Tigers unable to get on track against Twins

The Tigers hit the road a week ago with the feel of a surprise contender, lifted by a winning streak that eventually hit six games and brought them within a game and a half of a playoff spot. They return home with a more difficult path to the postseason, but

The Tigers hit the road a week ago with the feel of a surprise contender, lifted by a winning streak that eventually hit six games and brought them within a game and a half of a playoff spot. They return home with a more difficult path to the postseason, but with lessons coming out of meaningful September games well ahead of schedule on their rebuild.

Detroit’s seven-game trip to the Upper Midwest ended Monday with the lone relatively suspense-free game of the week, a 6-2 loss in Minnesota that closed the trip with a 2-5 record. A four-run third inning fueled by a Ryan Jeffers 437-foot home run off Michael Fulmer and Eddie Rosario’s bases-clearing double off Daniel Norris proved too much to overcome. The Tigers remain two games out of a playoff spot with the Yankees and Blue Jays opening a three-game series, but they now also have the Orioles to battle with as well with 20 days to go.

• Box score

From a short-term contending standpoint, the trip made little difference. For long-term development, the trip was a learning experience in a lot of areas for a team that keeps getting younger.