Tigers 7, Twins 6
DETROIT -- Prince Fielder's single off the pitcher's glove into short right field with one out in the eighth inning scored Omar Infante from second base and gave Detroit a 7-6 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Thursday night.
The Tigers extended the Twins' losing streak to nine games.
Jose Valverde picked up his fifth save while working in three straight games for the first time this season. Joaquin Benoit (1-0) pitched a three-batter eighth to pick up the win.
In the eighth, Infante, whose single opened a three-run seventh that tied the score, bounced a base hit to left and was sacrificed to second by Torii Hunter. That opened up first for an intentional walk to Miguel Cabrera, who hit his 14th home run of the season in the first inning and sixth in a four-game homer streak.
Fielder bounced a 2-1 pitch off the glove of Jared Burton (0-2) and it eluded diving second baseman Brian Dozier and trickled into short right as Infante scooted home with the tiebreaking run. Fielder is now 5 for 5 after a walk to Cabrera during his four-game home run surge.
Infante's leadoff single in the seventh was followed one out later by a careful but unintentional four-pitch walk to Cabrera. Fielder grounded a single up the middle off left-hander Brian Duensing that scored Infante with the first run.
Victor Martinez singled to right center to drive in Cabrera, who crossed the plate for the 1,000th time in his career (20th active player to do so). Jhonny Peralta lined a 3-2 pitch from Burton into the left field corner for an RB I double that made it 6-6. Burton got two straight foul-outs to third to end the inning and preserve the tie.
Josh Willingham's second home run of the game, a solo shot in the seventh, padded the Twins' lead to 6-3.
Cabrera grounded an RBI single up the middle with the bases loaded and two out in the fifth to whittle Minnesota's lead to 5-3.
The Twins got 10 hits off Tigers starter Rick Porcello, with half coming in the third, when Minnesota scored four times to take a 5-2 lead.
Pedro Florimon led off with a single to right, and singles by Jamey Carroll and Joe Mauer brought in the first run. The other three scored on a home run by Willingham, who at that point was 7 for 12 with two home runs lifetime against Porcello.
Detroit got off to a 2-0 start in the first inning when Hunter singled with one out and Cabrera followed with his 14th home run of the season.
Cabrera has hit at least one home run in four straight games with a total of six.
Minnesota came back with a run in the second on Dozier's fielder's choice forceout with runners on first and third and one out. Justin Morneau had doubled and gone to third on a single by Chris Parmelee.
NOTES: Florimon was forced out of the game after the top of the third inning by a right index finger sprain. He was replaced by Eduardo Escobar. ... Detroit C Alex Avila didn't start for the second straight game, as the Tigers hope a brief respite can help him get back on track after his batting average sank to .174. ... New Twins OF/1B Chris Colabello was originally signed by Detroit on March 6, 2006, but released by the Tigers 22 days later. He then played seven seasons of independent ball in the Can-Am league before singing with Minnesota on Feb. 2, 2012. ... Tigers CF Austin Jackson has begun taking treatment for his left hamstring strain. "It doesn't sound like he's home free yet," said manager Jim Leyland, who probably will have Jackson go on a short rehab stint before returning to the active roster. Jackson could come off the disabled list Monday. ... Minnesota is expected to bring up RHP Samuel Deduno on Friday so he can start against Detroit. The Twins will need another starter next week to take the spot formerly occupied by RHP Vance Worley, optioned to the minors after Wednesday's loss at Atlanta. ... Cabrera hit his 197th home run as a Tiger his first time up, placing him 10th on the franchise list with the next player to pass being C Bill Freehan, who had 200 for Detroit.
