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Rookies lead Tigers to another win over Twins

Sep 7, 2008 - 10:45 PM By Brian Hall PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- The 2008 season has been a massive disappointment for the Detroit Tigers, whose re-tooled roster was expected to make them an October contender. But despite being out of contention, they continue to make things tough for their divisional opponents - even if it takes their rookies to do it.

Chris Lambert earned his first career victory and fellow rookie Dusty Ryan hit his first career homer as the Tigers topped the Minnesota Twins, 7-5, on Sunday.

It was the fifth loss in six games for the Twins (78-65), who remain 2 1/2 games behind the Chicago White Sox (80-62) in the American League Central Division. Since winning the first two games of their two-week road trip - which they undertook due the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis - the Twins have gone just 4-11.

"Tough week, tough series. It's been a tough couple weeks for us," Minnesota center fielder Denard Span said. "The only positive we can take out of today is we look up and Chicago lost as well. We didn't gain any ground, but we didn't lose any ground."

In his second career at-bat, Ryan belted a two-run homer 358 feet to right field to open the scoring for Detroit, which rallied for the second straight day to take the deciding game of this three-game series.

"I can't really describe it," Ryan said. "I was just out there having fun, got a pitch to hit, and hit it."

Lambert (1-1), who was recalled from Class AAA Toledo on August 26, went five innings in his third career start to earn the win. He allowed four runs - three earned - and seven hits, while striking out three and walking one.

A first-round draft pick of the St. Louis Cardinals in 2004, Lambert was 12-8 with a 3.50 ERA this season with Toledo this season.

"It took a little longer than I would've liked, but I got through five and battled out there," Lambert said. "It was tough at times, but it feels great. The team played great behind me and we hit."

He finished up his five-inning stint trailing, 4-2, but a big sixth inning by the Tigers bailed him out and brought them back from behind once again. Miguel Cabrera led off the inning with a solo home run to right field, his 32nd of the season and the 1,000th hit of his five-year career.

"We don't give up, we try to battle and play hard," Cabrera said. "Whatever games we have left, we have to go out there and play hard every day. We have to win games, it doesn't matter if we play Minnesota, Chicago or Cleveland."

After Gary Sheffield's double, Marcus Thames pulled the Tigers even with a run-scoring single, but Thames was caught trying to advance to second. Four batters later, Curtis Granderson drove in the go-ahead run, knocking a single up the middle to give Detroit a 5-4 edge.

Morneau gave Minnesota a 3-2 lead in the third with a two-run triple. The MVP candidate added a pair of sacrifice flies later on to give him four RBI on the day and 117 for the season, good for second in the league.

But Detroit finally got to Twins starter Glen Perkins (12-4) in the sixth. The highly touted lefthander had his personal five-game winning streak snapped, giving up five runs - three earned - and nine hits. Perkins struck out four and walked two to suffer his first loss since July 23 against the New York Yankees.

"It is another game where we had a lead; that's a game that we have to win," Perkins said. "We haven't been winning those lately. I think we had a three-run lead, or two-run lead, and we have to hold that. It is important when we score runs, to go out there and put up zeroes. We scored one to stretch the lead a little bit, and then I gave three right back. So, it's frustrating for me and the team as well."

Detroit closer Fernando Rodney worked a scoreless ninth for his 10th save in 14 chances.

"However many we have left, we're going to play hard," Detroit manager Jim Leyland said. "That is what you get paid to do. I'm glad, this is a tough place, against a great team that's right there in the hunt. I t looks like the White Sox and them are in a dogfight right to the end. I am glad we are done with them."