The Twins defeated the Tigers 8-6 Tuesday night to win their 5th straight game.  The Twins scored 5 runs in the 3rd inning before Detroit tied the game with 3 runs in the 4th.  Minnesota broke the tie with a sacrifice fly from Ryan Doumit in the 7th inning.  Joe Mauer added a solo homerun in the 9th.  Mauer was 3-5 with 3 runs scored, Josh Willingham was 2-3 with a homerun and 3 RBIs and Trevor Plouffe added a 2-run homerun.

Nick Blackburn threw just 4 innings with 8 hits and 6 earned runs allowed.  Jeff Gray threw 2 scoreless innings of relief to get the win and improve to 5-0.  Glen Perkins threw a scoreless 9th inning for his 4th save.

The Twins are 35-45 and are now 8 games back of the White Sox for first place in the American League Central.  Minnesota will play at Detroit again tonight at 6:05, pregame on WJON at 5:35.  Lefthander Brian Duensing will start for the Twins and righthander Justin Verlander gets the ball for the Tigers.

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