Gerald Laird homered in the top of the 13th inning as the Tigers pulled out a wild 10-9 win over the Twins in the finale of a three-game series at Target Field. Casper Wells hit a solo shot in the ninth inning to tie the game at eight for Detroit. Both teams scored a run in the 11th to keep the game going. Jhonny Peralta and Ryan Raburn hit back-to-back shots in a four-run eighth for the Tigers, who overcame 7-3 and 8-7 deficits to salvage the final game. Closer Jose Valverde went the final three innings for Detroit to get the win. Nick Blackburn, the eighth Minnesota pitcher, took the loss. Tigers manager Jim Leyland says his guys battled hard to pull out this win.
Minnesota had its AL Central lead trimmed to three-and-a-half games over the idle Chicago White Sox. The Tigers head to Kansas City for 3 games this weekend.
Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera left Thursday's game against Minnesota with left biceps tendinitis. Cabrera did not return to the field in the bottom of the sixth inning, and is considered day-to-day. Don Kelly shifted from left field to first base, while Casper Wells entered the game in left, batting in Cabrera's spot. Cabrera went 0-for-3 with one RBI in the contest. Cabrera entered the game hitting .338 with 33 home runs and 107 RBI.
