MLB playoff standings 2014: Tigers fall to Twins despite late rally

J.D. Martinez hit a three-run homer in the top of the ninth inning to give the Tigers a one-run lead over the Twins on Tuesday, but Minnesota answered with a pair of runs against Detroit closer Joe Nathan in the bottom half of the inning en route to a 4-3 walk-off win.

The Tigers, who entered Tuesday with a 1½-game lead over the Royals in the AL Central, were unable to give Rick Porcello any run support until Martinez's timely long ball. Porcello allowed only two runs in eight innings and really only had trouble with Kennys Vargas, who homered and tripled as part of a three-hit performance against the Tigers' 25-year-old right-hander.

Ricky Nolasco pitched a rare gem for the Twins, allowing only five hits and a walk in eight scoreless innings before Perkins served up the two-out homer to Martinez.

• The Royals failed to take advantage of an opportunity to pick up a game on the Tigers. Part of that has to do with Billy Butler's lack of offensive production:

Nori Aoki has seven hits in the last two days. Billy Butler has seven hits in the last 25 days.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) September 17, 2014

AL East champions. #WeWontStop http://t.co/JZuERuNhTh

— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) September 17, 2014

Jayson Werth and his beard are loving everything about this. #Nationals pic.twitter.com/rFar0VfBcD

— MLB (@MLB) September 17, 2014