Twins 3, Tigers 2
MINNEAPOLIS -- Eduardo Escobar's two-run, ninth-inning double lifted the Minnesota Twins to a 3-2 win over the Detroit Tigers, whose closer-by-committee approach failed Wednesday at Target Field.
Trevor Plouffe drew a leadoff walk against Tigers right-hander Joaquin Benoit, who was then replaced by left-hander Phil Coke (0-1). After a flyout, Brian Dozier singled, advancing pinch runner Jamey Carroll to third base.
Escobar then doubled to left-center, scoring both runners.
The Twins entered the ninth inning with just three hits.
Glen Perkins (1-0) threw a scoreless inning to earn the win. The Twins evened the season-opening series at a game apiece heading into the Thursday afternoon final.
The two starting pitchers, Detroit's Anibal Sanchez and Minnesota's Kevin Correia were effective.
Sanchez allowed only two hits in his five scoreless innings, striking out five. Correia pitched seven innings, scattered seven hits and gave up two runs.
Detroit led 2-0 before the Twins scored a run in the seventh on another rally that began with a Plouffe walk. The Minnesota third baseman stole second, then scored on pinch hitter Wilkin Ramirez's double down the right field line against right-hander Brayan Villarreal, who replaced lefty Darin Downs with one out.
The Tigers jumped in front with single runs in the third and fifth innings.
Correia retired the first two batters in the third before walking Austin Jackson with a 3-2 count. Torii Hunter followed with a single to right, and Cabrera hit a seeing-eye ground ball that squirted between third and short to score Jackson.
Detroit tacked on another run in the fifth. Omar Infante singled, and Hunter and Cabrera got their second hits of the game, Cabrera collecting his second RBI.
NOTES: After an Opening Day temperature of 35 degrees, the Tigers and Twins got a break in Game 2 at Target Field. It was a balmy 46 degrees at first pitch Wednesday. ... Hunter's two hits leave him 10 shy of the 2,000 mark. ... The Twins announced that RHP Colt De Vries' first start was pushed back to Sunday after tightness returned to his forearm. RHP Vance Worley will make his second start of the season Saturday against the Orioles in Baltimore.
