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Pelfrey, Twins close out set with Tigers

May 14, 2015 - 12:40 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Minnesota Twins turn to Mike Pelfrey on Thursday afternoon when they try to secure a series victory over the Detroit Tigers in the finale of a three-game set.

Pelfrey is unbeaten on the season for the Twins, who are 5-1 in his six starts.

The right-hander himself is 3-0 with a 2.62 earned run average and has not allowed more than two runs in any of his past five outings. That includes Friday's 9-3 victory at Cleveland as he yielded a pair of runs on six hits and two walks over a season high-tying seven innings of work.

"This offense is clicking, so I'm just trying to go out there and eat up as many innings as I can," said Pelfrey.

Pelfrey, who did not strike out a batter in his most recent start, is 3-3 with a 3.98 ERA in seven career starts against the Tigers. That includes a 3-2 win on April 28, when he was charged with two runs -- one earned -- and fanned seven over seven innings.

Anibal Sanchez will face the Twins for the third time this season having split the previous two decisions. He is 3-3 with a 2.47 ERA in 12 career matchups in this series, all but of those starts.

Sanchez opened his campaign with an 11-0 victory over the Twins in which he hurled 6 2/3 scoreless innings of three-hit ball. However, he has allowed three or more runs in five of six outings since, a span that includes a tough- luck loss in Minnesota in which he gave up three runs over seven innings.

The right-hander followed up that loss with a victory in Kansas City, but dropped a rematch to the Royals on Saturday. He was charged with six runs -- five earned -- on nine hits and three walks over six innings, falling to 2-4 on the year with a 5.44 ERA.

The Twins evened this series with Wednesday night's 6-2 victory that featured a five-run third inning highlighted by Joe Mauer's three-run triple.

Torii Hunter hit a solo homer and scored twice for the Twins, who snapped a two-game skid and won for the 10th time in 13 games. Trevor Plouffe and Kurt Suzuki had one RBI apiece.

"We're playing well as a team. We all feel good," said Hunter. "That's a hard team to beat over there. We got six runs but I was like, 'That's not enough. We have to try to get more.'"

Minnesota starter Ricky Nolasco allowed two unearned runs on four hits while striking out seven and walking three over 5 1/3 innings.

Yoenis Cespedes and Nick Castellanos each drove in a run for the Tigers, who have lost three of four. Kyle Lobstein gave up six runs on seven hits over 2 1/3 innings.

"I'm letting the game get too fast, not slowing it down," said Lobstein. "I didn't do a good job of stepping off and trying to gather myself and think a little more instead of just throwing."

Detroit outfielder J.D. Martinez left the game with lower back tightness and is day-to-day. He had two hits before exiting and also homered on Tuesday.

This is the third series of the season between these two teams, and the Tigers have won six of the eight games so far.