DETROIT - Whatever longtime Twins minor league coach Rick Knapp told Edwin Jackson, it didn't work.
Jackson, mostly silencing Minnesota hitters for much of the night, threw two pitches after Knapp's seventh-inning visit to the mound - one that Joe Crede belted for a tiebreaking double, the other that Michael Cuddyer smacked for a two-run triple off the wall. The Twins ended up scoring five runs in the inning, and coasted to a 7-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers in Comerica Park. Jackson, acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays last winter, struck out seven Twins and allowed only four hits and one run through six innings. But he was outpitched by Francisco Liriano, who won his first game of the season with a strong 7 1/3-inning performance.
Liriano (1-4) walked three batters but struck out nine and allowed only four hits. He carried a shutout into the sixth inning, but left a 2-0 fastball over the plate to Miguel Cabrera, who hammered it more than 400 feet over the center-field fence.
Matt Guerrier got the final five outs for the Twins , who snapped a two-game losing streak.
Jackson seemed to be rolling along entering the seventh inning, but he immediately got into trouble when Justin Morneau grounded a single to right field, then walked Jason Kubel. Knapp visited Jackson to talk it over - and things got ugly fast for the right-hander.
Crede's double put the Twins ahead, and Cuddyer - who drove in the Twins' first run with a two-out single in the second inning - launched a ball over center fielder Curtis Granderson's head. By the time Granderson recovered the ball, Cuddyer was on his way to third.
After Delmon Young was hit by a pitch, the Twins loaded the bases for Alexi Casilla, who lined a soft single to left, scoring two more runs.
