Byron Buxton hits home runs, doubles to lead Twins to 9-3 win over Tigers

Pablo López (9-7) allowed two runs on six hits in seven innings and struck out seven.

“A lot of my stuff got better towards the end of my outing,” he said.

Tigers starter Keider Montero (1-4) allowed six runs and eight hits in five innings.

With only three healthy starters, Tigers manager AJ Hinch was forced to retain Montero even though he had given up three home runs in the first two innings.

“He was going to be there,” Hinch said. “It’s not easy right now — we’ve got a bunch of bullpen games lined up and a couple more coming up, so Keider had a long leash. Three solo homers put us in the game.”

Buxton and Trevor Larnach gave Minnesota a 2-0 lead with straight home runs in the first inning, and Matt Wallner added another home run in the second inning.

Javier Báez hit his second home run in as many days to make it 3-2 in the third inning.

“I feel good at the plate,” said Báez, who is hitting .179 with three homers. “I’ve been working hard to play better, and if I stay hot, I can have a great second half.”

The Twins regained control with three runs in the fourth inning.

Willi Castro drove in two with a single to left and made a big turn around the bag, prompting second baseman Colt Keith to throw to first. The Tigers were wearing their black City Connect jerseys, and the only person wearing that color at first base was umpire Mike Muchlinski. Keith’s throw sailed into the Minnesota dugout, allowing Castro to take third. He scored on Buxton’s double to left.

“That’s a tough inning when we have two outs, especially after (Báez) got us back in the game with the home run,” Hinch said. “I haven’t talked to Colt, but I think it’s just inexperience — I don’t think Bligh (Madris) needed to travel with the runner. He could have stayed (in first place), which is probably why he wanted to come back.”

Vázquez hit a two-run home run off Joey Wentz to make it 8-2 in the sixth inning.

The Tigers got the bases loaded in the seventh inning with no outs, but Gio Urshela hit the ball to a hard batter at the plate, eliminating Báez and Wenceel Pérez.

Twins: Activated 3B Royce Lewis (adductor strain) from the injured list and sent C Jair Carmago to Triple-A St. Paul. Lewis entered the game hitting .292 with 10 home runs and 18 RBI in 24 games.

Tigers: Placed All-Star OF Riley Greene (hamstring) on ​​the injured list and recalled UTL Ryan Vilade from Triple-A Toledo. Greene has been injured in each of his first three seasons, limiting him to 293 games.

The teams will play the second game of the series on Saturday, with Tigers top prospect Tarik Skubal (11-3, 2.34) taking on Minnesota RHP Joe Ryan (6-6, 3.65).

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb