DETROIT (AP) -Pinch-hitter Joe Mauer’s two-run single capped a four-run eighth inning, helping the Minnesota Twins rally for a 5-3 win over the Detroit Tigers on Friday night.
With the bases loaded and two outs, Mauer lined a Joel Zumaya (0-1) pitch into shallow center to give the Twins their first lead of the game.
The Tigers got two singles off Juan Rincon with one out in the eighth, but rookie Mike Rabelo grounded out and Brandon Inge struck out. Rabelo is now 0-for-12 for Detroit, and Inge is hitting .129.
Jesse Crain (1-1), the second of four Twins pitchers, picked up the win after allowing one run in an inning. Joe Nathan pitched a perfect ninth for his seventh save.
Nate Robertson allowed three runs and five hits in seven-plus innings for the Tigers, who led 2-0 after six innings.
Justin Morneau homered for the Twins on the first pitch of the seventh.
Rangers 5, Blue Jays 3
TORONTO (AP) – Sammy Sosa hit his 595th career home run, and Mark Teixeira and Brad Wilkerson both had two-run shots for Texas.
Sosa followed Teixeira’s two-run drive in the third with a shot to center against Blue Jays starter Josh Towers (1-3). It was the seventh home run of the season for Sosa and his first hit in 11 career at-bats against Towers.
Teixeira and Sosa combined for the Rangers’ first back-to-back home runs of the season.
Akinori Otsuka struck out the side in the ninth for his third save in as many chances.
Robinson Tejada (3-1) gave up three runs and five hits in 5 1-3 innings for Texas.
Lyle Overbay and Adam Lind homered for the Blue Jays.
Indians 5, Orioles 4
CLEVELAND (AP) – Grady Sizemore hit an inside-the-park home run, Jake Westbrook got his first win in five starts and the Indians won their sixth straight game.
Westbrook (1-2) won for the first time since signing a three-year, $33 million contract extension April 13. He allowed three runs and six hits over 6 1-3 innings, struck out five and walked one.
Joe Borowski struck out the side in the ninth for his ninth save in 10 chances.
Steve Trachsel (1-2) went 5 2-3 innings for Baltimore, allowing two runs and five hits.
Miguel Tejada hit a two-out RBI single in the first for the Orioles, who have lost five straight. It was Tejada’s 1,103rd consecutive game, tying Hall of Fame shortstop Joe Sewell for the sixth-longest streak in history. Sewell did it for Cleveland from Sept. 13, 1922, through April 30, 1930.
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