MLB

Dozier homers, Duffey falters in Twins' 9-4 loss to Tigers

AP

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Brian Dozier has given a big jolt to the Minnesota Twins' offense the second half of the season.

Minnesota's pitching is leaving Dozier's power display to go for naught.

Dozier hit his career-high 30th homer for the Twins, but starter Tyler Duffey (8-10) allowed six runs in three innings as Minnesota fell to the Detroit Tigers 9-4 on Wednesday night.

Miguel Cabrera had four hits, including his 28th home run, and Justin Upton added a three-run homer as Detroit sent the Twins to their sixth straight loss.

"It's tough when, you know, you're asking your bullpen to eat up a lot of innings here as of late," Minnesota manager Paul Molitor said. "I think you look at different story lines, nine runs with two outs is kind of painful; a lot of opportunities to try and get off the field and it just wasn't happening. You got the home run by Cabrera with two outs in the first, and then everything kind of fell apart in the third."

Matt Boyd (5-2) tied his career-high with seven strikeouts in six innings to win his fifth straight decision.

Cabrera had his fifth four-hit game of the season and was a triple shy of the cycle. He opened the scoring with a deep blast to straightaway center field in the first inning.

Duffey has allowed at least five runs in five of his last seven starts. In four of those starts, he's gone less than four innings.

"Yeah, it's pretty frustrating obviously," Duffey said. "You know, getting into the bullpen again for a lot of innings and that hurts us for tomorrow and the days after that. It's frustrating."

Dozier is, at least, providing a highlight in another long summer for the Twins.

The 2015 All-Star became the first Twin since Josh Willingham in 2012 to reach the 30-homer plateau, and he leads the majors with 22 home runs since June 25.

"I don't know if a lot of people projected him to be a 30-home run guy anywhere along the way in his development," Molitor said. "But it's been incredible to watch him put together a season especially after his slow start."

Robbie Grossman added his ninth home run for Minnesota.

PARKING IT

A tough first season for Byung Ho Park in North America came to a frustrating early finish.

Park, who has been in the minor leagues since late June, will undergo right wrist surgery on Thursday. Park, 30, had been dealing with an injured wrist through much of the season and it recently has worsened.

The injury is to a tendon in the back of his hand, Molitor said.

Park, a two-time MVP in the Korean Baseball Organization, hit .191 with 12 home runs and 24 RBIs in 62 games for the Twins after signing a four-year, $12 million contract in December. He opened the season as the everyday designated hitter and played 24 games at first base.

Park hit .224 with 10 homers and 19 RBIs in 31 Triple-A games.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Twins: LHP Hector Santiago will have his next turn in the rotation delayed because of a bruised thumb on his pitching hand. Santiago is 0-4 with a 10.89 ERA in four starts with Minnesota after being acquired at the trade deadline from the Los Angeles Angels for Ricky Nolasco. LHP Pat Dean will take Santiago's spot and start Friday at Toronto.

UP NEXT

The series concludes with LHP Daniel Norris (1-2, 3.81) taking the mound for Detroit against right-hander Jose Berrios (2-3, 9.28). Norris has made three starts since coming off the DL with a strained right oblique, losing to Boston in his last start. Berrios has allowed at least four runs in each of his last three starts, surrendering 14 earned runs in 11 innings.