Tigers’ playoff plans take hit in loss to Twins

DETROIT — The surprising summer of Matt Boyd took a mid-September downturn Tuesday night, and the Twins took advantage of a chance to play spoiler to the Tigers’ postseason hopes. Jorge Polanco had three hits and four RBIs as Minnesota built a big early lead and cruised to an 8-1 win at Comerica Park, snapping an 11-game road losing streak.

With the loss, the Tigers fell two games behind the Blue Jays and Orioles, who are tied for the first American League Wild Card.

• Wild Card standings

Boyd (5-4) entered with a 2.56 ERA and .232 batting average allowed in 10 starts and a relief appearance since joining the rotation in early July, including two wins in quality starts over the Twins. But the second-year left-hander was off from the outset, from a downtick in his fastball to battles with his command.

• Boyd says off night due to delivery, not fatigue

“Not every start is going to be a great start,” Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. “The timing isn’t great because we’re in September, but there’s going to be days when our starters don’t have great outings. Even over the next three weeks. So we hope when that happens next time, we overcome it with offense.”

Though Minnesota has had its struggles, offense hasn’t been one of them lately. Robbie Grossman singled in two runs before Boyd recorded his first out, then Polanco slugged a two-run home run in the third. Once Polanco singled home two in the fourth, he had a career night, and Boyd’s night was over, having allowed seven runs on eight hits over 3 2/3 innings. His ERA for the season rose from 3.89 to 4.43.

Twins starter Kyle Gibson (6-9), meanwhile, thwarted the Tigers from there, delivering eight innings of one-run ball for his first win since Aug. 17. He lobbied to manager Paul Molitor to stay in for the ninth, but was removed because he had thrown 108 pitches.

“I wanted to,” Gibson said with a smile. “He told me it was mid-September, but I reminded him I’d been out six weeks earlier, so it was like the beginning of August for me. But it didn’t work. But I appreciate him giving me the eighth there.”

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