Brooks Lee’s First Grand Slam Sparks Twins’ 8-1 Win

The Minnesota Twins snapped a tough losing stretch on Sunday, hammering the Detroit Tigers 8-1 at Target Field. They avoided a four-game sweep in style.

Fueled by a six-run explosion in the third inning, the Twins reminded fans of their offensive firepower. Rookie Brooks Lee’s first career grand slam stole the spotlight.

Byron Buxton launched his 25th home run, and starter Thomas Hatch came out strong. The Minnesota bullpen finished the job and handed Detroit its first loss after six straight wins.

Brooks Lee’s Breakout Moment

This game will stick in fans’ minds for Brooks Lee’s milestone swing. The rookie shortstop, long hyped as one of Minnesota’s top prospects, blasted his first grand slam deep into the right-field seats.

His big moment capped a third-inning rally that flipped a close 1-0 contest into a commanding 7-1 lead. That inning had a little bit of everything.

Third Inning Offensive Outburst

The rally started with Byron Buxton’s 25th home run of the season—a 388-foot shot to the second deck in left. Royce Lewis followed with a solo home run, then later coaxed a key walk to keep things rolling.

Lee stepped up, turned on a pitch from Chris Paddack, and cleared the bases. Six runs crossed the plate in that frame, and you could feel the energy shift.

Thomas Hatch Shines in Rare Start

While the bats grabbed headlines, Thomas Hatch quietly delivered one of his best outings so far. Making just his seventh MLB start—and his first since 2023—the right-hander kept Detroit’s lineup quiet.

Hatch allowed only three hits, struck out four, and gave up just one run over five innings. He looked calm and in control, which isn’t always easy against a hot team.

Halting the Tigers’ Momentum

The Tigers came in riding high after six straight wins and leading the AL Central. Their only offense showed up in the top of the third, when Kerry Carpenter singled home a run.

After that, the Tigers struggled to solve Hatch’s steady command or the Twins’ sharp bullpen. It just wasn’t their day at the plate.

Chris Paddack Struggles Against Former Team

This matchup had a bit of a revenge angle, with Chris Paddack facing his old club for the third time since being traded to Detroit on July 28. It didn’t go how he’d hoped.

Paddack gave up eight earned runs on nine hits in just 5 2/3 innings. That’s his second loss to Minnesota in three post-trade starts. Ouch.

Twins Bullpen Locks it Down

After Hatch exited, the Twins bullpen took over and just dominated. Michael Tonkin, Cole Sands, and Génesis Cabrera racked up seven strikeouts, including a stretch where they retired seven straight Tigers on strikes.

The group didn’t allow a hit. Detroit never really threatened after the third inning, and the Twins closed it out without much drama.

Key Takeaways From the Victory

This wasn’t just another win in the standings. It felt like a performance that might help Minnesota find its groove again after dropping five of the last six games.

The offense finally woke up. Strong pitching made the difference, too.

• Brooks Lee smacked his first career grand slam during a wild six-run third inning.
• Byron Buxton crushed his 25th home run of the year.
• Thomas Hatch impressed in his first start since 2023.
• Chris Paddack got roughed up by his old team, surrendering eight earned runs.
• The Twins bullpen tore through hitters with seven straight strikeouts.
• Detroit’s six-game win streak? Gone, just like that.

With Lee’s breakout, Buxton’s steady power, and the bullpen looking untouchable, the Twins sent a little warning to the AL Central. Maybe they’re not done yet—who knows?

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Here is the source article for this story: Brooks Lee’s 1st grand slam highlights 6-run 3rd inning as Twins top Tigers 8-1