Tue Apr 15 22:16:48 2008

Comment | Email | Print

Cabrera's late HR lifts Tigers over Twins

---

Detroit, MI (Sports Network) - Miguel Cabrera's two-run homer in the eighth inning proved to be the difference-maker, as the Detroit Tigers rallied to down the Minnesota Twins, 6-5, to complete a two-game sweep at Comerica Park.

Trailing 4-3 in the eighth, the Tigers scored three times to grab a 6-4 lead. With two outs and a runner on third, Magglio Ordonez laced a double down the right-field line and came around to score on Cabrera's home run. Todd Jones yielded a run in the ninth, but managed to nail down his third save of the season.

Nate Robertson started for the Tigers, but left in the seventh inning due to left lat tightness. He allowed four runs on six hits with a walk and five strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings. He was relieved by Aquilino Lopez, who tossed a scoreless inning. The comeback made a winner of out reliever Clay Rapada (1-0), who retired the last two batters in the eighth.

Ordonez, Gary Sheffield and Carlos Guillen each hit solo home runs for the Tigers, who recorded back-to-back wins for the first time this season.

Scott Baker gave up three runs on five hits over seven strong innings, but came away with a no decision. Jesse Crain (0-1) surrendered three runs on two hits in the ill-fated eighth.

Joe Mauer finished 2-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI for Minnesota, which has dropped three straight. Justin Morneau hit a two-run homer, while Craig Monroe went 2-for-4 with a run batted in.

The Twins grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the first inning. Carlos Gomez smoked a ground-rule double to begin the game and quickly stole third. Following a walk to Brendan Harris, Gomez crossed the plate when Mauer grounded out. Detroit knotted the score in the home-half on Sheffield's first home run of the season.

Minnesota reclaimed a 2-1 lead in the third when Mauer lofted a two-out RBI single to left field.

In the fifth, the Tigers had two men in scoring position, but Baker managed to wiggle out of trouble. Guillen hammered the first pitch he saw into right field for a leadoff single and Edgar Renteria followed with a line drive single just out of the reach of Harris. Ivan Rodriguez advanced the runners into scoring position with a slow roller to the shortstop, but Baker got Marcus Thames to fly out to shallow center and fanned Clete Thomas to end the threat.

Morneau crushed his fourth home run of the season -- a two-run blast to right -- to give the Twins a 4-1 lead in the sixth, but Ordonez responded in the bottom half, jumping on a first-pitch changeup and sending it over the wall in left.

The Tigers narrowed the deficit to 4-3 in the seventh on Guillen's third home run of the season.

Game Notes

The league celebrated Jackie Robinson Day. The Twins had five players wear 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson: pitchers Matt Guerrier and Livan Hernandez as well as outfielders Delmon Young, Denard Span and Monroe. The Twins first base coach Jerry White also wore number 42. Rodriguez, Sheffield, Thames were among the players for Detroit who donned the number 42...Gomez's first- inning double snapped an 0-for-15 skid...Mauer's single in the third also broke an 0-for-15 slide...Jones registered the 304th save of his career...Detroit opens a two-game set in Cleveland on Wednesday, while Minnesota begins a two-game set at home against Tampa Bay.