Third baseman Zach McKinstry of the Detroit Tigers hopes that Saturday's first game against the Minnesota Twins and the events of the 12th inning from that game can be swiftly forgotten.
In the top of the 12th inning, with two outs and a lead of 5-4, the Twins' Ryan Jeffers faced a full count. As the ball bounced off his bat and landed in McKinstry's glove, he advanced to third base. The error would lead to three runs for Detroit, putting them up 8-4.
Not only did the Twins continue to score with two outs in the eighth, but McKinstry also contributed to the visitors' big inning. The Tigers' manager, A.J. Hinch, made a mistake that put McKinstry on the mound in the top of the 12th inning.
Pitching coach Chris Fetter had already visited reliever Alex Lange earlier in the inning, and Hinch had completely forgotten about it. The regulation required Lange's replacement when the Tigers manager went outside to speak with him following McKinstry's mistake, since it was considered a second visit.
as McKinstry walked Manuel Margot, the Twins' lead was 11-4 as Matt Wallner stepped up to the bat and hit a three-run home run. Six runs were allowed, which can be attributed to McKinstry if you're keeping score at home.
According to ESPN Stats & Information, the previous franchise record for most runs scored in extra innings was eight, set by the Twins on August 1, 1970, also in a victory over the Tigers. Despite scoring a run in the bottom of the 12th inning, the Tigers were only able to manage an 11-5 loss.
Because he knew he would need arms for the second game of the doubleheader, Hinch admitted after the game that he had visited Lange to inform him that a position player would come in after one more batter.
"I utterly botched that," Hinch confessed.In the second game of the doubleheader, the Twins would prevail, 4-1.
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