Twins top Tigers 6-4 with 4-run 4th inning
DETROIT — Trevor Plouffe hit a two-run single during Minnesota’s four-run fourth inning, helping the Twins beat the Detroit Tigers 6-4 Monday night.
Minnesota had six singles in all during its big rally as it earned its fourth consecutive win to lift Ron Gardenhire to 900 career victories.
Anthony Swarzak (2-4) picked up the win, allowing a hit and one walk in 2 2-3 innings of relief. Alex Burnett allowed only one walk in 1 1-3 innings and Glen Perkins pitched the ninth for his third save in five chances in place of injured closer Matt Capps.
Detroit was trying to get back to .500 for the first time since May 15.
Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder hit one-out singles in the ninth, but their teammates couldn’t bring them home. Delmon Young hit a long fly for the second out and Brennan Boesch struck out to end the game.
Doug Fister (1-6) gave up six runs and eight hits in four-plus innings, leaving the Tigers with a five-run deficit. He faded after a strong start that included striking out the side in the first and holding the Twins without a hit for 3 1-3 innings.
Cabrera hit a two-run double and Young had a sacrifice fly in the fifth to make it 6-4, but that was it for Detroit.
The Tigers had a chance to get closer in the seventh, but Burnett struck out pinch-hitter Boesch on three pitches with two on to end the inning.
The Twins built a cushion with six runs over the fourth and fifth innings. Josh Willingham and Ryan Doumit also had RBI singles in the fourth, and Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau each singled in a run in the fifth to make it 6-1.
Minnesota starter Liam Hendriks failed to finish the fifth inning and remains without a win in 12 career starts. He faced four batters in the fifth and gave up a leadoff single, a four-pitch walk, Cabrera’s double and bounced a pitch before it reached the plate to walk Fielder and end his outing.
Minnesota matched its season-best winning streak from May 16-19 that included two wins at Detroit. The Tigers had won five of eight to pull within a victory of a .500 record for the eighth time.
NOTES: The Twins are 13-13 within the AL Central and are 11 games under .500 outside of the division. ... Fielder was picked Monday for the All-Star home run derby. ... Burnett has not allowed a run in his last 14 games. ... Cabrera had three hits and three RBIs. ... The Twins hope Capps, on the DL with right shoulder inflammation, can start a rehab assignment during next week’s All-Star break.