miguel Sano and Ehire Adrianza each hit home runs as the Twins pulled away in the opener of a four-game series against the Tigers.
The only issue for the Twins was the continuing struggles of right-hander Ervin Santana in his comeback from finger surgery.
Things were shaping up nicely for Santana to win his first game since Sept. 21 of last season _ which came against the Tigers. He had settled down after a rocky first inning and the Twins got a three-run homer from Jorge Polanco in the first inning then five runs in the second. He had an 8-2 lead to work with to finally enter the win column.
But Santana currently lacks lockdown stuff. He has to be crafty, and his control must be immaculate. If he can't do that, he can get into trouble.
And trouble came a' knockin' during his second trip through the Tigers batting order.
Victor Martinez led off the fourth with a double down the left field line against the Twins' shift. While facing Mikie Mahtook, catcher Mitch Garver called for a pitch near the knees. Instead, Santana's 88 miles per hour fastball was up in the strike zone, and Mahtook crushed the pitch out to left for a two-run home run to cut the Twins lead to 8-4.
James McCann dug in, and Garver, again, set up for a pitch at the knees. Santana threw a 90 mph fastball that was in the middle of the zone, and McCann clobbered it to right for a solo homer to make it 8-5.
Santana got out of the inning and was three outs away from qualifying for a win.
But Jim Adducci led off the fifth with a sharp single to center. Nick Castellanos, who had clubbed a two-run home run in the first inning, squared up another Santana pitch, blasting a double to center that put runners on second and third. Santana then fell behind Niko Goodrum 3-0 before walking him to load the bases.
Twins manager Paul Molitor then replaced Santana with Trevor May, who walked in two runs as Detroit crept within 8-7.
In four innings, Santana gave up seven runs on seven hits and three walks. Detroit hit three home runs off him, making it nine he's allowed in five starts since his return. In less than a month, Santana is up to fifth among Twins pitchers in home runs allowed. His ERA rose to 8.03.
All of Santana's pitches are around 3 mph slower than a year ago when he could reach back and hit 95 mph. He believes what the doctors have told him, that his velocity can return. The question is if that will happen this season or next?
After May held off the Tigers in the fifth, the Twins restored their lead in the sixth. Ehire Adrianza hit a two-run home run to put the Twins ahead 10-7. Singles by Joe Mauer, Logan Forsythe and Jorge Polanco loaded the bases with one out. Sano walked to force in a run. Tyler Austin hit a sacrifice fly. Garver added a two-run single. And Eddie Rosario singled to make it 15-7.
