A late surge last month inched the Minnesota Twins closer to the top spot in the AL Central. Behind a successful stretch of their own, the Detroit Tigers have also made up ground in the same race.
The Twins will try to take a third straight series over the Tigers on Wednesday in the conclusion of the teams' three-game set at the Metrodome.Minnesota (46-38) posted a season-best 10-game winning streak from June 17-27 to pull within one-half game of the division-leading Chicago White Sox. After splitting their last four games, though, the Twins are now 2 1/2 games off the pace.
Detroit (42-41), meanwhile, has won 16 of its last 20 games and is six games back of the division lead.
That proximity in the AL Central appears to have heightened tensions within the series, which opened Monday with a 5-4 Tigers victory in which home plate umpire James Hoye issued warnings to both dugouts after some questionable pitches.
Those distractions didn't extend into Tuesday's game, however, as the Twins came away with a 6-4 win. Craig Monroe - a former Tiger - hit a three-run homer for Minnesota, which has won its previous two series with Detroit this season.
After Scott Baker gave up three runs in six innings, three Minnesota relievers limited the Tigers to one run over the final three frames.
"There are a few of those teams in this league (where no lead is safe)," manager Ron Gardenhire told the Twins' official Web site. "Detroit is definitely one of them. They just have so many professional hitters and players and guys with a lot of at-bats in this league. They just keep coming at you."
The Tigers' Marcus Thames had a homer and drove in two runs, but Curtis Granderson went 0-for-5 after going 29-for-62 (.468) with a homer and eight RBIs in his previous 16 games.
Granderson has hit .305 (60-for-197) with 11 homers and 27 RBIs in 55 career games against the Twins, but hasn't faced Wednesday's starter Nick Blackburn (6-4, 4.05 ERA).
The Twins have won five of the right-hander's last six starts, though he is just 2-1 with a 4.98 ERA in that span. He escaped without a decision on Friday despite giving up six runs and nine hits in 4 2-3 innings of a 7-6 home victory over Milwaukee.
"I was way out of rhythm," Blackburn told the Twins' official Web site. "I couldn't find anything tonight."
Blackburn hasn't pitched well in two career starts - both on the road - against the Tigers, allowing 10 runs - eight earned - and 15 hits in 7 2-3 innings.
Minnesota has hit .307 with 13 homers over the last 14 games, but that offense has yet to face Tigers rookie Eddie Bonine (2-0, 3.98).
The right-hander, who will make his fourth start and first against an AL team after a successful interleague run, is coming off of his best outing. Bonine limited Colorado to one run and five hits over eight innings in a 7-1 home victory on Friday.
Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera, who left Monday's game with a tight left hip flexor, pinch-hit on Tuesday. His status for Wednesday's finale is unclear.
