The Minnesota Twins traveled to Detroit and came away with a 3-2 victory over the Tigers on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, completing a one-run comeback to take the divisional road win. Kody Clemens was the offensive catalyst, delivering a two-run home run that provided the margin of victory. Dean Kremer earned the win despite allowing two earned runs over five innings, and Yoendrys Gómez closed it out with a save. It was a tight, grinding divisional game that the Twins ultimately found a way to finish.

Kody Clemens Delivers the Decisive Blow

Clemens went 1-for-3 at the plate, but that one hit was the one that mattered most. His two-run home run gave the Twins the lead they would not relinquish, accounting for both of Minnesota's runs that separated the two clubs at the final horn. Ryan Jeffers added some punch at the top of the lineup with a 2-for-3 afternoon, keeping the offense moving and putting pressure on Detroit's pitching staff throughout the game.

Kremer Logs Five Innings, Bullpen Carries It Home

Kremer worked five innings, surrendering two earned runs on five hits with three strikeouts and a walk. He gave the Twins enough to work with, keeping Detroit at two runs in a game where the margin was always thin. The Minnesota bullpen took over from there and was sharp. A.J. Minter tossed 1.1 innings without allowing a run, striking out one. Andrew Morris worked 0.2 innings with a strikeout and nothing on the board. Jeff Hoffman added a clean inning with a strikeout, and Gómez slammed the door in the ninth — one inning, one strikeout, one hit allowed, but no damage done.

Detroit's Kevin McGonigle Kept It Interesting

The Tigers did not go quietly. Kevin McGonigle went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI, providing Detroit's entire offensive output on Tuesday. Drew Anderson took the loss for the Tigers after allowing three earned runs over 5.1 innings, walking three and striking out four. The Detroit bullpen — Beau Brieske, Brant Hurter, and Yilber Díaz — collectively threw 3.2 scoreless innings but the damage from the Clemens homer had already been done.

Turning Point: The Clemens Home Run

Minnesota trailed by one before Clemens connected for his two-run shot, swinging the game from a deficit to a lead in a single at-bat. That swing represented a one-run deficit overcome, which the event data flags explicitly as the defining momentum shift of the night. From that point forward, the Twins' bullpen held the line and never let Detroit back into it.

Key Performances at a Glance

  • Kody Clemens (MIN): 1-for-3, 1 HR, 2 RBI
  • Ryan Jeffers (MIN): 2-for-3
  • Dean Kremer (MIN): W, 5.0 IP, 3 K, 2 ER, 5 H, 1 BB
  • Yoendrys Gómez (MIN): SV, 1.0 IP, 1 K, 1 H, 0 ER
  • Kevin McGonigle (DET): 2-for-4, 1 HR, 2 RBI
  • Drew Anderson (DET): L, 5.1 IP, 4 K, 3 ER, 4 H, 3 BB

What's Next

Minnesota continues its road trip in the American League Central with this divisional series against Detroit still in play. The Twins showed they can manufacture a win in a one-run game, getting contributions up and down the roster when it counted. The next matchup with the Tigers will test whether Minnesota can build on Tuesday's result and put further distance between themselves and their division rival.