Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Justin Morneau finished 2-for-4 with a homer and two RBI as Minnesota dispatched Detroit, 5-1, in the rubber match of a three-game set from Target Field.
Kevin Slowey Effective Through Six As Twins Extend AL Central Lead
Orlando Hudson and Delmon Young also knocked in a run each for the Twins, who took the final two games in the series and have won three of five overall.
"We weren't worried, we didn't feel pressure to win the series but it's like being in the playoffs a little early," Young said of their rivalry with the Tigers. "Now we have to worry about this upcoming series."
Kevin Slowey (8-5) worked six innings for the win, yielding four hits and one run with four strikeouts. The right-hander was forced to exit the game after the sixth due to taking a Magglio Ordonez hit off his right ankle.
Miguel Cabrera drove in the lone run for the Tigers, who have now dropped four of six.
Andrew Oliver (0-2) was charged in defeat with eight hits and five runs -- two earned -- over six full frames. He fanned six and walked two.
Minnesota picked up a run in the home fourth as Hudson led off with a single and scored on Morneau’s one-out double to make it a 1-1 game.
The Twins forged ahead for good in the fifth, as Oliver's throwing error on a bunt from Drew Butera allowed him to reach after a single from Nick Punto. After Denard Span's successful sacrifice, Hudson's fly to center plated Punto. Young then singled home Butera before being thrown out at second.
Morneau led off the sixth with a blast to make it 4-1 for Minnesota, then Jason Kubel doubled and Michael Cuddyer's single plus a Johnny Damon fielding error provided a four-run edge.
Brian Duensing held the Tigers at bay in the seventh, then Matt Guerrier and Jose Mijares combined for a scoreless eighth. Jon Rauch then left runners on second and third in the ninth by fanning Brandon Inge swinging to end the game.
Detroit hit the scoreboard in the fourth as Ordonez singled with two outs and Cabrera followed by doubling him home.
“It’s a good team over there, but we didn’t execute so we got beat,” said an audibly tense Tigers manager Jim Leyland of the series. “Before it was because it was the Metrodome, now it’s this new place. They played better than us in two of the three, we played them better in one of the three. We gave them extra outs and you can’t do that.”
Minnesota has won six of nine over Detroit this season, including a 5-1 record at home...Slowey improved to 20-7 in Minneapolis since 2008...It was just the sixth time in 16 starts this season that Slowey pitched at least six innings...The Twins remain home to start a four-game set with Tampa Bay on Thursday, and the Tigers host Seattle for three starting on Friday.
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