Twins Complete 4-Game Sweep of Tigers with Late Rally

Brooks Lee's 8th-inning single lifts Minnesota to 3-1 victory

Apr. 9, 2026 at 9:39pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a baseball game, with sharp planes of color representing the players and action on the field. The visual style breaks down the scene into an abstract, multi-perspective composition.A cubist interpretation of the Twins' dramatic comeback victory, capturing the energy and intensity of the late-inning rally.Today in Detroit

The Minnesota Twins completed a four-game sweep of the Detroit Tigers on Thursday, rallying for two runs in the 8th inning on a go-ahead single by Brooks Lee to win 3-1. Mick Abel pitched six scoreless innings for the Twins, who got a home run from Josh Bell and a perfect 9th inning save from Eric Orze.

Why it matters

The Twins' four-game sweep of the Tigers marks the first such series sweep in Major League Baseball this season. It also moves Minnesota above .500 for the first time since June 2025, an important milestone early in the season.

The details

Brooks Lee hit a tiebreaking two-run single in the 8th inning to lift the Twins to a 3-1 victory and complete the four-game sweep of the Tigers. Mick Abel pitched six scoreless innings for Minnesota, and Josh Bell went 3-for-4 with a home run. The Tigers lost center fielder Parker Meadows to a head-to-head collision in the 8th inning.

  • The Twins' last four-game sweep was against the Athletics in June 2024.
  • The Tigers have now lost 8 consecutive road games.

The players

Brooks Lee

The Twins' rookie infielder delivered the go-ahead two-run single in the 8th inning to lift Minnesota to victory.

Mick Abel

The Twins' starting pitcher threw six scoreless innings, striking out 7 batters and stranding 7 runners.

Josh Bell

The Twins' designated hitter went 3-for-4 at the plate, including a home run.

Parker Meadows

The Tigers' center fielder left the game in the 8th inning after a head-to-head collision while making a catch.

Eric Orze

The Twins' relief pitcher recorded a perfect 9th inning to earn the save, the 5th different Twins pitcher to do so this season.

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What they’re saying

“We must have been due for a sweep like this. The guys really came together and played some great baseball this series.”

— Rocco Baldelli, Twins Manager

What’s next

The Twins will look to continue their momentum as they head to Toronto for a 3-game series starting on Friday. The Tigers, meanwhile, will host the Marlins in a 3-game homestand.

The takeaway

The Twins' four-game sweep of the Tigers marks an important early-season milestone, as Minnesota climbs above .500 for the first time in nearly a year. The team's balanced performance, from strong pitching to timely hitting, shows they could be a force to be reckoned with in the AL Central this season.