MINNEAPOLIS —Solo home runs didn’t kill Ryan Carpenter, Mikie Mahtook powered up again and the Tigers bullpen mostly pitched well in a 7-5 win over the Twins on Saturday night.
In spot-start duty, Carpenter picked up his first win in the majors, allowing three runs over 5 1/3 innings. The Tigers knocked rookie Kohl Stewart out of the game early, scoring three runs in the top of the third inning, and Mahtook hit his second home run of the series — and the season — in the fifth inning as the big blow.
Carpenter was solid, but unspectacular: He allowed eight hits total, including solo home runs in each of the first three innings, but did not do much to harm himself.