Twins Fail To Complete Sweep, Lose 10-9 To Tigers

Gerald Laird’s 13th-inning home run was the difference, as the Detroit Tigers pulled out a 10-9 victory over the Minnesota Twins in the finale of a three-game series.

Laird’s blast was one of five Tigers home runs, as Don Kelly, Jhonny Peralta and Ryan Raburn also went deep. Casper Wells hit his first career homer to tie the contest in the ninth inning for Detroit, which had dropped the first two games of this set.

Wells was batting in the lineup spot of first baseman Miguel Cabrera, who left the game in the sixth inning with left biceps tendinitis.

Jose Valverde (2-3) gave up an unearned run in the 11th inning, but pitched the final three frames to get the win.

Nick Blackburn (8-9), who was scheduled to start Friday for the Twins, gave up Laird’s homer and took the loss.

Baker, Twins Look To Sweep Tigers Tonight

The American League Central-leading Minnesota Twins will continue their homestand tonight and try for a second sweep of the Detroit Tigers this season in the finale of a three-game series at Target Field.

The Twins have won five of their last six games and kicked off their nine-game residency by taking the first two portions of this set with the division-rival Tigers. They won Tuesday’s series opener by a 4-3 score, then squeezed out a 2-1 win in 10 innings last night on Danny Valencia’s game-winning single that plated Michael Cuddyer.

Cuddyer singled off of Tigers reliever Ryan Perry to start the inning, stole second after Delmon Young went down swinging and crossed the plate on Valencia’s ensuing base hit to center.

“Great feeling. My first walk-off hit in pro baseball. It was nice to come in a situation like this,” said Valencia. “We are in a pennant race. There are some teams that are right behind us.”

Minnesota remained four games ahead of Chicago for the AL Central lead. The White Sox defeated Cleveland yesterday afternoon. Jose Morales was credited with an RBI in the fifth inning to get the Twins on the board, while starter Francisco Liriano struck out seven over seven shutout innings. Jon Rauch got the win for tossing a scoreless 10th inning. Liriano entered the game with a 6-0 mark and a 2.47 ERA since the All-Star break.

Scott Baker has an unbeaten streak of his own and will take the ball Thursday for the Twins. Baker is 5-0 with a 3.02 earned run average in his last seven starts — all Minnesota wins — and pitched in last Friday’s 6-3 victory at Seattle. He allowed two runs in 6 2/3 innings and struck out four, improving to 12-9 overall in 26 starts this season.

The right-hander is 1-0 in two starts against Detroit this season and 6-4 with a 4.55 ERA in 19 career starts in this series. Baker will also try to improve on his 8-3 record in 13 home starts tonight.

Detroit is fading from the playoff picture and sits 12 games behind Minnesota in the Central standings and 17 games off the wild card lead. It is 2-4 so far on a 10-game road trip after Perry surrendered the game-winning hit in the bottom of the 10th inning.

Max Scherzer pitched nine innings and fanned nine batters in the no-decision for the Tigers, who were swept in three games by Minnesota on the road from May 3-5 at Target Field.

“It was great pitching performance by both guys. We had opportunities but we had a tough time with that,” said Tigers manager Jim Leyland.

Jhonny Peralta had two hits and drove in the only run for Detroit in the eighth inning. Austin Jackson also finished with a pair of hits.

The Tigers will send All-Star pitcher Justin Verlander to the mound tonight with hopes of him salvaging this series. Verlander is 2-1 in his last three decisions, spanning four starts, and did not record a decision his last time out on Friday in Toronto.

Verlander struck out eight, allowed two runs and walked two batters over eight innings. He remained at 14-8 this season in 27 starts to go along with a 3.58 ERA. The right-hander is 1-1 in two starts against Minnesota this season and 6-7 with a 4.00 ERA over 16 starts for his career in this matchup.

Minnesota is 9-5 against Detroit this season, with a 7-1 mark as the host.

Twins Defeat Tigers in Low-Scoring Battle

Danny Valencia’s single to center scored Michael Cuddyer with the winning run in the 10th frame, as Minnesota downed Detroit, 2-1, at Target Field.

“Great feeling. My first walk-off hit in pro baseball. It was nice to come in a situation like this,” said Valencia. “We are in a pennant race. There are some teams that are right behind us.”

Valencia has hit safely in 23 of 27 games at his new home ballpark, finishing as the only Twin with two hits. Jon Rauch (3-1) picked up the victory with a flawless top of the 10th frame. The Twins have won five of six overall, keeping them four games in front of the White Sox in the American League Central race.

Ryan Perry (2-5) was tagged with the loss, giving up two hits in the 10th. Max Scherzer got a no-decision despite giving up just one run on four hits with nine strikeouts and one walk over nine frames.

On the opposite end, Twins starter Francisco Liriano scattered just five hits with one walk and seven strikeouts without allowing a run in seven strong frames.

“It was great pitching performance by both guys. We had opportunities but we had a tough time with that,” said Tigers manager Jim Leyland.

The Twins struck first in the fifth with Delmon Young’s leadoff double. He moved to third on Valencia’s single then Jose Morales skied a fly ball to center. Valencia was doubled off, but Young scored for the 1-0 edge.

Detroit finally got to the Twins staff once Liriano exited after the seventh frame. Austin Jackson singled to start the frame, then after two outs, Miguel Cabrera walked. Jhonny Peralta followed with a single to left to tie the game.

In the 10th, Cuddyer stroked a leadoff single to left, stole second on a close play and raced around to slide in just in front of Jackson’s throw that sailed down the third-base line.

Game Notes

The Twins have won 14 of their last 16 home games…The Tigers have dropped four of five overall and are a woeful 3-15 in Minneapolis since the start of the 2009 campaign…Jackson stroked his 30th double of the season…Young recorded his 37th two-bagger of the season.

Twins Battle Tigers At Target Field

Playing at Target Field has usually translated into success for the Minnesota Twins. And when Francisco Liriano has taken the mound, the current American League Central leaders have been nearly invincible as of late.

Liriano aims for a seventh consecutive winning decision and improve upon his team’s already-strong home record when the Twins continue a three-game series with the Detroit Tigers this evening.

Since the All-Star break, Liriano has compiled a 6-0 record along with an excellent 2.47 earned run average over seven starts and has surrendered two runs or fewer in six of those outings. The standout lefty hasn’t lost since a forgettable performance against the Tigers in Detroit on July 9, when he was battered for seven runs and six hits in only 1 2/3 innings of work.

Liriano also was dealt a defeat by the Tigers at Target Field back on June 28, a game in which he permitted six runs in six innings. That was one of only three losses for the native Dominican in Minneapolis this season, and he’s gone 3-0 in five home starts that followed that poor showing.

The 26-year-old, who’s 6-3 with a 2.72 ERA over 12 Target Field assignments, continued his recent winning ways by holding AL West-leading Texas to two runs and five hits over seven sharp innings this past Thursday in Arlington.

In 14 career appearances (10 starts) against Detroit, Liriano is 4-3 with a 5.24 ERA.

He’ll be attempting to pitch the Twins to victory for the 13th time in their last 15 home tilts this evening. Minnesota moved to 41-22 in its first-year ballpark with a 4-3 triumph over the Tigers in Tuesday’s opener of this set, with the defending division champions rallying from a early 3-0 deficit to prevail.

The Twins had been shut out until Michael Cuddyer delivered an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth inning and later scored on Danny Valencia’s ground- rule double that cut the lead to 3-2. Minnesota then scored twice in the seventh to move in front, taking advantage of an off night from the Detroit bullpen.

Minnesota put two men on with two outs in the bottom of the seventh when Tigers reliever Phil Coke (7-4) walked J.J. Hardy and later hit Joe Mauer with a pitch. Ryan Perry then stepped in and drilled Jason Kubel in the left wrist to load the bases before walking Cuddyer to force home the tying run. Delmon Young followed with a single that plated Mauer for a 4-3 lead.

Randy Flores and Jesse Crain teamed up to hold the Tigers scoreless in the eighth before substitute closer Matt Capps protected the one-run edge in the ninth to record the save.

Capps was filling in for the recently-acquired Brian Fuentes after the ex- Angel incurred a stiff back while warming up during the game. Both he and Kubel are expected to sit out tonight’s test due to their injuries, while second baseman Orlando Hudson could also miss the game because of a sprained right ankle that’s bothered him over the past few days.

Tuesday’s triumph kept the Twins four games ahead of second-place Chicago in the AL Central standings after the White Sox defeated Cleveland last night.

The Tigers have now dropped three of their last four and continue to struggle as the visitor in this series. Detroit is now a woeful 3-14 in Minneapolis since the start of the 2009 campaign and have lost six of seven meetings with the Twins on the road this season.

Minnesota has won eight of 13 overall matchups between the clubs in 2010 as well.

Max Scherzer can give Detroit a good chance of ending those struggles if he continues to pitch like he has over the past few weeks. The young right-hander enters tonight’s clash having won his last three starts and sports a stellar 1.31 ERA over his last six games, lasting at least six innings and permitting two runs or less on each of those occasions.

Scherzer was in top form Thursday in Toronto, where he limited the Blue Jays to one run and struck out eight over eight outstanding innings to earn his 10th win of the season. Five days earlier, the offseason acquisition gave up just two runs — one earned — and fanned eight Cleveland hitters to beat the Indians on August 21.

The former Arizona first-round draft choice has not fared well in two previous encounters with the Twins this season, however. Scherzer allowed six runs and 10 hits — two of which were homers — before exiting after only 3 2/3 innings in a no-decision against Minnesota on April 28, and was blasted for 10 runs in 4 1/3 frames during a loss at Target Field on May 3.

Twins Rally To Defeat Tigers, 4-3

Delmon Young’s RBI single in the seventh put Minnesota ahead for good, and the Twins rallied with two two-run innings to down Detroit, 4-3, and maintain a four-game lead in the AL Central.

Young finished 2-for-4 for the Twins, who have won four of five to maintain their division lead over Chicago, which beat Cleveland earlier Tuesday. Danny Valencia added three hits and an RBI, while Michael Cuddyer drove in two in the victory.

Matt Guerrier (3-7) earned the win for retiring the final out of the seventh after relieving Brian Duensing, who gave up three unearned runs, nine hits and a walk in 6 2/3 frames.

Matt Capps earned his seventh save with the Twins.

Casper Wells recorded a career-high three hits and scored once for the Tigers, who lost for the third time in four games. Jhonny Peralta also had three hits and drove in a run in defeat.

Armando Galarraga was in line for the win after allowing two runs on eight hits in six innings, but Phil Coke (7-4) gave up two runs in two-thirds of an inning to receive the loss.

After Galarraga departed following the sixth, the Tigers’ bullpen surrendered the lead in the seventh.

Coke came in to pitch and issued a leadoff walk to J.J. Hardy, After a sacrifice, Coke struck out Orlando Hudson. He ran into control problems, however, and hit both Joe Mauer and Jason Kubel to load the bases.

Ryan Perry came in from the bullpen and walked Cuddyer on four pitches to force in the game-tying run, and Young followed with an RBI single to put Minnesota ahead, 4-3.

Randy Flores retired the first Tigers hitter of the eighth before Jesse Crain set down two of three batters to get out of the inning with the Twins maintaining a one-run lead.

The Tigers put the tying run on third with two outs in the ninth, but Capps struck out Peralta to end the game.

Detroit reached Duensing for two runs in the opening inning.

Austin Jackson reached on an error to begin the game, and Will Rhymes put down a bunt single. Later in the inning, with runners on the corners and two outs, Peralta sent a bse hit to center to plate Jackson, and Brandon Inge’s single that followed scored Miguel Cabrera for a 2-0 lead.

In the second, Wells doubled for the Tigers leading off and later scored on Rhymes’ fielder’s choice groundout when the second baseman Hudson committed a throwing error for a three-run advantage.

The Twins finally cracked the scoreboard with a two-run sixth.

Mauer hit a ground-rule double with one away and moved to third on Kubel’s deep fly out. Cuddyer put Minnesota on the board with an RBI single to center, and Young’s base hit kept the inning alive.

Valencia followed with another ground-rule double, scoring Cuddyer. Young, running with two outs, was forced to hold at third on the play, and Jason Repko flied out to end the inning with the Twins trailing, 3-2.

Game Notes

Detroit is 17-29 in the second half, while Minnesota is 30-14…Tigers pitchers have tossed 11 straight quality starts…Detroit had a streak of 11 straight road games with a home run snapped…The Twins are 9-2 in games where Galarraga appears…Detroit dropped to 22-42 on the road this season.

Twins Kick Off Long Homestand Against Detroit

Now reduced to the role of spoiler, the Detroit Tigers will try to put a wrench in the Minnesota Twins' postseason plans when the two American League Central rivals begin a three-game series tonight from Target Field.

Detroit stood just a half-game back of the then-first place Chicago White Sox in the AL Central standings at the All-Star break, but have gone an league- worst 17-28 thus far in the second half to fall well behind in the race. On the other hand, the Twins have the best record in the majors following the break at 29-14, which has allowed the reigning division champs to pull four games ahead of the White Sox for the top spot.

Minnesota has been especially tough at first-year Target Field as of late, having prevailed in 11 of its last 13 games at its new ballpark to up its season mark to 40-22 at the venue. The Twins have taken five of six meetings at home this season from the Tigers, who are a lackluster 22-41 on the road for the year and 3-13 in Minneapolis since the start of the 2009 campaign.

Brian Duensing has certainly played a part in the Twins' second-half surge, as the young lefty has compiled a 4-1 record and a 2.66 earned run average in seven starts following a move to the rotation in late July. He'll be attempting to bounce back from his lone loss during that stretch when he takes the ball for tonight's opener, though.

Duensing was dealt a defeat by AL West leader Texas this past Wednesday in Arlington after being reached for four runs and serving up a pair of homers in six innings of work. The former University of Nebraska standout had won three consecutive starts prior to that setback, including a three-hit shutout of Oakland at Target Field back on August 14.

The 27-year-old has been tremendous on the home mound this season, having generated a 4-1 record and a splendid 1.36 ERA over two starts and 23 relief appearances there. He's also walked only four batters in 39 2/3 innings over the course of those games.

Duensing started twice against the Tigers during September of last season and split a pair of decisions, with the win taking place at the Metrodome via 6 1/3 shutout innings. He owns a 2.28 ERA over nine overall matchups with Detroit.

Minnesota returns home from a seven-game road trip through Texas and Seattle in which the team lost its first three tests against the Rangers before salvaging the series finale. The Twins then won their first two tilts against the Mariners, but couldn't come through with a sweep after dropping a 2-1 decision on Sunday.

The Twins carried a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning of Sunday's tilt after Michael Cuddyer homered in the top of the frame, but Seattle scored twice off starting pitcher Carl Pavano in its half and held on the rest of the way.

Pavano (15-10) lasted seven innings on the afternoon and allowed just the two runs on five hits and one walk.

"Disappointing way to end the series here when you pitch that well -- you only gave up two runs -- but [the Mariners] pitched pretty well too, I guess," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire remarked.

Detroit has managed to win seven of its last 10 games and earned a split of a four-game weekend set at Toronto with Sunday's 10-4 triumph. Ryan Raburn socked a pair of homers and knocked in four runs to pace the Tigers offensively, while starting pitcher Rick Porcello did his part by tossing seven strong innings on the hill.

Brandon Inge added a two-run homer and Casper Wells went 2-for-5 with three RBI to give Porcello (7-11) plenty of support. The Tigers built a 4-0 advantage after 5 1/2 innings, then broke the game open with a three-run seventh.

"It was good to see us come out and jump out [to an early lead]," said Inge. "It's something we need to do. Get some early runs and let our pitchers do their thing."

Porcello held the Blue Jays' power-hitting lineup to just one run -- a solo homer by John McDonald in the sixth -- and three hits and did not issue a walk.

Armando Galarraga, who gets the call for Detroit this evening, has been very sharp as well as of late. The architect of a near-perfect game earlier this season halted an eight-start winless stretch by firing seven shutout innings to beat Cleveland on August 20, then limited Kansas City to one run and five hits in a 6 1/3-inning no-decision on Wednesday.

Much like his team, Galarraga hasn't fared well on the road this year, however. In six starts in visiting parks so far in 2010, the right-hander is 1-2 with a bloated 6.44 ERA and has allowed the opposition to hit .325 off him.

The 28-year-old Venezuelan also hasn't had much success when facing the Twins in the past, as his 1-6 record and 6.14 ERA over 10 games (eight starts) will attest. Galarraga was hit hard in a June 29 matchup at Target Field, surrendering six runs and seven hits before exiting after four innings of an 11-4 loss.

Minnesota has won seven of 12 overall bouts between these teams this season.