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Verlander wins 20th; Tigers top Twins

Aug 28, 2011 - 12:40 AM Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Justin Verlander became the first pitcher to reach 20 wins this season, while Delmon Young hit the go-ahead RBI single in the seventh inning as Detroit topped Minnesota, 6-4, in the middle contest of a three-game set.

Verlander (20-5) didn't put together a classic outing, giving up eight hits and four runs over six-plus innings. He fanned six and walked three to earn his eighth consecutive victory.

The 28-year-old hit the 20-win mark for the first time in his career despite posting his shortest outing since July 15 and by allowing the most runs in one start since he served up four to the White Sox on July 26.

"Yes it feels great..what a team win," Verlander said. "In all we go through during the season there's been times I've picked these guys up, there's been times they picked me up. When you get to 20 at this point in the season, obviously you can't do it on your own. Today was just another example of that."

Miguel Cabrera homered and drove in a pair of runs, and Alex Avila posted a solo shot for the Tigers, who have won three in a row and eight of their last nine.

Luke Hughes hit a solo blast and drove in three. Jason Repko also connected for a solo homer for the Twins, who dropped their seventh straight.

"We played a good ballgame out there today. They got between us and a win with that burst at the end," Hughes lamented. "We put some runs on the board, four against Verlander is good but not good enough in the end."

Carl Pavano (6-11) was touched for nine hits and six runs -- five earned -- in 6 2/3 frames.

Detroit moved ahead to stay with two runs in the seventh which snapped a 4-4 tie. Wilson Betemit singled and was sacrificed to second by Ryan Raburn, then Austin Jackson walked. Two batters later, Young's base hit plated Betemit and, after Matt Capps subbed for Pavano, Jackson came home on a Cabrera single.

Verlander exited after Drew Butera's leadoff single in the home half, but Daniel Schlereth worked a scoreless frame.

"He was a little overactive today. The adrenaline was probably flowing too much early on," said Tigers manager Jim Leyland of Verlander's outing. "It was a little uncharacteristic, but not surprising. It's quite an accomplishment. I'm really thrilled for him. It turned out to be a good day."

Joaquin Benoit turned in a perfect eighth, then Jose Valverde followed suit in the ninth to earn his 39th save.

Cabrera and Avila hit solo homers in the second, then Raburn's RBI double and Jackson's run-scoring single in the fifth boosted the Detroit edge to 4-0.

Hughes and Repko hit back-to-back homers to start the home fifth, and in the sixth, Hughes smacked a two-run double to tie the game.

Game Notes

Verlander has never failed to win at least 10 games in his six full MLB seasons, including a 17-win year in 2006, an 18-win season in 2010 and a 19- win campaign in 2009...He becomes the first Tigers pitcher to reach 20 wins since Bill Gullickson finished 20-9 in 1991...Curt Schilling was the last pitcher to reach 20 wins before the end of August when he did so for Arizona in 2002.