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Diaranson 1 Juni 2022

Kepler's 3 RBIs help Twins beat Tigers 8-2

By DAVE HOGG The Tigers optioned reliever
Associated Press Drew Carlton, who threw
DETROIT (AP) — Max three innings in the first
Kepler had three hits and game, to Triple-A Toledo and
drove in three runs to help activated Will Vest from the
the Minnesota Twins to an COVID-19 list.
8-2 win over the Detroit
Tigers in the first game of SANCHEZ'S HOME
Tuesday's doubleheader. AWAY FROM HOME
Sanchez, who has homered
Kepler is hitting .320 with in the first two games of the
four homers and 12 RBIs in series, has gone deep before
25 at-bats against Detroit this in Detroit. On Aug. 22, 2017,
season. Minnesota's Devin he became the only player to
Smeltzer (2-0) picked up the clear the left-field seats with
win, giving up two runs and a homer since Comerica Park
six hits in 6 2/3 innings. opened in 2000. The home
"Today's the best I've felt," run was estimated at 493 feet,
Smeltzer said. "My fastball breaking the previous stadi-
velocity and fastball com- um record by nearly 30 feet.
mand is the best it has been, I "I didn't even know that re-
was able to move the ball up cord, but it is impressive," he
and down and my changeup said. "Every park is different,
was good." and I don't look to do any-
Tigers starter Rony Garcia thing better in this park than
(0-1) took the loss, allowing son — and scored on Kepler's were working today and he TRAINER'S ROOM in any other."
six runs and seven hits in five double. attacks the hitters. That plan Twins: Shortstop Carlos Cor-
innings. "We didn't do a good Jorge Polanco singled, and works for us." rea was placed on the CO- UP NEXT
job of controlling the top half with one out Gary Sanchez Tigers rookie Spencer VID-19 list and replaced by The teams finish the double-
of their lineup, and they did a hit a three-run homer to left Torkelson went 3-for-4 in the infielder Jermaine Palacios, header with a night game.
pretty good job of controlling for his sixth homer of the first game, his second straight who made his major-league Detroit's Joey Wentz (0-1,
the top half of our lineup," season. Miguel Cabrera sin- three-hit game. debut in the first game. Ke- 20.35) will make his second
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch gled — career hit No. 3,030 "I'm seeing the ball a lot better pler returned after missing career start, while Minne-
said. "When that happens, it — and scored in the fourth to right now, and I'm definitely Monday's game with a sore sota's Cole Sands (0-0, 6.75)
is an uphill battle." make it 6-1, but Kepler added getting my good swing off in quadriceps. ... Sonny Gray will start for the first time
Minnesota took a 2-0 lead in a two-run single in the sev- more at-bats," said Torkelson, (shoulder) played long-toss after two relief appearances.
the first on a two-run double enth. who raised his batting average catch and is scheduled to do Both pitchers are serving as
by Trevor Larnach, and the Daz Cameron ended Smelt- from .176 to .211. "This game the same Wednesday. their team's 27th player for
Twins added four more runs zer's day with an RBI double can knock you down fast, but Tigers: DH Miguel Cabrera the doubleheader. Tigers
in the third. in the seventh. sameness is greatness. Stay played after sitting out two utilityman Kody Clemens is
Byron Buxton led off with a "The good thing about Devin the course and results are go- games with back stiffness. expected to make his major-
single — his first hit in 24 at- is that he throws strikes," ing to happen." league debut in the second
bats against Detroit this sea- Sanchez said. "All his pitches ROSTER MOVE game.

Mets demote struggling 1B/OF Dominic Smith to Triple-A

By JAKE SEINER and with a .543 OPS. ily play first base with Syra- that and I have a lot of con- ter. Plummer, a 25-year-old
AP Baseball Writer Smith has played parts of six cuse. fidence he will and get back former first-round pick with
NEW YORK (AP) — The seasons in the majors and “Give him a chance to get up here and help us.” five big league games, had
New York Mets have op- hasn’t played regularly at back to the things we know Sending down Smith allows four RBIs in a 13-5 win over
tioned first baseman/out- Triple-A since 2018. Show- he’s capable of,” Showalter the Mets to keep outfielder Washington on Monday
fielder Dominic Smith to alter said Smith will primar- said. “Hopefully, he can do Nick Plummer on the ros- and hit a tying homer in the
Triple-A Syracuse amid ninth inning of a 5-4, 10-in-
a slow start to the season ning win over Philadelphia
for the 26-year-old. on Sunday for his first major
league hit.
The Mets announced
Smith’s demotion Tuesday Plummer is a better outfield
and promoted right-hander defender than Smith, mak-
Adonis Medina before a ing him a versatile late-game
game against the Washing- option for Showalter.
ton Nationals. Center fielder Brandon
“We needed a pitcher to try Nimmo was out of the line-
to keep everybody healthy up for the fourth straight day
down there,” manager Buck with a sore right wrist, but
Showalter said. “And Dom Showalter said he’s improv-
was the option we ended up ing and could start Wednes-
with.” day or Thursday.
Smith batted .316 during a Right-hander Tylor Me-
breakout season in 2020, but gill threw a simulated game
the 2013 first-round pick has Tuesday and could make
struggled to replicate that a minor league rehab start
success. He is hitting .186 soon. Megill hasn’t pitched
this season without a home since May 11 with right bi-
run in 101 plate appearances ceps inflammation.