Final
Escobar's 6 RBI lead Twins over Tigers
Sep 28, 2014 - 4:48 AM Detroit, MI (SportsNetwork.com) - Eduardo Escobar had four hits and knocked in a career-high six runs, leading the Minnesota Twins to an easy 12-3 win over the playoff-bound Detroit Tigers on Saturday night.Escobar, who didn't have more than two RBI in any other game this season, had three singles and a three-run homer for the Twins, who have won four of their last five, including two of the first three in this series as they try to play the role of spoiler.
"It's always nice to play the spoiler," said winner Ricky Nolasco, "but we don't play this game to be the spoiler. We play this game to be in their position. Their backs are against the wall, so we'll see what happens tomorrow."
The Tigers entered play with a one-game lead over Kansas City for first place in the AL Central and could have clinched their fourth straight division title with a win and a Royals loss to the White Sox.
Instead, they lost for the second day in a row to the division's last-place team. The Royals fell to the White Sox 5-4, remaining one game behind going into the last day of the regular season.
"It's frustrating for sure," complained Tigers manager Brad Ausmus, who said the game was "almost a carbon copy" of Friday's 11-4 loss. "You're in such a deep hole it's hard to climb out."
Brian Dozier added a solo homer for the Twins, who hit 70 wins (70-91) for the first time since 2010. Nolasco (6-12) gave up two runs in six innings to snap a nine-start winless streak, gaining a victory for the first time since July 1.
Nick Castellanos hit a solo homer and drove in all three runs for the Tigers while rookie left-hander Kyle Lobstein (1-2) was charged with six runs in 4 2/3 innings.
Tigers center fielder Rajai Davis came out of the game after grounding out to end the second inning. He appeared to be favoring his groin.
Castellanos went the other way to right for a homer in the second inning, but Minnesota took a 6-1 lead and knocked Lobstein out of the game in the fifth.
The Twins had eight hits in the inning -- all singles. They loaded the bases with one out on hits by Escobar, Chris Herrmann and Danny Santana and Brian Dozier knocked in the first run with the fourth single.
A run scored on Joe Mauer's groundout before Lobstein intentionally walked Kennys Vargas to load the bases again, setting up Eric Fryer's two-run hit. That chased Lobstein for Phil Coke, who surrendered a single to Oswaldo Arcia and a two-run hit to Escobar for the five-run lead.
Torii Hunter stroked a leadoff single in the sixth inning and the Tigers loaded the bases with no outs, but scored only one run.
Escobar and Herrmann hit consecutive RBI singles in the seventh off Blaine Hardy, and Dozier and Escobar homered in the eighth inning to make it 12-2.
It was Escobar's second big game against the Tigers in just over a month. He had a career-high five hits and finished a double shy of the cycle in a 20-6 win against them on Aug. 22.
Castellanos added a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning.
Game Notes
It was Castellanos' 11th homer of the season ... The Royals, who have clinched their first playoff berth in 29 years, haven't won a division title in the same number of years -- since taking the old AL West in 1985 on the way to a World Series title.
- MINNESOTA: 12
DETROIT: 3
Final
Sep 27 10:35 PM - Nick Castellanos sacrifice fly to right scored Don Kelly. On the play, James McCann advances to third. Runner on third with two outs and Alex Avila due up.
Twins 12, Tigers 3 Bot 8, 2 OutsSep 27 10:09 PM - Nick Castellanos out on a sacrifice fly to deep right field to Oswaldo Arcia. James McCann to third. Don Kelly scores.
Twins 12, Tigers 3 Bot 8, 1 OutSep 27 10:09 PM - Eduardo Escobar two-out, three-run Home Run (6) to left scored Kennys Vargas and Oswaldo Arcia. Chris Herrmann due up.
Twins 12, Tigers 2 Top 8, 2 OutsSep 27 10:01 PM - Eduardo Escobar homers to center field. Oswaldo Arcia scores. Kennys Vargas scores.
Twins 12, Tigers 2 Top 8, 2 OutsSep 27 10:00 PM - Brian Dozier lead-off Home Run (23) to left. Joe Mauer due up.
Twins 9, Tigers 2 Top 8, 0 OutsSep 27 9:49 PM - Chris Herrmann single to right scored Eric Fryer. On the play, Eduardo Escobar advances to third. Runners on first and third with two outs and Aaron Hicks due up.
Twins 8, Tigers 2 Top 7, 2 OutsSep 27 9:31 PM - Chris Herrmann singles to right center field. Eduardo Escobar to third. Eric Fryer scores.
Twins 8, Tigers 2 Top 7, 2 OutsSep 27 9:31 PM - Eduardo Escobar single to center scored Joe Mauer. On the play, Eric Fryer advances to second. Runners on first and second with two outs and Chris Herrmann due up.
Twins 7, Tigers 2 Top 7, 2 OutsSep 27 9:30 PM - Eduardo Escobar singles to center field. Eric Fryer to second. Joe Mauer scores.
Twins 7, Tigers 2 Top 7, 2 OutsSep 27 9:29 PM - Nick Castellanos ground out pitcher to first scored Torii Hunter. On the play, Victor Martinez advances to second and Miguel Cabrera advances to third. Runners on second and third with two outs and Alex Avila due up.
Twins 6, Tigers 2 Bot 6, 2 OutsSep 27 9:15 PM - Nick Castellanos grounds out to shallow infield, Ricky Nolasco to Joe Mauer. Victor Martinez to second. Miguel Cabrera to third. Torii Hunter scores.
Twins 6, Tigers 2 Bot 6, 1 OutSep 27 9:15 PM - Eduardo Escobar single to left scored Kennys Vargas and Eric Fryer. On the play, Oswaldo Arcia advances to second. Runners on first and second with two outs and Chris Herrmann due up.
Twins 6, Tigers 1 Top 5, 2 OutsSep 27 8:47 PM - Eduardo Escobar singles to left center field. Oswaldo Arcia to second. Eric Fryer scores. Kennys Vargas scores.
Twins 6, Tigers 1 Top 5, 2 OutsSep 27 8:47 PM - Eric Fryer single to right scored Danny Santana and Brian Dozier. On the play, Kennys Vargas advances to second. Runners on first and second with two outs and Oswaldo Arcia due up.
Twins 4, Tigers 1 Top 5, 2 OutsSep 27 8:41 PM - Eric Fryer singles to shallow center field. Kennys Vargas to second. Brian Dozier scores. Danny Santana scores.
Twins 4, Tigers 1 Top 5, 2 OutsSep 27 8:40 PM - Joe Mauer ground out second to first scored Chris Herrmann. On the play, Brian Dozier advances to second and Danny Santana advances to third. Runners on second and third with two outs and Kennys Vargas due up.
Twins 2, Tigers 1 Top 5, 2 OutsSep 27 8:37 PM - Joe Mauer grounds out to second base, Ian Kinsler to Miguel Cabrera. Brian Dozier to second. Danny Santana to third. Chris Herrmann scores.
Twins 2, Tigers 1 Top 5, 1 OutSep 27 8:36 PM - Brian Dozier single to right scored Eduardo Escobar. On the play, Danny Santana advances to second and Chris Herrmann advances to third. Bases loaded with one out and Joe Mauer due up.
Twins 1, Tigers 1 Top 5, 1 OutSep 27 8:35 PM - Brian Dozier singles to right center field. Danny Santana to second. Chris Herrmann to third. Eduardo Escobar scores.
Twins 1, Tigers 1 Top 5, 1 OutSep 27 8:35 PM - Nick Castellanos two-out, solo Home Run (11) to right. Alex Avila due up.
Twins 0, Tigers 1 Bot 2, 2 OutsSep 27 7:35 PM - Danny Santana flies out to center field to Rajai Davis.
Sep 27 7:10 PM - MINNESOTA: 0
DETROIT: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Sep 27 7:08 PM
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