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Big finish adds fuel to Twins' revival

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A quirky five-run eighth kept their winning streak alive and nudged them closer to the Tigers atop the AL Central.

By LA VELLE E. NEAL III, Star Tribune

Last update: September 20, 2009 - 8:43 AM

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TWINS 6, DETROIT 2

Up next: 1:10 p.m. today vs. Detroit

Metrodome • TV: Ch. 29 (1500-AM)

PATRICK REUSSE

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Yes, there was a little Metrodome mystique on Saturday to aid the Twins in a 6-2 comeback victory over Detroit. Yet there was a lot more to how the Twins have pulled within two games of first place for the first time since July 31.

"We've played like a .500 team for a long enough time," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "Right now we're finally starting to put a few things together."

Their focus is in place, knowing that this probably is their last chance to make a run for the division title. And, judging by how Denard Span and Orlando Cabrera were screaming at each other while celebrating in the eighth inning, they believe they can shake off their mediocrity and reach the postseason.

Forget that Kevin Slowey and Glen Perkins are injured and Francisco Liriano is no longer in the starting rotation. Forget that Joe Crede and Justin Morneau and their 45 home runs are injured, too. The Twins are winning without them.

"I know we're here for real,'' outfielder Jason Kubel said, "trying to get this thing.''

Righthander Carl Pavano gave up two runs and 11 hits over seven innings Saturday, finding the right pitch to escape from most dangerous situations. The Twins offense fought for 7 1/3 innings with Detroit righthander Justin Verlander (16-9), who hit 98 miles per hour on the Dome radar gun while throwing a whopping 128 pitches.

Detroit led 2-1 -- the Twins' run coming in the first on Joe Mauer's 28th homer -- until the eighth, when Kubel's two-run single and a three-run homer by Michael Cuddyer put the Tigers away for the second day in a row.

A victory today gives them a sweep of the series -- and gets them one game closer to first place.

"We know we're not done yet,'' said Cabrera, whose fly ball in the eighth will go down as one of the final Dome-influenced hits. "It's a long way to go, but we're playing with a lot of intensity, which is important. We play every pitch and play smart baseball.

"You have to keep the intensity up.''

Detroit manager Jim Leyland left Verlander in as his pitch count passed 120.

Then the Dome stepped in.

With one out and Span on first, Cabrera sent a high fly ball a few feet inside the left-field foul line. Tigers outfielder Don Kelly, a defensive replacement, lost the ball as soon as it got in the lights. It dropped to his right for a hit as Span went to third and Cabrera advanced to second, pumping his fists.

"Just terrible,'' Kelly said when asked for his reaction to the ball falling in. "Absolutely terrible.''

Mauer was intentionally walked to load the bases for Kubel, whose broken-bat fly ball to left dropped in front of Kelly, scoring both Span and Cabrera. Verlander was removed for Brandon Lyon, whose 1-1 pitch to Cuddyer was hit an estimated 409 feet to center for a three-run homer as the announced crowd of 43,338 exploded.

Twins outfielders all felt bad for Kelly -- but not that bad. They had just won their sixth consecutive game and are four games over .500, both season highs, thanks to a few big hits late and one Dome ball.

"It just goes to show you we are very resilient,'' Cuddyer said. "You don't worry about the past. We don't get ahead of ourselves. It's crunch time and you're worrying about how to win that day."

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