Offensive middleweights Detroit and Minnesota slugged it out, with the Twins winning it 14-10 in 13 innings.
Things started out scerenely enough. Justin Morneau homered in the first for his ninth of the season, and after three innings the Twins led 3-0. Dontrelle Willis was chased early, lasting just four and two thirds, and Minnesota seemed on their way. Then the skies opened.
The Tigers returned fire, scoring nine runs through the middle innings and led 9-7 through seven full. Glen Perkins' good start turned sour, and he lasted just five and a third while being charged with five runs. He missed his spots and walked four, and walking that many hitters in those few innings is rarely a recipe for success. Jason Kubel's two-run blast in the bottom of the eighth bailed out Perkins and his bullpen, pushing the clubs to a 9-9 tie that would last another five innings.
Curtis Granderson's one-out triple in the top of the 13th off Jesse Crain was an auspicious start to the final frame. The eventual run, the result of a pure lack of fundamentals via a balk, was as embarassing as it was infuriating and demoralizing. It gave the Tigers a 10-9 lead, with Kubel-Span-Tolbert due up in the bottom of the inning.
Kubel led off with a single to get things started quickly. Nick Punto came on to pinch run for the bearded wonder, advancing to second on Denard Span's sacrifice bunt. Matt Tolbert's single scored Punto from second, and just like that the game was tied.
Joe Mauer then grounded out before Morneau was intentionally walked; Michael Cuddyer received a four-pitch walk of the unintentional variety. With the bases loaded, Joe Crede sat on a hanging breaking ball and pulled it into the left field seats.
And the crowd went wild.
It's nice to see the Twins come out on the winning end of games like this, it seems like it hasn't happened often enough this season. The win puts the team back at evens, at 17-17, and hopefully this nice little winning streak can continue with a victory this afternoon to seal the sweep. See you then!
Stars of the Game
#3: Justin Morneau (2-for-6, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB)
#2: Jason Kubel (2-for-3, HR, R, 2 RBI)
#1: Joe Crede (2-for-7, HR, R, 4 RBI)