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Tigers power past Twins

Sep 10, 2011 - 5:32 AM Detroit, MI (Sports Network) - Alex Avila belted a three-run homer, Ramon Santiago added a two-run shot and Delmon Young had a solo blast, powering the streaking Tigers to a seventh straight win, an 8-4 decision over the Twins.

The longballs helped Brad Penny (10-10) shake off a four-run first inning, while lowering the Tigers' magic number for winning the AL Central to 10.

Detroit, coming off sweeps of the White Sox and Indians, extended its first- place lead to 9 1/2 games over Chicago with its 41st divisional victory.

Kevin Slowey (0-5) was touched for six runs on seven hits in four innings to drop his fifth straight start.

"It's frustrating every time you have a lead that you can't hold," Slowey said. "I know it's tough on our hitters. I feel like I put us back on the eight ball."

The Twins, losers in six of their last seven, actually got off to a fast start by pushing four across in the first. Jason Kubel and Chris Parmelee each had RBI singles, and Danny Valencia found the gap in right for a two-run triple.

Undaunted, Detroit quickly cut the gap to 4-3 when Avila poked an opposite- field homer over the left-field wall in the second inning.

Slowey opened the fourth by plunking Avila, and two batters later Wilson Betemit's line drive into the right-field corner took a generous bounce, allowing Avila to score from first and Betemit to slide in with a triple.

Betemit was able to trot home when Santiago followed with his fifth home run, and Young greeted Kyle Waldrop with a leadoff round-tripper in the fifth.

Penny settled down after his first-inning woes and wound up going five innings, allowing a total of five hits and three walks.

"After the first inning I knew I had to throw zeroes up no matter what," Penny said.

Detroit relievers Daniel Schlereth and Ryan Perry combined for the sixth and seventh innings, Joaquin Benoit stranded a pair in the eighth, and Jose Valverde finished it off in the ninth after Brandon Inge tacked on a sacrifice fly in Detroit's final at-bat.

Game Notes

The game was delayed 51 minutes due to rain...Young is hitting .367 (11- for-30) with two homers and seven RBI in seven games against the Twins, who traded the outfielder in mid-August for a pair of prospects...Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera went 1-for-3 with a walk and has reached base in a career-best 35 straight games...Avila scored three runs...Slowey was 5-0 in his career vs. Detroit coming in...Valencia has a team-high 67 RBI.