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Twins take series from Tigers

Aug 23, 2013 - 12:32 AM Detroit, MI (Sports Network) - Chris Herrmann finished 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles -- including the game-deciding RBI two-bagger in the eighth -- while driving in two as Minnesota got past Detroit, 7-6, in the rubber match of a three-game set.

Ryan Doumit clubbed a three-run homer and Brian Dozier knocked in a run for the Twins, who had lost four in a row prior to arriving in Michigan.

"I was just fortunate that I was able to come up and get the game-winning RBI for our team," Herrmann said. "Clutch hitting came through whenever we needed it to come through so it was just an overall good game."

Casey Fien (3-2) tossed a scoreless seventh inning for the win, and Glen Perkins did the same in the ninth to earn his 30th save.

Austin Jackson hit a three-run blast and Bryan Holaday added a solo shot and two RBI for the Tigers, losers in four of their last seven.

Bruce Rondon (1-2) was charged with the winning run while recording two outs in the eighth.

Jackson's homer capped a four-run rally in the home sixth for Detroit, but the Twins moved on top to stay in the eighth.

Rondon walked Doug Bernier with one out, and he moved up on a Dozier grounder before Drew Smyly entered and gave up Herrmann's go-ahead run-scoring double to put the visitors up 7-6.

"We were both going back and forth at it," Smyly said. "I thought we had a chance there at the end but that's baseball."

Jared Burton closed the frame by setting the side down in order, while Perkins walked Miguel Cabrera and allowed a single to Prince Fielder with one out before being bailed out when Victor Martinez grounded into a game-ending double play.

Minnesota needed just two batters to puncture Tigers starter Justin Verlander, as Dozier led off with a single and scored when Herrmann followed with a double.

Holaday's first career homer tied the game in the home third, and Fielder's two-out RBI single put the Tigers in front.

Back the Twins came in the fourth to tie the contest on a two-out run-scoring hit from Wilkin Ramirez, and then take what seemed to be a commanding 5-2 edge in the fifth after Herrmann singled and Justin Morneau walked with one out ahead of Doumit's two-out, three-run blast to right.

Dozier doubled home Bernier in the sixth for a four-run spread, but Holaday singled home Omar Infante to kick off the Tigers' rally in the home portion.

Game Notes

Minnesota's Andrew Albers lasted just 5 2/3 innings, allowing nine hits and five runs, while Verlander worked seven full, giving up 10 hits and six runs ... Thursday marked the first time the Tigers ace surrendered as many runs in a start to the Twins since June 29, 2007 -- a span of 19 starts ... Detroit catcher Alex Avila, out since Aug. 11 with a concussion, will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo on Thursday.