The Minnesota Twins had an answer for almost everything the Detroit Tigers did on Sunday afternoon — at least until the ninth inning. The Twins threatened late and closed to within a run in both the seventh and eighth innings, but ultimately fell 9-6 to drop not only the game, but the series to the Tigers.

The loss dropped the Twins to 49-48 — and third place in the American League Central.

It was clear early that the game did not have a good pace, and that stood the test of time with a final length of 4:19 — the longest nine-inning game in Twins history. The previous record was set exactly one year ago, an 11-9 win at Fenway Park against the Boston Red Sox that checked in eight minutes shorter than Sunday’s loss.

One big reason for the pace was that both teams combined for 26 strikeouts and 10 walks.

That sluggish pace started with Twins starter Adalberto Mejia, who was going up against the top offense in the game against left-handed pitching (124 wRC+).

Mejia didn’t pitch poorly but simply was unable to put hitters away all day. He lasted just 4.1 innings and threw 96 pitches, but the final damage was far from terrifying — five hits, two runs (one earned) with five strikeouts and a pair of walks. Mejia had a 1-2-3 first inning and followed it by striking out the side in the second around a two-out double off the bat of catcher James McCann.

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