Most were aware that the Tigers now held one of two wild card spots, but in the crowded American League race, 10 games is still a marathon.
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Minnesota’s offense couldn’t do much against Verlander or Detroit’s bullpen. That tied it 2-2, but the Twins never scratched across another run.After striking out the side in the first inning, Santana ran into trouble in the second.
Upton hit his 26th home run of the year and Martinez also homered in the first game. He allowed four hits, struck out 11 and walked two. He has won 12 of his last 13 starts against the Twins.
Francisco Rodriguez threw a ideal ninth inning for his 44th save.
The start was delayed by 35 minutes due to rain, marking the 14th delay or postponement in Minnesota this season.
Twins starter Kyle Gibson (6-11) needed 99 pitches to make it through five innings, but he limited the Mariners to two runs. Alex Wilson got five outs in relief to move to 4-and-0 with the win. They had three errors and five wild pitches in the doubleheader, scheduled to make up Wednesday’s rainout. Dozier passed Alfonso Soriano’s total in 2002. Only Rogers Hornsby (42 in 1922), Davey Johnson (42 in 1973) and Ryne Sandberg (40 in 1990) have hit more. That marks the longest hit streak by a Twins player since Lenny Green hit safely in 24 consecutive games in 1961.
“It’s kind of been typical for us to hang in games and then not be able to finish”, Minnesota manager Paul Molitor said. He was spotted a 2-0 lead in the second inning when his counterpart, Twins right-hander Ervin Santana, struggled with his command.
Victor Martinez is the first Tiger to hit 3 pinch hit home runs in a season since Larry Herndon in 1986.
Rays 2, Yankees 0: Blake Snell and Tampa Bay’s bullpen combined to strand 11 runners in a win that prevented a much-needed three-game sweep by NY. “There’s still a little bit of the stretch run to go”.
Baltimore fell seven games out and dropped 1 ½ games behind the Blue Jays for the top AL wild card.
PLAY OF THE GAME: The Mariners had already scored four runs in the seventh inning and had runners at first and second with one out when Mike Zunino punched an RBI single to left against Buddy Boshers. Toronto leads Detroit by one game for the right to host the Wild Card game. Robinson Cano had four hits, while Nelson Cruz drove in four run with a two-run double and a mammoth two-run homer. Atlanta’s Josh Collmenter (3-0) pitched seven innings and allowed two runs.
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But Cruz hit his 38th homer in the eighth, an estimated 455 feet, hitting off the stone facing above the batter’s eye in centre field.
