Major League Baseball

Twins post big rally to ruin Verlander's gem

Published May. 14, 2009 9:30 p.m. ET

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Joe Crede capped another Minnesota comeback with a two-run, two-out single in a six-run seventh inning that ruined Justin Verlander's strong start and sent the Twins past the Detroit Tigers 6-5 on Thursday to finish a three-game sweep.

Crede's blooper into shallow center against struggling reliever Zach Miner, who walked Michael Cuddyer to load the bases, put the Twins ahead about 14 1/2 hours after his grand slam in the 13th ended Wednesday night's game.

After a five-run, two-out rally in the sixth by the Tigers against starter Scott Baker, Minnesota's bullpen held up. Craig Breslow (1-1) got five outs, Matt Guerrier got one and Joe Nathan notched his sixth save with a perfect ninth.

Verlander struck out a career-high 13, fanning Crede on a high heater to start the seventh, but he needed 122 pitches to get through 6 1-3 innings and was removed for Bobby Seay (0-1) after a single and a walk.

Matt Tolbert's walk forced in the first run, Joe Mauer knocked in another with a grounder and Justin Morneau cut the lead to 5-3 on a sharp single. Jason Kubel's double to right-center bounced over the wall and pulled Minnesota within one, prompting Tigers manager Jim Leyland to summon Miner.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire drew his first ejection of the season for arguing with plate umpire Paul Nauert during Cuddyer's at-bat, claiming that Miner's second pitch clipped Cuddyer. TV replays didn't show it, but the interruption couldn't have helped Miner's focus in a crucial at-bat.

The Tigers used five relievers during a nearly five-hour game the night before. With Juan Rincon recently designated for assignment and Nate Robertson hurt, Leyland was ready to use infielder Ramon Santiago to pitch the 14th if necessary. Asked before Thursday's game who was available in his bullpen, Leyland quipped: "Verlander. Verlander. Verlander. Verlander."

He did his part, until running into trouble in the seventh. The right-hander has struck out 11 or more in three straight starts.

Baker faced the minimum through five, but he was beat up in the sixth.

Santiago doubled for the game's first run, and a bouncer up the middle by Magglio Ordonez drove in two more. Baker hung his head and jogged slowly behind the plate to back up a potential throw. Then after Jeff Larish walked to load the bases, Clete Thomas hit a two-run single to stretch the lead to five.

Coming off seven shutout innings last weekend against Seattle, Baker finished the sixth but allowed seven hits against four strikeouts and wasn't able to save the bullpen as much as the Twins wanted.

Notes: Leyland held starting C Gerald Laird out of the lineup for the second straight day. The manager wondered aloud Wednesday whether he was playing Laird too much, describing his struggles as "beating his head against the wall." Laird and backups Dane Sardinha and Matt Treanor, who is out following hip surgery, are batting a combined .159 this season. Laird entered in the seventh when Sardinha left with an injury to his right hand. ... Normally the DH, Kubel played LF for Delmon Young, who was bothered by a migraine headache. Young was lying down with the lights off in the trainer's room before the game. ... 2B umpire Ed Rapuano left the field briefly in the early innings to receive treatment on a sty in his eye, but returned soon after.

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