The Minnesota Twins picked up some much-needed momentum with a 4-3 win over Detroit on Thursday, effectively capping a brief, albeit important, two-game sweep over the playoff-contending Tigers in the process.
The Twins' offense opened things up in the third inning behind a two-run homer from the bat of Justin Morneau that plated Josh Willingham. Outfielder Trevor Plouffe followed suit later in the frame with a solo shot of his own to give the Twins an early 3-0 advantage, and Morneau tallied his third RBI of the day in the fifth to extend the lead a run further while the Tigers were held scoreless.
Aside from three solo home runs yielded over the fifth and sixth innings by starter P.J. Walters as he began to tire, it was a very clean day for Minnesota pitching. Closer Matt Capps came in to record his eighth save of the season with a 1-2-3 ninth, but not after 1.2 innings of no-hit ball from relievers Francisco Liriano and Glen Perkins.
The Twins will hope to build on their short winning streak on Friday to kick off a three-game set in Milwaukee. Red-hot lefty Scott Diamond will take the mound as Minnesota aims to make it three straight victories.
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