Tigers Beat Bullpen, Twins 7-3
The Twins lost 7-3 at Detroit Thursday afternoon and settle for a split in the 4-game series. Detroit scored 5 runs in the 8th off the Twins' bullpen. Tyler Robertson allowed a 3-run homerun to Prince Fielder for the big blow. Alex Burnett allowed 2 hits and 3 earned runs in 1/3 of an inning to take the loss. Scott Diamond started the game for the Twins and threw 7 innings with 5 hits and 2 earned runs allowed but didn't figure in the final decision.
Brian Dozier went 3-4 with a run scored and 1 RBI and both Denard Span and Joe Mauer each had 2 hits and 1 RBI for the Twins.
Minnesota is 35-47 and is 10 games back of the White Sox for first place in the American League Central. The Twins begin a 3-game series at Texas at 7:05 tonight, pregame on WJON at 6:35. Lefthander Francisco Liriano (2-7) gets the start on the mound for the Twins and lefthander Martin Perez (1-0) toes the rubber for the Rangers.
The Twins called up righthanded pitcher Sam Deduno to start Saturday's game at Texas and sent first baseman Chris Parmelee to triple-A Rochester. Deduno has a 1-2 record with a 2.14 ERA in 42 innings for Rochester.