Twins have perfect response to fans who roasted them over Tarik Skubal tweet

About six hours before the first pitch of last night's game between the Minnesota Twins and the Detroit Tigers at Target Field, the Twins' social media team made a post on X stating that Tuesday's game will be a pitching duel; the starting pitchers were back-to-back American League Cy Young Award-winner Tarik Skubal and right-handed starter Taj Bradley, who had allowed just one earned run over two starts leading up to the matchup.

Since Skubal is Skubal and Bradley hasn't lived up to his potential yet, fans took the opportunity to roast the Twins over the X post.

Skubal is arguably the best pitcher in the world, only rivaled by Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes. That's why fans thought it was funny that the Twins' social media team appeared to be putting Bradley on the same level as the Detroit southpaw. But those who have been keeping tabs on Bradley this year knew the game had the potential to be a real pitching duel.

Twins have perfect response to fans who roasted them over Tarik Skubal tweet

The Twins ended up being wrong. It wasn't a pitching duel. One starter clearly outperformed the other. But it wasn't who fans expected, giving Minnesota's social media team the last laugh.

Taj Bradley outperforms Tarik Skubal as Twins win second straight game vs. Tigers

It looked like last night's game was going to be a good old-fashioned pitching duel through four innings, as Bradley and Skubal had yet to allow a run. That changed in the fifth inning.

With the score still 0-0 in the bottom of the fifth, Brooks Lee attempted a bunt single but was thrown out for the first out of the frame. Skubal proceeded to walk outfielders Byron Buxton and Austin Martin, respectively, on 3-2 counts. Second baseman Luke Keaschall drove in Buxton on a line-drive single to center field, giving the Twins a 1-0 lead.

The scoring in the fifth didn't stop there. Catcher Ryan Jeffers followed Keaschall's single with a double to right field, driving in Martin and Keaschall. Before his double, Jeffers had just one hit in 27 plate appearances against Skubal.

Skubal struck out first baseman Victor Caratini for the second out of the frame before designated hitter Josh Bell hit an RBI double to left field, increasing Minnesota's lead to 4-0. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch proceeded to replace Skubal, who allowed four earned runs on eight hits and two walks with seven strikeouts, with left-hander Tyler Holton.

As for Bradley, the righty allowed just one earned run on an RBI single from Kevin McGonigle off lefty Taylor Rogers in the seventh inning. Bradley struck out 10 batters across 6 1/3 innings, allowing six hits and no walks.

The Tigers made the game interesting in the ninth inning, as McGonigle collected an RBI double and the tying run reached first base. Luckily, the Twins held on, winning 4-2 as righty Justin Topa collected the save.

Bradley improved to 2-0 on the season, and the Twins improved to 3-0 in games he has started this year. Minnesota now holds a 5-6 record.

The Twins aim to win the four-game series against the Tigers at Target Field tonight. Lefty Framber Valdez is slated to start for Detroit. Bailey Ober is Minnesota's expected starter. The game is scheduled to begin at 6:40 CST.