Hunter, Cabrera Homer In 9th To Save Bullpen, Tigers Beat Twins 8-6

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Torii Hunter and Miguel Cabrera hit back-to-back home runs in the ninth inning to help the Detroit Tigers tighten their grip on the American League Central by winning their fourth straight game, 8-6 over the Minnesota Twins on Monday night.

The Tigers lost a 6-0 lead they built by the fifth, but after Joe Mauer's second two-run single tied the game for the Twins in the eighth inning, Hunter hit the first pitch of the ninth from Casey Fien (5-6) into the bullpen behind left-center field.

Cabrera then crushed one to the same spot just two pitches later. It was the eighth time this season the Tigers hit consecutive homers.

Kyle Ryan (2-0) earned the victory by recording the last out of the eighth, and Joakim Soria converted his first save opportunity since being acquired for the Tigers despite allowing a leadoff double to Kurt Suzuki.

Andrew Romine and J.D. Martinez each had three hits for the Tigers. Romine's two-run single in the fourth and Martinez's RBI single in the first were two of 11 hits against Twins starter Anthony Swarzak, who didn't finish the fifth inning.

Victor Martinez hit an RBI double in the first inning, Bryan Holaday had one in the fourth, and Nick Castellanos forced in a run with a walk in the fifth.

The Tigers began the second-to-last week of the regular season with a lead of 1 1-2 games over Kansas City, which started a three-game series against Chicago. The Tigers have 12 games remaining, and the Royals have 13 left.

The Tigers play the last-place Twins six more times.

Max Scherzer breezed through 13 batters, surrendering just one single, but Oswaldo Arcia hit a towering home run in the fifth inning to get the Twins going. Mauer smacked a two-run single up the middle that zoomed past Scherzer in the sixth. Trevor Plouffe added a sacrifice fly to cut the lead to 6-4.

Last year's AL Cy Young Award winner stopped the rally there, retiring Arcia on a called third strike. Scherzer struck out five in seven innings, with seven hits and one walk allowed.

Joba Chamberlain then walked two batters to start the eighth, and Danny Santana and Brian Dozier executed a double steal against Phil Coke. Mauer, after fouling off three full-count pitches, sliced a single into left field to drive in both runners and reach 50 RBIs for the season.

The announced crowd of 19,700 was the smallest to see the Twins since Target Field opened in 2010.

TRAINER'S ROOM

The Tigers held catcher Alex Avila out as a precaution, using Holaday behind the plate after pulling him from the game on Sunday afternoon because he felt light-headed. Avila has a concussion history, but manager Brad Ausmus said Avila felt fine by night and again in the morning. He could play on Tuesday.

Just as encouraging for the Tigers was a smooth bullpen session for right-hander Anibal Sanchez, who had a setback last month in his recovery from a right pectoral muscle strain. Sanchez could still rejoin the rotation, but with less than two weeks left, a relief role looks more likely.

Twins right-hander Tommy Milone had an MRI test on his stiff neck that found inflammation but no structural damage. General manager Terry Ryan said there is still a possibility Milone will pitch again this season.

UP NEXT

Rick Porcello (15-11, 3.23 ERA) pitches Tuesday for the Tigers, looking to snap a three-start losing streak. The Tigers have scored a total of four runs over those three previous turns. For the Twins, Ricky Nolasco (5-11, 5.64 ERA) will take the mound. He is winless in his last seven starts.

Ausmus has yet to set the rotation for the weekend series with the Royals. Justin Verlander would be in line to pitch on regular rest on Friday if Kyle Lobstein's turn is skipped. Scherzer and Porcello would follow.

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