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Twins beat Tigers 8-3 and avoid elimination
2009-10-01
DETROIT - The AL Central is still up for grabs. Scott Baker got plenty of run support and pitched the Minnesota Twins to a testy 8-3 victory over Detroit on Thursday, preventing the Tigers from clinching their first division title in 22 years. Minnesota avoided elimination from the playoff race and moved within two games of the first-place Tigers with three to play. "We just didn't want to see them celebrating," Twins outfielder Denard Span said. The teams split a four-game series -- The Showdown in Motown. The Tigers had a chance to wrap up their first division crown since 1987 in the finale, but their bats were quieted and their pitchers got roughed up in a three-run third inning and a four-run eighth. Detroit started the series with a two-game lead and ended it with the same tenuous cushion. "We controlled our own destiny today and we had a chance to clinch it out, but you have to give them credit," catcher Gerald Laird said. "We're still two games up with three to play, and we're in the driver's seat. We just have to play good baseball like we have at home, take it to the White Sox and we'll be celebrating." The tightest race in baseball won't be decided until this weekend -- or early next week if a tiebreaker is necessary. Minnesota has clinched the season series and would host an extra game if needed, likely on Tuesday because the Vikings play an NFL game Monday night at the Metrodome against the Green Bay Packers. If Detroit beats the Ozzie Guillen-led Chicago White Sox twice at home, it would win the division. If not, the Tigers would need some help from the Kansas City Royals, who end the season at Minnesota. Royals ace Zack Greinke is lined up to start on Saturday. "We're going to the dome for the last weekend, and we've still got a shot," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We've got to beat the Royals and, `Come on, Ozzie!' I'm going to leave him a note." Tempers flared in the eighth. Detroit manager Jim Leyland was ejected during a face-to-face argument with umpire Angel Hernandez in the top of the inning, following an inside pitch. Then, Tigers pitcher Jeremy Bonderman and Laird were tossed in the home half. Both benches and bullpens emptied after Twins outfielder Delmon Young was plunked in the leg by Bonderman, but the players contained their emotions enough to avoid any pushing or punching. "It absolutely turned into a bit of a strange game toward the end," Leyland said. Minnesota had plenty of punch at the plate in a game it needed to win to keep hopes alive for rallying in the AL Central as it did in 2006, when the Twins surged and the Tigers slumped at the end of the season. Detroit earned a spot three years ago as the AL wild card and lost to St. Louis in the World Series. The Twins went ahead 3-1 in the third on Joe Mauer's RBI single, Michael Cuddyer's run-scoring single and Jason Kubel's sacrifice fly. They broke the game open in the eighth when Orlando Cabrera hit a three-run double and Mauer followed with an RBI single to make it 8-1. Baker (15-9) gave up an unearned run and five hits over five innings. Jon Rauch, Ron Mahay and Matt Guerrier combined to pitch 2 2-3 scoreless innings until Minnesota matched its season high with a fourth error, allowing Detroit to score a pair of two-out runs that made it 8-3. Nate Robertson (2-3) gave up four runs -- three earned -- and nine hits in six-plus innings. Rookie Ryan Perry and Fu-Te Ni each struck out a Twin in the seventh to get out of a bases-loaded jam, but Casey Fien and Bobby Seay each gave up two runs, putting the game out of reach. NOTES: The Tigers, who rank fourth in the AL in attendance despite the Motor City's poor economy, drew 40,533 for their first sellout since July 25. ... Cabrera extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a single in the first.
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