Twins Vs. Tigers Final: Minnesota Wins In Extras, 2-1

The Minnesota Twins defeated the Detroit Tigers in the nightcap to sweep Sunday's double header, 2-1.

Both starters picked up no-decisions in the ten-inning affair. Twins starter P.J. Walters allowed only one run on five hits and added four strikeouts in six innings of work. For Detroit, Drew Smyly lasted only 4-1/3 innings, allowing one unearned run on three hits in 78 pitches.

The Twins went down early after a Miguel Cabrera RBI double in the first inning gave Detroit a 1-0 lead, but Walters settled down, didn't allow another run and kept Minnesota in the game. In the fifth inning, Minnesota got that run back. Jamey Carroll grounded into a double play with the bases loaded and nobody out, scoring one but also effectively killing the threat. After five innings, the game was tied, 1-1.

Each team's respective bullpen pitched masterfully through the ninth inning, allowing zero runs and sending the game into extra innings. Facing Jose Valverde in the tenth inning, the Twins led off the inning with a Denard Span single. Span moved to second on a Ben Revere fielder's choice, and then scored on a Jamey Carroll RBI single.

Twins reliever Glen Perkins slammed the door shut, pitching a perfect tenth inning to close out the win for Minnesota.

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Tigers Vs. Twins Final Score: Minnesota Gets 10-4 Win In Doubleheader Opener

Despite picking up five innings of shutout ball from starter Max Scherzer, the Detroit Tigers were unable to take the first game of their doubleheader with the Minnesota Twins on Sunday in a 10-4 loss.

Scherzer came to the mound to begin the sixth inning with a two-run advantage, but was immediately beaten on a pair of RBI singles from Twins sluggers Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau. Mauer, who finished 3-for-4 from the plate with four runs batted in, moved his season average up to a robust .326 with the strong performance.

Set to once again hit the field for the nightcap, the Twins will try to further disrupt Detroit's playoff chances with right-hander P.J. Walters in the final game of the series. Manager Jim Leyland will counter with promising lefty Drew Smyly in Game 3, as the Tigers should be desperate to stay on track with the Chicago White Sox in the American League Central race.

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This story was originally published on Baseball Nation.

Twins Vs. Tigers Preview: Minnesota Tries To Avoid AL Central Basement In Double-Header

The Minnesota Twins enter Sunday's double-header with the Detroit Tigers as losers of two straight with a half game lead on the Cleveland Indians, who are in last place in the AL Central.

Scott Diamond (11-8, 3.69 ERA) starts game one for Minnesota at 1:05 p.m. against Max Scherzer (16-6, 3.78 ERA). Diamond picked up a no-decision in a 7-3 loss to Detroit on July 5. He allowed two runs in seven innings.

Scherzer, the Major League leader in strikeouts, left his previous start early with a fatigued shoulder. He is 2-0 with a 2.19 ERA against the Twins this season.

In game two at 7:05 p.m., Drew Smyly (4-3, 4.45 ERA) starts for the Tigers against P.J. Walters (2-4, 6.39 ERA). Smyly will be making his first start since Aug. 25. He has made four appearances out of the bullpen since then.

Walters has started against the Tigers twice this season. He's 1-0 with a 3.65 ERA in those games.

Detroit enters the day trailing the Chicago White Sox by a half game for the AL Central lead.

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Twins Vs. Tigers: Doug Fister Shuts Down The Twins As Detroit WIns 8-0

The Detroit Tigers hit Samuel Deduno hard on the way to an 8-0 victory Saturday afternoon. Deduno had been solid in his 13 starts this season, but the Tigers rocked him for seven runs on seven hits, which included a pair of home runs. Deduno would record only seven outs on Saturday, walking three and striking out only one.

Doug Fister had an excellent day on the mound for Detroit. Fister threw a shutout, allowing only seven hits and walking no batters. Fister struck out seven Twins, fanning first baseman Justin Morneau three times on the day.

The Twins and Tigers will play a pair of games tomorrow, with Scott Diamond and P.J. Walters scheduled to go for the Minnesota. The Tigers will enter the double-header trailing the White Sox in the AL Central, with the amount of the lead to be determined later tonight. They currently sit one game back in the AL Central, with the White Sox still scheduled to play the Angels on the West Coast.

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Twins Vs. Tigers: Pitching Matchups Shuffled Due To Doubleheader

Thanks to Friday night's rainout, the pitching matchups for this weekend's series between the Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers have been shaken up a bit. Here is what we know so far:

• Saturday afternoon's game will feature Samuel Deduno starting for the Twins and Doug Fister taking the hill for Detroit. Deduno is Minnesota's original Friday starter and has been pushed back while Fister is keeping his scheduled Saturday start.
• Sunday's two games will feature Scott Diamond and P.J. Walters as the Twins starters. One pitcher for the Tigers will be rookie Drew Smyly. The other starter will be Max Scherzer, but only if he is deemed healthy enough to pitch. If not, the Tigers are expected to start Rick Porcello.

This weekend's series is critical for Detroit, a team that is looking to catch the Chicago White Sox in the A.L. Central. This will certainly affect the Tigers' strategy over the weekend.

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Twins Vs. Tigers Preview: Weekend Series Gets Day-Late Start

The Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers were supposed to kick-off their weekend series in Detroit on Friday night, but thanks to a torrential downpour the series will get a late start when the two teams take the field on Saturday afternoon. The Tigers have their eyes dead set on the first place Chicago White Sox, but the Twins have a concern of their own: they'll be looking to avoid dropping out of a tie for last place in the Central and into the worst record in the American League.

On the hill for the Twins is the team's de facto ace Samuel Deduno. Deduno, of course, has had a break out second half, though he's only made one start vs. the Tigers this year. That came in mid-August, when he held Detroit to three runs over seven innings in a 9-to-3 Twins victory at home. Facing the Tigers in Detroit is a decidedly tougher task.

Minnesota will be facing Detroit starter Doug Fister, who has faced the Twins three times this season to mixed results. In those three starts, the Twins have hung nine earned runs on Fister in 18 innings, good for a 4.50 ERA.That said, he's also struck out 16 batters while only walking five.

First pitch will be at 3:05 p.m. CT, with the broadcast airing on FOX.

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Twins vs. Tigers: Friday Night's Game Postponed, Doubleheader Set For Sunday

Friday night's game between the Detroit Tigers and Minnesota Twins has been postponed due to rain, and will be made up on Sunday night as part of a doubleheader. The two teams were waiting out the inclement weather in Detroit, but officials made the decision just before 10 p.m. local time that it would not be possible to get the game in.

The game was slated to be crucial for both teams. The Tigers, of course, are still nipping at the heels of the Chicago White Sox, who sit in first place in the A.L. Central by two games. The Twins, meanwhile, were looking to avoid falling to the worst record in baseball.

The two teams will face each other on Saturday at 3:05 p.m. CT, weather permitting. The game will be broadcast on Fox.

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Twins Vs. Tigers: Game In Rain Delay, Restart Not Imminent

The Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers are set to kick-off a three-game series on Friday night that has major playoff implications, but bad weather in Detroit has put the breaks on those plans for the time being. Detroit is currently being soaked by rain, and it doesn't look like that's going to change.

Just asked #Tigers GM about when the window might open for the game. He said, "Not for a while. A long time." #Twins

— Dana Wakiji (@FSDwakiji) September 21, 2012

It's likely that the game would have been postponed under normal circumstances, but considering the weight this game carries in terms of playoff position, it's likely that officials will try and squeeze it in on Friday night by any means necessary.

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Twins Vs. Tigers: Minnesota Playing Spoiler, Trying To Avoid Worst Record

The Minnesota Twins visit the Detroit Tigers this weekend, trying not just to play spoiler in the Central Division race, but also to stay out of the American League cellar.