Tigers 4, Twins 1
MINNEAPOLIS -- Detroit Tigers right-hander Jordan Zimmermann continued his red-hot start to the season, pitching seven innings of one-run ball as the Tigers beat the Minnesota Twins 4-1 on Saturday afternoon at Target Field.
A solo home run by Minnesota's Byung Ho Park was the only damage done against Zimmermann, who actually saw his ERA go up to 0.55. Zimmermann joined Chris Sale of the Chicago White Sox and Jake Arrieta of the Chicago Cubs as the only five-game winners in the majors.
The homer by Park was the first surrendered by Zimmermann in five starts and the earned run was just the second given up. Five of the six hits he allowed on Saturday were singles, striking out seven and walking none.
Tigers closer Francisco Rodriguez worked a scoreless ninth for his sixth save.
Victor Martinez had a pair of doubles, scored a run and knocked in another as Detroit ran its winning streak to four games.
Justin Upton hit a three-run homer in the first inning to give Zimmermann plenty of early support.
Twins right-hander Tyler Duffey (0-1) allowed four runs, one earned, on five hits. He struck out seven and did not walk a batter.
Minnesota (7-17) tied a franchise record for most losses in the month of April (2011).
Detroit took advantage of a one-out error by Twins third baseman Eduardo Nunez in the first inning. Nunez could not field a sharp ground ball by J.D. Martinez, allowing him to reach. A two-out double by Victor Martinez kept the inning alive for Upton, who smashed a Duffey fastball into the second deck in left field for a 3-0 lead. The homer was Upton's second and first since April 12.
Park got the Twins within 3-1 with a solo shot in the fourth, his sixth of the season.
Back-to-back doubles by Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez made it 4-1 in the sixth.
Joe Mauer had two hits for the Twins and has reached base in all 24 games to start the season, the longest streak in the majors.
NOTES: Tigers C James McCann will play two more games with Triple-A Toledo and will re-join the club Tuesday in Cleveland. McCann has been on the 15-day disabled list since April 12 because of a sprained right ankle. ... Twins RHP Ervin Santana played catch on Saturday and will again on Sunday before throwing a bullpen session on Tuesday in Houston. Santana, who was placed on the 15-day DL because of back spasms, is eligible to return on May 3. ... Detroit and Minnesota will wrap up their three-game series on Sunday afternoon at Target Field. Detroit will send former Twin Mike Pelfrey to the mound (0-4, 4.64 ERA). Right-hander Ricky Nolasco (1-0, 3.25) will go for Minnesota.