The Angels’ Brandon Drury celebrates in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of their game against the Minnesota Twins on Monday night in Minneapolis. (Photo by Matt Krohn/Getty Images)
Angels starting pitcher Reid Detmers throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Minnesota Twins on Monday night in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher David Festa throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Angels on Monday night in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
The Angels’ Taylor Ward advances to third base on a ground-rule double hit by Zach Neto during the first inning of their game against the Minnesota Twins on Monday night in Minneapolis. (Photo by Matt Krohn/Getty Images)
The Angels’ Zach Neto celebrates after hitting a double during the first inning of their game against the Minnesota Twins on Monday night in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
The Angels’ Nolan Schanuel hits a two-run single during the first inning of their game against the Minnesota Twins on Monday night in Minneapolis. (Photo by Matt Krohn/Getty Images)
The Angels’ Zach Neto rounds third base to score on a single hit by Nolan Schanuel during the first inning of their game against the Minnesota Twins on Monday night in Minneapolis. (Photo by Matt Krohn/Getty Images)
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher David Festa throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Angels on Monday night in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
The Angels’ Bryce Teodosio stands at the plate while batting during the second inning of their game against the Minnesota Twins on Monday night in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Minnesota Twins shortstop Brooks Lee throws to first base to force out the Angels’ Bryce Teodosio during the second inning on Monday night in Minneapolis. (Photo by Matt Krohn/Getty Images)
Angels starting pitcher Reid Detmers throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Minnesota Twins on Monday night in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
The Minnesota Twins’ Royce Lewis, left, walks back to the dugout after striking out during the second inning of their game against the Angels on Monday night in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher David Festa throws to the plate during the second inning of their game against the Angels on Monday night in Minneapolis. (Photo by Matt Krohn/Getty Images)
The Angels’ Brandon Drury hits a two-run home run during the third inning of their game against the Minnesota Twins on Monday night in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
The Angels’ Brandon Drury runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of their game against the Minnesota Twins on Monday night in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher David Festa stands on the mound after giving up a two-run home run to the Angels’ Brandon Drury during the third inning on Monday night in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
The Angels’ Brandon Drury runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of their game against the Minnesota Twins on Monday night in Minneapolis. (Photo by Matt Krohn/Getty Images)
The Angels’ Brandon Drury, right, slaps hands with third base coach Eric Young Sr. as he runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of their game against the Minnesota Twins on Monday night in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher David Festa reacts after giving up a two-run home run to the Angels’ Brandon Drury during the third inning on Monday night in Minneapolis. (Photo by Matt Krohn/Getty Images)
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher David Festa walks back to the dugout after the top of the third inning of their game against the Angels on Monday night in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Angels starting pitcher Reid Detmers throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Minnesota Twins on Monday night in Minneapolis. (Photo by Matt Krohn/Getty Images)
Angels starting pitcher Reid Detmers walks back to the dugout after the bottom of the fourth inning of their game against the Minnesota Twins on Monday night in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
The Minnesota Twins’ Kyle Farmer, left, celebrates as he runs the bases after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning of their game against the Angels on Monday night in Minneapolis. (Photo by Matt Krohn/Getty Images)
Minnesota Twins first baseman Carlos Santana fields a ball hit by the Angels’ Nolan Schanuel during the fifth inning on Monday night in Minneapolis. (Photo by Matt Krohn/Getty Images)
The Angels’ Niko Kavadas, left, celebrates with teammate Logan O’Hoppe after hitting a two-run home run during the sixth inning of their game against the Minnesota Twins on Monday night in Minneapolis. (Photo by Matt Krohn/Getty Images)
The Angels’ Niko Kavadas celebrates in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run during the sixth inning of their game against the Minnesota Twins on Monday night in Minneapolis. (Photo by Matt Krohn/Getty Images)
The Minnesota Twins’ Matt Wallner reacts after striking out during the sixth inning of their game against the Angels on Monday night in Minneapolis. (Photo by Matt Krohn/Getty Images)
Angels relief pitcher José Suarez throws to the plate during the seventh inning of their game against the Minnesota Twins on Monday night in Minneapolis. (Photo by Matt Krohn/Getty Images)
Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Scott Blewett throws to the plate during the eighth inning of their game against the Angels on Monday night in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Angels relief pitcher José Suarez throws to the plate during the eighth inning of their game against the Minnesota Twins on Monday night in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Angels relief picher José Suarez, left, and catcher Logan O’Hoppe celebrate after the final out of their 6-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Monday night in Minneapolis. (Photo by Matt Krohn/Getty Images)
Angels relief pitcher José Suarez, left, and catcher Logan O’Hoppe celebrate after their 6-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Monday night in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Angels relief pitcher José Suarez, right, and outfielder Mickey Moniak celebrate after their 6-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Monday night in Minneapolis. (Photo by Matt Krohn/Getty Images)
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The Angels’ Brandon Drury celebrates in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of their game against the Minnesota Twins on Monday night in Minneapolis. (Photo by Matt Krohn/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS — Reid Detmers and Brandon Drury, who are both trying to use September to polish otherwise disappointing seasons, each made some progress on Monday night.
Detmers gave up two runs in six innings and Drury hit a monster two-run homer in the Angels’ 6-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins.
Detmers has now allowed four runs in 12 innings, with 18 strikeouts, in his two starts since returning from Triple-A.
“You always want to finish strong, especially these last two starts I have left,” Detmers said. “Whatever I have left up here, trying to obviously give your all, but trying to get my name back out there. Trying to make a statement to show everybody who I am.”
On Monday night, he gave up single runs in the third and fourth innings. He finished with a flourish, striking out three in a row after giving up a leadoff single in the sixth.
“I felt good,” Detmers said. “Didn’t feel like I had the command that I would have liked, but I got away with some stuff. It was there when I when I needed it to be.”
Manager Ron Washington said Detmers was “outstanding.” He particularly liked the way he responded when there might have been signs that the game was getting away from him. He allowed four hitters to reach during a nine-batter stretch in the third and fourth, but then he locked down for the next two innings.
“That’s a part of pitching,” Washington said. “Probably threw a pitch trying to do too much with it. Then got back and realized what he had to do. That’s maturity. So he’s growing up. He’s learning. He did a tremendous job of keeping then off balance tonight.”
Detmers is arguably the Angels’ most talented starter, and a strong finish could help him reclaim his spot on the organizational depth chart going into 2025.
Drury, 32, is a free agent at the end of the season, so he’s trying to show the baseball world that he still has something left after a nightmarish season.
Drury is hitting .169 with a .480 OPS.
Injuries and slumps throughout the rest of the lineup prompted Washington to put him in the cleanup spot on Monday night.
In the first inning, he scuttled a rally by hitting into a double play. Two innings later, though, he delivered.
Drury blasted a 459-foot, two-run homer into the second deck beyond the left field fence, putting the Angels ahead, 4-0.
It was the Angels’ third longest homer of the season. Drury’s fourth homer of the season improved his OPS to .760 since Aug. 30. He also drew a walk in the eighth inning.
“It’s very important (to finish strong),” Drury said. “It’s easy to have a bad season and just kind of throw in the towel. It says a lot about somebody who can really, kind of be embarrassed, for a season and finish strong. So I take pride in that, and that’s my goal.”
Two innings later, Niko Kavadas yanked a two-run homer down the right field line, pushing the Angels’ lead to 6-2.
Left-hander José Suarez, who has also had a disastrous season that included a few months in the minors, then finished the game with three scoreless innings in his first game back in the majors.
“He was pounding that strike zone with his fastball, and he was getting some of his breaking stuff over which can equalize everything,” Washington said of Suarez. “The good thing about it, he came out with intent from the first pitch. His first pitch was 95. Usually he builds up as he goes along. But tonight, he came out there and he got on it right away.”