Tigers 4, Twins 1
Scott Baker came off the disabled list and tossed five scoreless innings as the Minnesota Twins snapped an 11-game losing streak to the Detroit Tigers with a 4-1 win at Target Field on Saturday afternoon.
Delmon Young drove in a pair and Danny Valencia added a solo homer for the Twins, who pulled back within six games of the first-place Tigers in the American League Central.
Baker (8-5), who had not pitched since July 5 due to elbow soreness, was activated before the game and picked up right where he had left off, allowing just three hits and one walk while striking out five. The righthander has not yielded an earned run in four of his last five outings.
Minnesota got to Detroit starter Brad Penny (7-7) in the first with an RBI single by Michael Cuddyer and stretched it to 2-0 in the second on Valencia’s 12th homer. Young’s two-run double in the fourth gave Baker and the bullpen plenty of breathing room.
Three relievers bridged the gap to Joe Nathan, who worked a scoreless ninth for his seventh save.