Daz Cameron crushes 2-run HR in 8th to give Detroit Tigers a 3-2 win over Minnesota Twins

Detroit Tigers right-hander Alex Faedo completed five innings Thursday.

The 26-year-old became the first MLB pitcher since 2013 to start his big-league career by posting at least five innings and allowing no more than two runs in each of his first six games.

Two runs appeared to be too many, though, until Daz Cameron saved the Tigers' offense with a go-ahead two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning. Behind Cameron's swing, the Tigers beat the Minnesota Twins, 3-2, at Comerica Park in the five-game series finale.

JAVY SITS: Tigers want Báez to 'reset mentally' while sitting out second game in a row

TORK HEATS UP: Why Tigers rookie Spencer Torkelson appears to be turning a corner

The Tigers (21-30) won four games in the lengthy series for their second straight series win against an American League Central rival. They finished 6-2 during their eight-game homestand and have won 12 of 19 games.

A one-out single from Eric Haase put the potential game-tying run on base against Twins right-handed reliever Emilio Pagan. Cameron then hammered a second-pitch cutter for a 420-foot homer to center field.

It was Cameron's first home run of the season.

Faedo allowed two runs on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts in five innings, throwing 55 of 89 pitches for strikes.

Two relievers, left-hander Andrew Chafin and right-hander Jason Foley, combined for a scoreless sixth. Chafin walked Nick Gordon, a lefty hitter, with two outs, bringing Foley to the mound for a matchup with right-handed hitter Gio Urshela.

Gordon stole second base and advanced to third base on a throwing error by catcher Eric Haase, but Foley struck out Urshela to strand the runner. Foley returned for the seventh inning and put another zero on the scoreboard.

Righty Alex Lange tossed a scoreless eighth inning, and lefty closer Gregory Soto did the same in the ninth for his 10th save of 2022 in 11 chan.

WEDNESDAY'S WIN: Tarik Skubal looks like Detroit Tigers' ace with dominant performance

First steps

For the third game in a row, the Tigers opened the scoring with at least one run in the first inning. And for the second straight game, rookie Spencer Torkelson grounded into an inning-ending double play in the first frame.

The first three batters reached safely against Twins right-handed starter Chris Archer: Willi Castro (hit by pitch), Harold Castro (walk) and Jonathan Schoop (RBI single).

The single from Schoop scored Willi Castro from second base and put the Tigers ahead 1-0.

Schoop is hitting .198 in 50 games this season but .319 with eight extra-base hits, including two home runs, since May 22, a span of 12 games.

The Tigers had runners on first and second base for designated hitter Miguel Cabrera, who lined out to second baseman Jorge Polanco for the first out in the first inning.

Then, Torkelson stranded both runners with an inning-ending double play. The 22-year-old, hitting .203 in 46 games, has grounded into six double plays this season, including once in each of his past three games.

Archer allowed one run on three hits and one walk with three strikeouts, tossing 35 of 57 pitches for strikes. Right-handed reliever Jhoan Duran grabbed Archer's momentum and fired two scoreless innings.

The Tigers' offense combined for three runs on five hits — one each by Cameron, Haase, Schoop, Torkelson and Harold Castro — and one walk with six strikeouts.

Torkelson singled down the left-field line in the fourth inning and — because of the hard-hit ball taking an unlucky bounce in foul territory — was thrown out by Gordon, Minnesota's left fielder, while advancing to second base.

Minnesota's revenge

The Twins didn't wait around to strike back.

To open the top of the third inning, Gordon singled on a 2-0 fastball and came around to score, tying the game on Gio Urshela's RBI double to left field.

Facing Urshela, Faedo missed the strike zone with two fastballs. He fell behind 2-0 in the count. He then tossed another fastball, this time in the strike zone, for his third pitch, which Urshela yanked to drive in the Twins' first run.

Faedo retired the next two batters, but he walked Byron Buxton on five pitches. After pitching coach Chris Fetter's mound visit, Faedo retired Max Kepler on three pitches to strand two runners in the third.

The Twins grabbed a 2-1 lead in the fourth on Gordon's RBI double to left-center field. Left fielder Kody Clemens, who collided with the fence, nearly tracked down the ball, but it dropped in just beyond his outstretched glove.

For his 89 pitches, Faedo relied on 53 four-seam fastballs (60%), 27 sliders (30%) and nine changeups (10%). He recorded 12 swings and misses — seven fastballs and five sliders — along with 12 called strikes.

Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold. Read more on the Detroit Tigers and sign up for our Tigers newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers rally in 8th for 3-2 win over Minnesota Twins