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eff Manship's first major league win and Young's grand slam were enough to help the Twins hang on for a 10-7 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Friday night that cut Detroit's lead to one game.
The Twins and Tigers each have two games remaining.
"Last year with three games to go we actually had a lead, so we messed that one up," Young said. "This year we're hoping the Tigers mess up."
Young had five RBIs, beginning with his first career slam in the first inning against Lenny DiNardo (0-3) that launched the Twins to their 14th win in 18 games. Manship (1-1) pitched 5 1-3 innings.
The crowd of 40,223 roared for the "F" that appeared next to the Chicago-Detroit score on the videoboard above right field, an 8-0 win for the White Sox. That increased the possibility of a pennant race lasting through the final weekend and perhaps a 163rd game.
Last year, the Royals won two out of three here on the season's final weekend to force the Twins into a tiebreaker game they lost to the White Sox. In 2006, the Royals swept their last three games from the Tigers to give the Twins the division title.
"This is as close to playoff games as you can get, without being in the playoffs," said Mitch Maier, whose two-run single cut the lead to 10-7 and brought the tying run to the plate in the eighth. "It's still something to go out with pride and play hard and make it as tough as possible. This is not the situation you want to be in. You'd rather be on their side, but we're going in that direction."
After building a 10-0 advantage, it looked like the Twins could rest some regulars and save their relievers for Saturday and Sunday. The Royals had the lead cut in half by the sixth inning, though, and Gardenhire had plenty of managing left do.
He watched the Royals wipe out leads of 6-0 and 8-2 to beat the Boston Red Sox at home 12-9 on TV on Sept. 21.
"That's all I could think about in the dugout," Gardenhire said. He added: "Tonight was really draining. You're just trying to see who's got anything left in the tank."
Catcher Joe Mauer, who went 1 for 4 and still leads the majors with a .366 average, on his way to a third batting title, was "totally exhausted" afterward. He might have to be the designated hitter against Greinke, but he'll certainly be in the lineup.
"I'll drive by and pick him up if I need to," Gardenhire said.
Cy Young Award favorite Zack Greinke pitches for the Royals on Saturday.
So how do the Twins keep this going?
"Go to church and pray that we can score some runs," Young said. "He's nasty. ... He's going to try to go nine."
White Sox 8, Tigers 0
In Detroit Jake Peavy delayed Detroit's chance to move closer to the AL Central title, pitching the Chicago White Sox past the slumping Tigers.
The Tigers went into the final weekend with a two-game lead over Minnesota, but got off to a bad start when Scott Podsednik hit a leadoff home run.
Detroit lost for the fourth time in six games.
Peavy (3-0) pitched eight scoreless innings and Carlos Quentin also homered. Edwin Jackson (13-9) gave up a career-high eight runs.
If the Tigers fail to hold off Minnesota, they will become the first team in major league history to lead a division on May 10 and stay atop it until losing the title in the last week of a season.
