Torkelson homers to start 5-run 12th, Tigers top Twins 11-6

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Spencer Torkelson hit a two-run home run in the 12th inning, Javier Báez added a bases-clearing double, and the Detroit Tigers beat the Minnesota Twins 11-6 on Wednesday night to salvage the final game of a three-game series.

John Peck drove in three runs with the first two hits of his career, and Hao-Yu Lee, Riley Greene and Max Clark added RBIs.

In winning for the second time in seven games, Detroit scored more than two runs for the first time in that span.

Torkelson lined the second pitch he saw from Tommy Nance (2-3) into the left-field seats for his 21st home run, but first since July 29. Báez’s double came six batters later.

Kyle Finnegan (3-0) tossed the final two innings for the win.

Clark hit an RBI double in the 11th inning for Detroit, but Luke Keaschall landed a single in front of a diving Ben Malgeri to tie it at 6.

Minnesota, which won 11-1 Monday and 15-2 Tuesday, lost for the first time in four games and remains 3 1/2 games back of Cleveland for the third American League wild-card spot. Three other teams are between them.

Brooks Lee had three hits and Josh Bell two for the Twins, 4 for 21 with runners in scoring position, but scored three times in the eighth inning, two on a Royce Lewis single, to tie it at 5.

Detroit was 6 for 23 with runners on second or third.

Peck, who was called up Monday from Triple-A Toledo, had a two-run double in the second and added an RBI single in the sixth for a 5-1 lead.

Tigers: Open a four-game series Friday in Cleveland with RHP Keider Montero (9-8, 3.24 ERA) and LHP Andrew Sears (0-1, 6.75) starting in a day-night doubleheader.

Twins: RHP Zebby Matthews (9-8, 4.58) goes Friday to open a three-game series at the Chicago White Sox.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Dean Kremer throws against the Detroit Tigers during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)

Minnesota Twins second baseman Kody Clemens, right, misses the tag as Detroit Tigers' Kevin McGonigle (7) steals second base during the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)

Detroit Tigers pitcher Drew Anderson throws against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)

Detroit Tigers' Hao-Yu Lee scores on a RBI double by Riley Greene against the Minnesota Twins during the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)

NEW YORK (AP) — Carlos Alcaraz was already in the final by the time he dropped a set last year in the U.S. Open.

When it happened in his second match this year, Alcaraz tried to look at the positives. After missing four months with a right wrist injury, the extra work might help.

“I wanted to be quick, to be honest. I’m not going to lie,” Alcaraz said. “But at the end, I realized that just playing four sets, it was really good for me to test everything physically, to test my body, how I feel, and tomorrow how I’m going to feel after this match.”

The defending champion rebounded from a quick deficit by winning eight straight games and beat Jaime Faria 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2 on Wednesday night.

The No. 2-seeded Alcaraz dropped his serve midway through the first set but soon was back to playing long stretches of flawless tennis.

“After that I just tried to be focused, tried to stay calm and I’m thinking that good things are going to happen again,” Alcaraz said.

He didn't drop a set last year until the final against Jannik Sinner, becoming the first man since Roger Federer in 2015 to go through his first six matches without doing so. He then beat Sinner in four sets for his second U.S. Open title.

The 23-year-old Alcaraz then picked up his seventh major title at this year's Australian Open and is on a 16-match winning streak in Grand Slam tournaments.

But after missing the French Open and Wimbledon during his absence, even Alcaraz said he didn't know what to expect in Flushing Meadows, where he won his first major title in 2022 at 19.

Daniil Medvedev, the U.S. Open champion the year before that, said a player of Alcaraz’s caliber is always a top contender any time he is in the field.

“We have no idea how Carlos’ wrist is going to feel, body is going to feel going later into the tournament, but he’s definitely a top favorite for the title,” Medvedev said.

Faria, three months younger than Alcaraz, broke for a 4-3 lead in the first set and used a powerful serve to stay ahead. Alcaraz felt after getting broken that he was rushing too much.

“After that I just wanted to play short points, which was a mistake for me,” he said. “I just needed to play patient, to play long rallies, three, four, five shots, and then go for it.”

Alcaraz stressed again that he is no longer in pain and has been hitting his forehand without any restrictions in practice.

“I know once I step on the court, I've just got to go for it every time. I've got to feel normal,” Alcaraz said. “I have to hit like I was hitting before the injury, and let’s see what happens after that.

“I’m just feeling great,” he added. “There is no reason to be afraid and not hitting normal.”

See AP’s full tennis coverage here

Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, celebrates winning a match against Jaime Faria, of Portugal, during the second round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, left, meets Jaime Faria, of Portugal, at the net after winning a match during the second round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, celebrates winning a match against Jaime Faria, of Portugal, during the second round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, celebrates winning a match against Jaime Faria, of Portugal, during the second round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)