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.
[ MUST LISTEN: Make “Days of Roar” your go-to Detroit Tigers podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) ]
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
Minnesota Looks to Add 1,100 Child Care Slots, With Melrose Among the 11 Funded Communities
UNDATED (WJON News) — The city of Melrose is one of 11 communities and organizations sharing in the latest round of child care grants.
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development has announced more than $1.4-million in child care economic development grants that will create more than 1,100 new child care slots across the state.
DEED says more than 80% of the money is slated for outstate Minnesota.
Commissioner Matt Varilek says the grants help working families by ensuring parents are able to work. It also helps employers retain talent and establish the foundation for long-term economic vitality.
Since the program’s start in July 2023, DEED has awarded more than $13-million in grants to 56 organizations to fund child care startups and business expansions.
25 Board Games That We All Played in the ’70s
From well-known favorites like Clue to cult classics like Masterpiece, these 1970s board games bring a wave of nostalgia for a time when life felt simpler — and maybe even a little more exciting.
Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz
LOOK: The Best Car Ads of the 1970s in One Nostalgic Gallery
From the Pinto to the Civic, get ready to relive the days of manual windows and two-door wagons as we flip through some of the most iconic car print ads from 1970s magazines.
Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz
Summer Vacation in the ’80s: These Nostalgic Photos Say It All
Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz
Minnesota
Where to watch Cleveland Guardians vs Minnesota Twins: TV channel, start time, streaming for July 9
What to know about MLB’s ABS robot umpire strike zone system
MLB launches ABS challenge system as players test robot umpire calls in a groundbreaking season.
The 2026 MLB season has surpassed the quarter mark, and after each team’s first 40 games, there’s plenty of reasons to tune in all summer long.
Chicago White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami has already proven doubters wrong by launching 17 home runs, Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes consistently looks like the best version of himself on the mound and Milwaukee ace Jacob Misiorowski is throwing harder than any starter in the majors.
The MLB action continues on Thursday as the Cleveland Guardians visit the Minnesota Twins.
Here’s everything you need to know to tune in for the first pitch.
See USA TODAY’s sortable MLB schedule to filter by team or division.
What time is Cleveland Guardians vs Minnesota Twins?
First pitch between the Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Guardians is scheduled for 1:40 p.m. (ET) on Thursday, July 9.
How to watch Cleveland Guardians vs Minnesota Twins on Thursday
All times Eastern and accurate as of Thursday, July 9, 2026, at 6:33 a.m.
- Matchup: CLE at MIN
- Date: Thursday, July 9
- Time: 1:40 p.m. (ET)
- Venue: Target Field
- Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
- TV: Guardians.TV and Twins.TV
- Streaming: MLB.TV on Fubo
Watch MLB all season long with Fubo
MLB regional blackout restrictions apply
MLB scores, results
MLB scores for July 9 games are available on usatoday.com . Here’s how to access today’s results:
See scores, results for all of today’s games.
Minnesota
Man seriously injured in north Minneapolis shooting; no arrests
Minneapolis police are investigating a shooting that seriously injured a man on the city’s north side Wednesday afternoon.
The shooting happened just before 2 p.m. on the 1200 block of 36th Avenue North, according to the Minneapolis Police Department.
Upon arrival, officers found a man inside the living room of a residence suffering from a life-threatening gunshot wound. Police provided medical aid to the victim before he was transported by ambulance to an area hospital.
Officers are working to determine what led up the shooting, including if it was accidental, according to officials.
No arrest have been made so far.
-
Pennsylvania2 minutes ago
Man arrested over alleged antisemitic threats to Gov. Josh Shapiro | The Jerusalem Post
-
Rhode Island5 minutes agoAquatic Weed Treatments Planned for 2 RI Ponds, 1 Lake
-
South-Carolina10 minutes agoSouth Carolina Lottery Pick 3, Pick 4 results for July 9, 2026
-
South Dakota17 minutes agoIverson Ford Welcomes the 2027 Ford Expedition to Drivers Across Eastern South Dakota
-
Tennessee20 minutes agoTennessee Highway Patrol holds open house at Jackson district office
-
Texas32 minutes agoLonghorns Daily News: Texas coach Steve Sarkisian named among Dodd Trophy watch list
-
Utah35 minutes agoUtah Jazz vs Washington Wizards recap: Darryn Peterson is only a man
-
Vermont40 minutes ago
VT Lottery Gimme 5, Pick 3 results for July 9, 2026