The Twins aren't saying goodbye to the Metrodome just yet.
Jason Kubel hit two three-run homers and Delmon Young added a pair of solo shots powering Minnesota to a 13-4 win Sunday over Kansas City and into a one-game playoff for the second consecutive season, this time against Detroit.
The game will be held at the Dome.
Following an impressive 5-4 win over AL CY Young favorite Zach Grienke Saturday, in which the Twins blew a 4-0 lead before Michael Cuddyer won it in the bottom of the eighth with a blast into the left field bleachers, Minnesota pounded the Royals for 13 runs on an efficient 11 hits, five of which left the park.
Walks to Denard Span and Joe Mauer set up Kubel's first homer. Young's dinger two batters later gave the Twins an early 4-0 after one inning.
And the clouts kept coming.
Kubel went deep in the third after an Orlando Cabrera double and another Mauer free pass.
Kindled by Young's second yardsale and concluded with Cuddyer's second homer in as many days, Minnesota scored at least one run from the fifth inning on.
Kansas City rallied back from an 8-1 deficit, scoring three runs in the top of the sixth and even bringing the tying run to the plate, but Rob Mahay got Billy Butler to strike out swinging to end the threat.
Earlier in the day the Tigers ended a three game slide with a strong performance from ace Justin Verlander, defeating Chicago 5-3.
Scott Baker will face rookie Rick Porcello in Tuesday's one-game playoff.
NOTES:
Cuddyer's dinger was his 10th in September/October, tying him for second on the Twins' all-time list for most long balls hit during those months. Harmon Killebrew once hit 11.
Delmon Young is hitting .529 (9-for-17) in four October games with three home runs and 10 RBI. Since becoming an everyday player on Sept. 7 (24 games), he has batted .347.
Mauer, although his average fell to .363 with an 0-for-3 afternoon, will win his third AL batting title in the past four seasons.
Kubel surpassed century mark for RBI with his second moonshot. He sits at 102.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Tigers Huge Choke Artists
Up seven games three and a half weeks ago, Detroit seemed destined to reach the postseason.
Up three games with four to play Thursday, the Tigers needed to beat Minnesota once more to seal the deal and set up a playoff matchup with the New York Yankees.
They choked -- just like in 2006 when Minnesota claimed the division from them on the regular season's final day.
No team has ever lost the division in the regular season's final week when sitting in first place May 10.
With Minnesota playing its best baseball right now, having won 15 of 19 games, the Tigers could become the first with another loss Sunday.
They'll look to ace Justin Verlander to extend the season at least one more game.
Verlander shut down the White Sox the last time he faced it, giving up an unearned run while going the distance. For his career, however, he is just 4-9 with an ERA barely under 5 against the South Side.
Up three games with four to play Thursday, the Tigers needed to beat Minnesota once more to seal the deal and set up a playoff matchup with the New York Yankees.
They choked -- just like in 2006 when Minnesota claimed the division from them on the regular season's final day.
No team has ever lost the division in the regular season's final week when sitting in first place May 10.
With Minnesota playing its best baseball right now, having won 15 of 19 games, the Tigers could become the first with another loss Sunday.
They'll look to ace Justin Verlander to extend the season at least one more game.
Verlander shut down the White Sox the last time he faced it, giving up an unearned run while going the distance. For his career, however, he is just 4-9 with an ERA barely under 5 against the South Side.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
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