Twins Pound Tigers 15-2

The Minnesota Twins pounded the Detroit Tigers 15-2 on Tuesday night at Target Field, turning a 10-run sixth inning into a runaway. Royce Lewis and Ryan Jeffers each hit three-run homers in that frame as Minnesota improved to 67-72 and won its third straight after dropping seven of eight.

Lewis finished 3-for-4 with a walk. Kody Clemens homered for a second straight game. Kalen Culpepper added two hits and three RBI. The Twins sit 3 1/2 games behind Cleveland for the third AL wild-card spot, with three other clubs still between them.

The 10-run sixth

Melton had kept Minnesota in check into the fifth before a walk, a double, an error, and Keaschall's RBI double made it 4-1, per Yahoo Sports. The sixth turned a solid lead into a wipeout.

Per AP via ESPN, it was Minnesota's second 10-run inning of the season and the 12th in club history. Troy Melton (7-4) gave up Lewis' three-run shot before Kyle Finnegan absorbed the bulk of the damage, allowing five runs while recording only one out. Jeffers finished Finnegan's night with his three-run blast.

Yahoo Sports walked through the chaos after the first out of the inning: Josh Bell single, Trevor Larnach hit by pitch, Lewis' three-run homer, Culpepper double, Walker Jenkins walk, Luke Keaschall single, Brooks Lee sacrifice fly, Clemens walk, Jeffers' three-run homer, and more traffic before Jenkins grounded out with the Twins up 14-1.

Prielipp and the wild-card math

Connor Prielipp (4-7) earned the win with five scoreless innings of relief after opener Andrew Morris. He struck out five in his first career relief appearance. Riley Greene returned from the injured list for Detroit, which fell to 63-75 and has now lost 14 of its last 17.

Minnesota had already won the series opener 11-1. Tuesday's 13-hit romp made it a statement series. Luke Keaschall drove in two runs on two hits, and the Twins remain second in the AL in runs behind Central-leading Chicago, per AP. Detroit is 13-28 against AL Central opponents after the loss.

Wednesday's series finale lines up Dean Kremer (1-1, 4.39) for the Twins against Drew Anderson (4-5, 3.87) for the Tigers. For other late MLB fireworks already live on Smacktok, see the Pirates' 13-12 walk-off over the Giants and Alex Bregman's three-homer night. Tuesday in Minneapolis needed a 10-run sixth, not a walk-off, and Lewis and Jeffers supplied the loudest swings.