• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Twins dump Tigers in opener of day-night twinbill

Sep 23, 2012 - 11:49 PM Detroit, MI (Sports Network) - Joe Mauer went 3-for-4 and drove in four runs to help the Minnesota Twins take a 10-4 win over the Detroit Tigers in the opener of a day-night doubleheader.

Ben Revere went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and an RBI while Eduardo Escobar added two hits, an RBI and a run scored for the Twins, who had lost five of seven coming in.

Scott Diamond (12-8) gave up two runs on four hits over seven innings to get the win.

"Diamond went out there and we've said all along that if your starter gives you good innings and keeps it close, you can win ball games," said Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire. "He didn't let up any big innings and stayed ahead of the hitters most of the night."

Max Scherzer (16-7) was charged with three runs on six hits in five-plus innings for the Tigers, who have dropped two of three. Avisail Garcia hit a two-run single in the loss.

Detroit came into the game just one-half game behind Chicago in the AL Central and the finale of this three-game set will be played later on Sunday.

"We needed to win this ball game, that's just plain and simple," said Scherzer. "That's a good team over there and we respect them, but we should be winning these games."

The game stayed scoreless until the fourth inning when Detroit took the lead. With one out, Omar Infante singled and rounded the bases when Miguel Cabrera followed with a double. Delmon Young later singled home Cabrera for a 2-0 lead.

Minnesota, though, went ahead in the sixth inning. Revere tripled to start the frame and quickly scored on a Mauer single. After a double by Josh Willingham, Phil Coke took the mound and Justin Morneau greeted him with a single to plate Mauer. A walk to Ryan Doumit then loaded the bases.

Brayan Villarreal became the third pitcher of the inning for the Tigers and Trevor Plouffe scored one with a single. A wild pitch by Villarreal scored another run and Pedro Florimon's fielder's choice scored one more for a 5-2 lead.

Mauer's sacrifice fly in the seventh made it a 6-2 contest.

In the eighth, the Twins padded their lead on RBI singles from Escobar and Revere, along with a two-run triple by Mauer for a 10-2 advantage.

Garcia's two-run single in the ninth accounted for the final score.

Game Notes

Detroit still leads the season series, 8-6 ... Minnesota hit 6-for-15 with runners in scoring position ... Diamond moved to 1-2 in four games against Detroit ... Scherzer fell to 3-2 in nine starts against the Twins.