Minnesota
Detroit Tigers come alive in 8th inning for 4-3 win over Minnesota Twins to split series
Another game, another comeback win.
The Detroit Tigers continue to struggle in the run-scoring department, especially throughout the early innings, but the ongoing issue hasn’t deterred the never-quit effort from the hitters throughout the lineup. It was on display again in Sunday’s eighth inning, as the Tigers scored four runs to suddenly take the lead.
Those four runs were just enough for the Tigers to beat the Minnesota Twins, 4-3, in Sunday’s series finale at Comerica Park. Spencer Torkelson drove in the game-winning run with a bloop single to shallow right-center field.
The Tigers and Twins, projected to finish at the top of the American League Central, split the four-game set.
JEFF SEIDEL: Tigers reaffirm biggest problem with season: They must play perfect to be good
The Tigers (9-6) once again received a solid performance from their starting pitcher, a positive trend this season. Right-hander Jack Flaherty allowed three runs on six hits and two walks with eight strikeouts across 6⅓ innings, throwing 100 pitches.
Flaherty threw 47 pitches in the first two innings, in which he gave up two of the three runs, then he settled down to throw just 53 pitches over his final 4⅓ innings.
The Tigers never had a breakthrough on offense against Twins right-hander Bailey Ober, who tossed six-plus scoreless innings with three strikeouts. He allowed just three hits and didn’t walk any batters in his 84-pitch outing.
The breakthrough happened in the eighth inning, beginning with Javier Báez’s solo home run off left-handed reliever Caleb Thielbar to put the Tigers on the scoreboard.
The homer to left field marked Báez’s first of the season.
Back-to-back singles from Carson Kelly and Riley Greene kept the pressure on the Twins and led to a pitching change. Mark Canha met right-handed reliever Griffin Jax with a two-run double that deflected off third baseman Kyle Famer, and because of the deflection, the ball rolled into the left-field corner.
It should have been ruled an error.
Still, Canha’s double knotted the score at 3-3, and he advanced to third base on the unnecessary throw home from the left fielder.
Torkelson put the Tigers in front, 4-3, with his single off Jax’s down-and-away sweeper. The sweeper ended up outside of the strike zone, but Torkelson made contact. He hit the ball with a 62.1 mph exit velocity, and once the ball dropped in for a bloop single, Canha scored from third base.
Right-handed reliever Jason Foley walked Matt Wallner and Edouard Julien with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, but he dispatched Ryan Jeffers to finish the game.
Foley notched his fourth save in as many chances.
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Jack Flaherty battles
Flaherty wasn’t perfect.
But he was pretty good in his third start of the season.
He worked around two singles in the first inning, but he didn’t have the same luck in the second inning. He opened the second inning with a leadoff walk to Carlos Santana, and with two outs, Famer singled and Julien walked. Those three batters loaded the bases for Jeffers.
Jeffers delivered a two-run single for a 2-0 lead in the first inning.
SUNDAY’S NOTEBOOK: Tigers’ Andy Ibáñez on road to health; Spencer Torkelson’s decisions at first base
Flaherty retired all three batters in the third inning, and he sent down three of four batters in the fourth inning. The only blemish in those innings: Christian Vázquez hit a hanging slider to left-center field for a solo home run.
The homer put the Twins ahead, 3-0.
Flaherty hit the first batter he faced in the seventh inning, and after striking out Julien, the Tigers replaced him with right-handed reliever Will Vest. The runner was stranded by Vest with back-to-back outs to complete the seventh.
As for Flaherty, he generated 16 whiffs (on 45 swings) with five fastballs, seven sliders and four knuckle curves. His fastball averaged 94.1 mph and maxed out at 96.9 mph.
Before the comeback
Before the eighth inning, the Tigers showed signs of life in the seventh inning.
Torkelson, who still hasn’t hit a home run, hammered Ober’s 10th pitch — an up-and-in fastball — for a double to left field. The leadoff extra-base hit chased Ober. Right-handed reliever Brock Stewart replaced Ober, only to walk Kerry Carpenter on five pitches.
The next batter, Colt Keith, grounded into a force out, leaving runners at first base and second base with one out. The Tigers failed to score a single run because Gio Urshela grounded into an inning-ending double play.
Urshela hit a bouncer back to Stewart.
Before the seventh, Greene hit a leadoff double in the first inning and Urshela hit a single in the second inning. After that, the Tigers didn’t get another baserunner until Torkelson’s double.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
Listen to our weekly Tigers show “Days of Roar” every Monday afternoon on demand at freep.com, Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at freep.com/podcasts.
Minnesota
Iran conflict: 250 Minnesota National Guard member serving in Middle East
(FOX 9) – The Minnesota National Guard tells FOX 9 there are currently 250 guard members on regularly scheduled deployment at the United States Central Command areas of responsibility as the United States leads strikes in Iran.
Guardsman in Middle East
What we know:
The Minnesota National Guard says the deployed airmen and soldiers are serving from Duluth’s 148th Fighter Wing, the Marshall-based 1-151 Artillery, and the Stillwater-based 34th Military Police Company.
What they’re saying:
“While their missions and duty locations vary, all are grateful for the strong support of those back home,” writes Army Maj. Andrea Tsuchiya, State Public Affairs Officer for the Minnesota National Guard.
What we don’t know:
The guard did not disclose the exact bases or countries where the soldiers and airmen are serving.
CENTCOM covers 21 countries including: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Yemen.
Pres. Trump says Iran operations likely to last 4 to 5 weeks
Big picture view:
In his first public remarks since the launch of the attack on Iran, President Trump said he expected operations to last four to five weeks, but he was prepared “to go far longer than that.”
The president also laid out his objective for the mission: to destroy Iran’s missile capabilities, to “annihilate” their navy, to ensure the country doesn’t obtain a nuclear weapon and that the regime “cannot continue to arm, fund and direct terrorist armies outside of their borders.”
Minnesota
U.S.-Israeli strikes spark dueling rallies in Twin Cities
Iranians in Minnesota react to Khamenei death
Iranians in the Twin Cities gathered in downtown Minneapolis on Sunday to celebrate major developments in the Middle East following the death of Supreme Leader Khamenei. While many Iranian-Americans expressed hope for regime change, anti-war protesters also took to the streets to condemn the military strikes, with some members of Minnesota’s DFL delegation calling the operation “unlawful” and “illegal.”
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Iranians in the Twin Cities gathered in downtown Minneapolis Sunday to celebrate major developments in the Middle East. Anti-war protesters also took the streets of Minneapolis Saturday.
Plus, Jewish communities say they are on high alert over concerns of potential retaliatory acts in major cities across the U.S.
‘Massive moment’
What we know:
Following a joint U.S. and Israeli military operation in Iran, Khamenei was killed in an attack, Iranian state media confirmed early Sunday.
What they’re saying:
Iranian community groups rallied at Nicollet Mall and 11th Street on Sunday to express hope for regime change.
Dozens of Iranian-Americans said they are celebrating the news.
“We are here to support Iranian people. Today, everybody is happy, very happy,” said Beheshteh Zargaran, an Iranian-American.
“Killed Khamenei, which was the supreme leader, and hopefully they will continue this action and help Iranians finally topple the Islamic regime,” said Faraz Samavat, an Iranian-American.
“That means a lot. We are fighting for almost half a century to destroy this cruel regime against people of Iran,” said Ali Mohammad, an Iranian-American.
Iranians in MN celebrate strikes by Pres. Trump
Iranians in the Twin Cities are gathering in downtown Minneapolis to celebrate major developments in the Middle East following a joint U.S. and Israeli military operation. Community groups rallied at Nicollet Mall and 11th Street to express hope for regime change after news that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, was killed in Saturday’s airstrikes.
The other side:
Protesters also took to the streets in the Twin Cities over the weekend condemning the strikes.
Some people are criticizing the military operation including members of Minnesota’s DFL delegation. Congresswoman Betty McCollum called the strikes “unlawful” and Congresswoman Ilhan Omar called the war “illegal and unjustified.”
Heightened security:
Jewish communities in Minnesota say they are also on high alert following security guidance across the country to prevent potential retaliatory violence.
“A heightened sense of vigilance making sure that everybody is aware of their surroundings and that all of the protective measures are in place,” said Steve Hunegs, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas.
There are currently no known specific threats against local Jewish communities.
Minnesota
Here’s how much snow parts of Minnesota got on Saturday, Feb. 28
Storm reports in from Minnesota on Saturday, Feb. 28.
LANESBORO, Minn. (FOX 9) – Impressive snow totals were reported in parts of Minnesota after a narrow band of heavy snowfall worked its way across the state.
Minnesota snow totals for the last day of February 2026
Snow totals for Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (FOX 9)
By the numbers:
Many areas saw more snow than was expected before temperatures warm up in the coming days.
The following snow totals were reported across Minnesota:
- Lanesboro: 10 inches
- Preston: 10 inches
- St. Peter: 7 inches
- Stewartville: 7 inches
- Caledonia: 6 inches
- Nicollet: 6 inches
- New Ulm: 5.5 inches
- Rochester: 4.9 inches
- Mankato: 4.5 inches
The Source: This story uses information from the FOX 9 weather forecast and the National Weather Service.
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