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Harris produces four RBI as Twins edge Tigers

Jul 13, 2008 - 1:31 AM DETROIT (Ticker) -- Brendan Harris went 3-for-3 with a homer and a season-high four RBI on Saturday, lifting the Minnesota Twins to a 6-5 victory over the Detroit Tigers.

Scott Baker pitched seven-plus solid innings and All-Star Joe Mauer hit a two-run blast for Minnesota, which has won three straight and 19 of 24 to close within one game of the American League Central Division-leading Chicago White Sox.

The 27-year-old Harris, who is in his first season with the Twins after being acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays in the the deal involving Matt Garza in November, helped push Minnesota (53-41) to a season high-tying 12 games over .500.

"Another very intense game," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "Lots of big pitches. Baker was very good and our bullpen came in and got the outs they needed to.

"Harris had a huge day. That was a very nice win."

With the game knotted at 2-2 in the top of the seventh, Harris led off by launching a 2-0 pitch from Detroit starter Nate Robertson (6-8) over the right field wall to give Minnesota a one-run lead.

"I been feeling real good and swinging the bat better for the last month," Harris said. "When you are down in the batting order you get a chance to drive in runs. Today was a long time coming for me."

It was Harris' fifth homer of the season.

Harris had delivered a two-out RBI single in the second to open the scoring and doubled the Twins' lead two innings later with a two-out, run-scoring base hit.

Four batters after Harris' homer, Mauer deposited a shot into the seats in left-center field for his fifth blast, giving Minnesota a 5-2 bulge.

After Harris made it 6-2 with a sacrifice fly in the top of the eighth, Baker (6-2) served up a two-run homer by Curtis Granderson in the bottom half that drew the Tigers within 6-4. The 26-year-old righthander, who immediately was replaced by Jesse Crain, allowed four runs and six hits while striking out four en route to his fourth straight win.

"I made some good pitches, got some outs," Baker said. "I felt good. If you can get people out early in the count, you can go pretty far."

Crain retired just one of the three batters he faced before being replaced by Dennys Reyes, who tossed a wild pitch before Ryan Raburn plated a run with a groundout. Brian Bass, Minnesota's fourth pitcher of the frame, preserved the one-run lead by inducing an inning-ending groundout by Marcus Thames.

"The Twins did just enough and we didn't do enough," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "That sums up the game. We had plenty of scoring opportunities, but couldn't get the big hit."

All-Star Joe Nathan worked around a one-out walk in the ninth, striking out three to record his 27th save.

"Every game against these Tigers is a war," Nathan said. "There is no one in their lineup that can't step (up) and hurt you."

"Joe's a great closer," Gardenhire said. "When you give him the ball, you expect closure."

Matt Joyce hit a game-tying, two-run homer in the fourth and Robertson allowed five runs and 10 hits in seven innings for the Tigers, who had lost three straight.

"I threw the ball pretty well and didn't make many bad pitches," Robertson said. "They just hit all of my good pitches. The worst pitch was to Mauer, it just cut over the plate and he got all of it."