Recap: Late Inning Tease, Tigers Win 8-6

Despite coming back from a six-run deficit, the Twins would lose their 87th game on Monday night. The Tigers middle of the order beat up on the Twins, going 10-19, scoring six-runs and drive in four. Max Scherzer started for the Tigers and was damn-near perfect through five innings. The one blemish on Scherzer, was when Ozzie Arcia made a baseball disappear again into the abandoned left field bleachers in the 5th. We were told by the FSN -North crew that Anthony Swarzak is scared of others "loose hair" as he is starting baseball games. Swarzak entered  with a 5.66 career ERA in 29 career starts. He finished the day surrendering six-earned runs on eleven hits over 4.1.

Minnesota's offense would scored three more in the sixth, as Joe Mauer drove in Danny Santana and Brian Dozier for two of his four RBI.Trevor Plouffe hit a sacrifice fly scoring Mauer and all of the sudden it was just a two-run game. Ryan Presley would relieve AJ Achter who both were solid, combining for 3.1 innings of scoreless baseball. Detroit's bullpen in the 8th inning would, well, be the classic Detroit Tigers bullpen. The Tigers loaded the bases and needed four different pitchers to get out of the inning. With the bases loaded, Joe Mauer fought him a 2nd nine hit at-bat and drove in Santana and Dozier for second time tying the game.

Sadly, Casey Fien has been REAALLLYYYYY BAD since the break and he delivered another gut punch in the ninth inning. He gave up consecutive homers to Torii Hunter and Miguel Cabrera and was then relieved for his successor Michael Tonkin who struck out the back-back hitters ending the inning. Despite having Joakim Soria's number this season, Minnesota was not as fortunate this time and dropped the opener of their final 2014 homestand.

Studs

Danny Santana

Joe Mauer

Duds

Casey Fien

Anthony Swarzak