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Tigers hand Price ball in rubber match with Twins

Sep 17, 2014 - 2:42 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - David Price goes after his second straight win and tries to help the Detroit Tigers pad their American League Central lead on Wednesday when they play the rubber match of a three-game series with the Minnesota Twins at Target Field.

Price is just 3-3 since being acquired from Tampa Bay at the non-waiver trade deadline, but was on point Friday in a win against Cleveland, as he allowed just a run and struck out seven in 7 2/3 innings to improve to 14-11 overall to go along with a 3.26 ERA.

"I know the stuff that I possess out there on the mound is good enough to get teams out, it's good enough to be dominant," Price said. "I just want to be able to pitch as deep as possible into the game."

Price is 4-2 with a 2.34 ERA in nine games (8 starts) against the Twins.

Detroit had its five-game winning streak stopped on Tuesday, as Aaron Hicks' two-out, infield single in the bottom of the ninth scored the winning run in Minnesota's 4-3 victory.

After J.D. Martinez launched a go-ahead three-run shot in the top of the ninth off Glen Perkins (4-3), things unraveled for the AL Central leaders.

Joe Nathan (4-4) walked Trevor Plouffe with one out, and his pinch-runner Doug Bernier came all the way home on a double by Kurt Suzuki which bounced over the outstretched glove of Tigers outfielder Ezequiel Carrera. Pinch- runner Chris Herrmann moved to third, and Hicks' chopper landed well behind and to the left of second base. Detroit shortstop Andrew Romine fielded it cleanly but his throw to first was late, with Herrmann crossing home to end the contest.

"We've already talked to 'Zeke' about it," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. "He was trying his tail off, which is good, but the smart play there is, if you're not sure you're going to catch it, you contain it and keep it at first and second. I'm sure for a split second he thought he could catch the ball. It just didn't work out."

Kennys Vargas ended up 3-for-4 with a solo homer and two runs scored, while Suzuki knocked in two for the Twins, who won for the second time in their last seven.

Torii Hunter ended up with two hits and a run scored for the Tigers, while Victor Martinez hit safely twice. Detroit's division lead remained at 1 1/2 games, after Kansas City lost to the White Sox.

Minnesota will rely on righty Kyle Gibson, who is winless in his last five starts and is coming off his worst outing of the season. Gibson lasted just three innings in a loss to Cleveland last Thursday, as he was rocked for seven runs and seven hits and fell to 11-11 with a 4.58 ERA.

"It just seemed like everything I was throwing up there, they were hitting," said Gibson, who has a 7.92 ERA over his last five starts.

In his 11 wins this season Gibson has pitched to a 1.07 ERA, opposed to a 12.21 mark in his losses.

"Well, it's just part of growing up, I guess," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "That's what we're looking at -- part of growing up."

Gibson is 1-2 in three starts versus the Tigers with a 7.24 ERA.

Detroit has split its 14 matchups with the Twins this season.