Tigers beat Twins, inch closer to Central crown
DETROIT - Tonight marked Max Scherzer's final start of the regular season. Scherzer is headed for free agency this autumn, so this could have been his final start as a Detroit Tiger at Comerica Park, even if this year's World Series is played there.
If the Tigers do win the AL Central, they will -- as when they have won it the last three years -- have the worst record of any of the AL's three division winners. So the Tigers wouldn't have the home-field advantage in either round of the AL playoffs unless they face the wild-card team in the championship series. All of Scherzer's postseason starts could come on the road.
As Scherzer took the mound, the Tigers had a two-game lead on Kansas City with four games left for each team. The Royals were playing in Chicago with their ace, James Shields, going against left-hander Jose Quintana, perhaps the most underrated pitcher in the AL. Quintana entered today with as many quality starts as Scherzer (21).
Scherzer went six hard innings -- 116 pitches -- and exited with a one-run lead. The Tigers' three relievers retired the final nine Twins in order to secure a 4-2 victory. When the Tigers game ended, the Royals were in a 3-3 tie in the sixth inning.
Scherzer finished the regular season 18-5, not much different from his 21-3 mark a year ago.
Victor Martinez put the Tigers ahead for good with a two-run homer in the first off rookie right-hander Trevor May. Miguel Cabrera crushed a hanging 0-2 pitch from May for the fourth-inning homer that made it 3-0.
Joe Mauer's two-run double brought the Twins within 3-2 in the fifth. That's the one-run lead that Joakim Soria inherited for the seventh.
Soria was acquired two months ago specifically to protect seventh-inning leads. Through a series of developments, including his month-long injury absence, this marked the first time as a Tiger that Soria was called on to protect a seventh-inning lead.
Soria kept the one-run lead by throwing a 1-2-3 innings against the top three hitters in the order.
In the bottom of the inning, Rajai Davis played a huge role for the third day in a row when he doubled in a run with one out.
Joba Chamberlain inherited the 4-2 lead for the eighth and put away the Nos. 4-5-6 hitters.
When Nathan retired the bottom of the order in the ninth, The Tigers -- for one night anyway -- replicated the Royals' awesome late-inning bullpen trio of Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis and Greg Holland.
Mauer left Tuesday night's game when he was hit on the right elbow by a pitch. Twins manager Ron Gardnehire rested Mauer Wednesday against Arizona so he'd be fully ready for this important series.
Mauer struck out his first two times up against Scherzer. In the fifth, after Scherzer retired the first two hitters, a pair of singles gave Mauer a chance. He drilled the first pitch up the left-center gap for a two-run double to bring Minnesota within a run.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Twins: Minnesota does not expect 3B Trevor Plouffe to need surgery after he broke his left forearm Wednesday, but he's seeking a second opinion just to be sure.
Tigers: Detroit RHP Anibal Sanchez was up in the bullpen briefly, but he didn't come into the game. Sanchez hasn't pitched since being activated Tuesday from the disabled list. He was on the DL with a pectoral strain.
UP NEXT
The Tigers send Rick Porcello (15-12) to the mound Friday against Minnesota's Anthony Swarzak (3-2) on a night Detroit hopes will turn celebratory. The Tigers have not clinched a division title at home since 1987.
John Lowe writes for the Detroit Free Press, a Gannett property.