Twins 9, Tigers 5

The Twins pulled off a crucial victory Friday night against the Detroit Tigers at the Metrodome, pulling back within four games of the division lead and half a game ahead of the White Sox in the Wild Card Race.

Matt Garza (1-4, 6.23 ERA) went only 4. 1 innings, after allowing four walks and five hits, amounting to 4 earned runs. On the up side, he struck out six Tigers. So, he did have that breaking ball working, and showed the ability to retire batters on a 3-2 count.

Detroit scored first in the third inning, when Magglio Ordonez doubled on a two-run liner to left. In the bottom of the frame, the Twins strung together four straight 2-out singles. Nick Punto (2 for 5) and Joe Mauer (3 for 4, walk) each got on base before Michael Cuddyer (2 for 3, 2 BBs) singled to score them both. Justin Morneau (2 for 3, walk) then slapped a base hit to left to score Cuddy, and the game was tied. The Dome went berzerk.

Detroit scored two more runs in the fifth. After Ivan Rodriguez singled to left, Craig Monroe came up and doubled one the other way to score Pudge. After an Ordonez RBI single, Garza was replaced by Dennys Reyes with one out in the inning. Denny allowed a Carlos Guillen base hit, retired Sean Casey, and was replaced by Pat Neshek (4-1, 2.22 ERA), who promptly forced Marcus Thames to pop out.

Wilfredo Ledezma (2-3, 3.13 ERA) pitched halfway through the bottom of the inning, allowing Joe Mauer and Cuddyer each to single, followed by a Canadian Crusher two-run double. Justin moved to third on the throw to the plate before Torii Hunter drove him home on a sharp single to left off a brand new pitcher (Jason Grilli). Again, the Dome goes nuts. This time, the Twins have a one-run lead.


The following inning is when things really started to roll. When you're playing one of the best teams in baseball, it's a good idea to tack on some insurance runs. So when another new pitcher (Andrew Miller) came in for Detroit, Minnesota took advantage. After two outs, this kid completely fell apart. He walked Mauer. He walked Cuddyer. He walked Morneau to fill the bags. Bases loaded = pitching change. Here comes Zach Miner, former Detroit starter (here's why). After a Torii Hunter 2-run single, Rondell White hit one off of third baseman Brandon Inge's glove. Error credited to Inge. Lew Ford pinch-runs for Rondell. And here comes Philly! Nevin then doubled on a liner to right scoring Torii, and Lew came to a screeching halt half-way to home. Twins 9, Tigers 4.

The Canadian Crusher's huge day

Jesse Crain (3.86 ERA) pitched two scoreless innings before Detroit tried to answer with one run in the top of the ninth off Juan Rincon (3.05 ERA), but it was too late. The Twins even up the series and Neesh gets the win. It's pretty much impossible to pick a Player of the Game in this one, since nearly everyone contributed to the pounding. Great game. If this one didn't feel like the Playoffs, I don't know what does.

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Boof Bonser (4-5, 4.83 ERA) probably hasn't pitched a more important game in his life than he will Saturday against Jeremy Bonderman (12-11, 3.93 ERA) and the Tigers. Every game is important now, but it's maybe now or never if the Twins want to gain ground on their division leader.

Batting Title Watch: Joe Mauer leads the American league in hitting with a .348 average after Friday night's game going 3 for 4 with a walk and 3 runs scored. Yankee Derek Jeter is still on his tail, batting .343 after New York's 9-4 loss to Baltimore, where he went 1 for 4.