Twins Outscore Tigers 8-6
The Twins defeated the Tigers 8-6 Tuesday night to win their 5th straight game. The Twins scored 5 runs in the 3rd inning before Detroit tied the game with 3 runs in the 4th. Minnesota broke the tie with a sacrifice fly from Ryan Doumit in the 7th inning. Joe Mauer added a solo homerun in the 9th. Mauer was 3-5 with 3 runs scored, Josh Willingham was 2-3 with a homerun and 3 RBIs and Trevor Plouffe added a 2-run homerun.
Nick Blackburn threw just 4 innings with 8 hits and 6 earned runs allowed. Jeff Gray threw 2 scoreless innings of relief to get the win and improve to 5-0. Glen Perkins threw a scoreless 9th inning for his 4th save.
The Twins are 35-45 and are now 8 games back of the White Sox for first place in the American League Central. Minnesota will play at Detroit again tonight at 6:05, pregame on WJON at 5:35. Lefthander Brian Duensing will start for the Twins and righthander Justin Verlander gets the ball for the Tigers.