Tigers Take Two From Twins!

The Tiger win streak is now at five games.  Detroit took both games in this short series in Minnesota, hanging on to win today's contest 9-7.  This one was back and forth for most of the game 

Phil Coke started for the Tigers and left the game with a 5-2 lead in the sixth inning.  Al Alburquerque came in the game and gave up a run and put two runners on before being relieved by Daniel Schlereth.  I was watching the game in the studio on FSD and as Schlereth was taking his final warmup pitches, Tiger announcer Mario Impemba said, "The Minnesota Twins haven't really been much of a home run hitting team lately".  Seconds later, I screamed NOOOOOOOOO! as the very first pitch from Schlereth to Jason Kubel was launched toward downtown Minneapolis and the Tigers found themselves a run behind.  Next inning Jhonny Peralta put the Tigers back in the lead with a 2-run homer.  The Twins proceeded to tie it up at 7-7 in the bottom of the 8th.  Top of the 9th the Tigers scored twice, one on an RBI triple from Brandon Inge, the other on a suicide squeeze bunt from Austin Jackson to bring home Inge. 

Jose Valverde closed out the 9th for his 8th save of the season. 

Lost in all the excitement was the fact that Victor Martinez had another 3-hit, 3 RBI day.  Miguel Cabrera had two RBI before being ejected for arguing a strike three call in the 5th inning.

Tigers are now 20-18 and move into second place in the American League Central.  They get an off day tomorrow, before coming home to host Kansas City for three games this weekend.  Justin Verlander starts on the mound Friday night, his first appearance since his no-hitter in Toronto on Saturday.

Today's game was an ugly, sloppy win, but it was a win!  More importantly, it was a win against the Twins.  Those are always hard to come by.