Tigers 5, Twins 3

By Joe Christensen, Star Tribune

Last update: May 18, 2006 - 10:38 PM

DETROIT The Twins used to view the Detroit Tigers as the type of rollover opponent that every aspiring playoff team needs.

From 2001 through 2005, those matchups seemed like almost-guaranteed victories for the Twins.

But by Thursday afternoon, after Detroit completed another sweep at Comerica Park with a 5-3 win, it was abundantly clear the tables have turned.

"Funny things happen here, and Im glad we dont come back for a while," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "I like the Motown city, but Im kind of tired of it."

By funny things, Gardenhire was referring to the three errors his normally sure-handed team made behind Brad Radke.

Then there was the ninth inning, when the Twins mounted a two-out rally against Tigers closer Todd Jones, only to have Torii Hunter fly out to the center field warning track to end the game.

"Any other park in the country, thats a homer," Hunter said, knowing theres a 420-foot sign on Comericas center field wall.

The Twins know it wasnt all bad luck that cost them their fifth consecutive loss and dropped them back to a season-worst seven games under .500, at 17-24.

Detroit scored two runs against Radke (4-5) in each of the first two innings, with the big blow coming on Brandon Inges two-run homer in the second.

Hunter had himself to blame in the third, as he came up with one out and runners at the corners, and grounded into an inning-ending double play on the first pitch from Kenny Rogers.

"It seemed like every time wed get a man on, wed swing at the next pitch and do something silly," Gardenhire said. "So were kind of shooting ourselves in the foot."

The Tigers were 27-67 against the Twins from 2001 through 2005. This year, they are 7-2 and have swept all six games in Detroit.

"I feel like we can play with them," Hunter said. "But they own us right now."

The Tigers have a seven-game winning streak, their longest since 1993. And they won this one despite committing two errors, along with a baserunning gaffe that led to a double play and enabled Radke to avert disaster in the fifth.

Rogers (7-2) felt a little under the weather, but he still improved to 3-0 against the Twins this year. "Im not sure we deserved to win, to be honest with you," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "We were fortunate. We werent very sharp."

As the Twins packed for Milwaukee, they seemed as dismayed as theyve been all season. Gardenhire tried taking solace in Radkes performance.

He gave up two home runs in six innings, but only three of the five runs he gave up were earned, giving him his second quality start in nine chances.

"Some funny things happened out on the field, but for the most part I thought I threw the ball better," Radke said. "I thought I had a little better location today. But I just put us in a hole early."