Twins play for pride, beat Tigers 10-4 and 2-1
Published 8:34 am Monday, September 24, 2012
DETROIT — The Minnesota Twins played the Detroit Tigers with only pride at stake.
That was enough.
Jamey Carroll hit an RBI single in the 10th inning, and Minnesota beat Detroit 2-1 Sunday night, winning both games of a doubleheader to prevent the Tigers from at least tying the Chicago White Sox atop the AL Central.
“It’s still fun and we’re still hungry,” Jared Burton said after retiring the heart of the Tigers’ lineup in order in the ninth inning.
Chicago has a one-game lead in the division despite dropping its fifth in a row on Sunday, a 4-1 loss to the Los Angeles Angels.
Detroit closer Jose Valverde (3-4) allowed pinch-hitter Denard Span to lead off the 10th inning with a single and gave up a one-out, run-scoring hit to Carroll.
Burton (2-1) entered in the ninth and got Miguel Cabrera to pop out, quieting an “M-V-P!” chant from the crowd, and struck out Prince Fielder.