American League roundup

[September 30, 2009]  DETROIT (AP) -- Justin Verlander got a sense of what it's like to follow baseball from afar.

It wasn't fun.

Detroit's ace was home watching on TV when the Tigers lost to the Twins 3-2 in 10 innings Tuesday afternoon. Then, he drove to the ballpark and helped his team beat Minnesota 6-5 to split the doubleheader and restore their two-game lead in the AL Central.

"I switched back and forth, I was too nervous," Verlander recalled. "I felt like a fan. I don't know how they do it."

The Twins don't know how Verlander does it.

Verlander (18-9) struck out eight, giving him a baseball-best 264 this season, and allowed four runs and eight hits on a season-high 129 pitches over eight innings.

"He was still winging it at 98 after 120-some pitches," Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire said. "That guy's a stud."

Detroit can win its first division title since 1987 if it beats the Twins at home on Wednesday night and Thursday afternoon.

Eddie Bonine, who is 0-1 with a 4.60 ERA, will start for the Tigers on Wednesday night and Carl Pavano, who is 13-111 with a 4.86 ERA, will be on the mound for Minnesota. In the series finale, Detroit's Nate Robertson and Minnesota's Scott Baker will start in the game that could potentially decide the division.

If the Tigers don't take the next two games of the series, the AL Central won't be won until the weekend -- or early next week -- with each team closing the regular season with a three-game set.

Minnesota has clinched the season series and would host the tiebreaker if one is necessary, likely on Tuesday because the Vikings are playing on Monday night at the Metrodome.

"This is playoff baseball -- we just got started a little early this year," Gardenhire said.

The intensity of the day, with the crowd focused on every pitch, certainly had the feel of October baseball.

"If you didn't enjoy today with these two games, you aren't much of a baseball fan," Gardenhire said.

Minnesota briefly pulled within one game of the Tigers after Brandon Lyon (6-5) set up Orlando Cabrera's go-ahead single with a pair of wild pitches in the opener.

Fernando Rodney pitched the ninth for his 36th save in 37 chances in the nightcap, overcoming shaky defense that allowed Minnesota to pull within a run.

Brian Duensing (5-2) gave up five runs over 4 2-3 innings in his ninth career start for the Twins, who had a chance to at least tie the game in the eighth and ninth.

Delmon Young started the Minnesota ninth with an infield single that was misplayed by second baseman Placido Polanco. Rodney retired the next two batters and Nick Punto followed with a fly ball to center that Curtis Granderson misjudged, allowing it to go over his head and helping the Twins pull within a run.

"You're looking for a break and we got one there," Gardenhire said.

Rodney then got Denard Span to hit a game-ending fly to left.

And, the Motor City exhaled as Detroit finished the day in the same position it was at the start of the doubleheader -- delighting a crowd of 30,240.

"I thought both teams put on a good show for the fans for this time of year in a pennant race," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said.

Blue Jays 8, Blue Jays 7

At Boston, Adam Lind hit three of Toronto's six homers but the Red Sox clinched the AL wild card when the Los Angeles Angels beat the Rangers 5-2 on Tuesday night and eliminated Texas from the race.

Boston is in the playoffs for the sixth time in seven seasons.

Rays 3, Orioles 1

At St. Petersburg, Fla., rookie Wade Davis (2-1) allowed one run over seven innings, Carl Crawford stole his career-high 60th base and Tampa Bay handed Baltimore its 12th straight loss.

The Orioles' slide is the longest in the majors this season. Tampa Bay (Sept. 3-13) and Cleveland (Sept. 13-24) both had 11-game skids. It is Baltimore's longest slump since dropping 12 in a row Aug. 16-28, 2004.

Yankees 4, Royals 3

At New York, A.J. Burnett pitched well in an encouraging playoff tuneup and the Yankees rallied for two runs in the ninth inning to get their seventh straight victory.

Little-used Juan Miranda got the game-winning hit off ex-Yankee Kyle Farnsworth (1-5), an infield single that caromed off the reliever's leg and into foul territory between home plate and first base.

Angels 5, Rangers 2

At Anaheim, Calif., Bobby Abreu homered, fill-in starter Sean O'Sullivan (4-2) earned his first win in two months and the Angels eliminated the Rangers from playoff contention.

Texas ace Scott Feldman (17-7) has lost three of his last four starts in a blow to his Cy Young hopes.

Brian Fuentes worked the ninth for his major league-leading 46th save, a career high and a new AL record for the most saves by a pitcher in his first season with a team.

Mariners 6, Athletics 4

At Seattle, Ken Griffey Jr. started what might be his final homestand with career homer No. 628, and Felix Hernandez (18-5) added another strong effort in his bid for the AL Cy Young.

[Associated Press; By LARRY LAGE]

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