Tigers bullpen falters
9/1/2010MINNEAPOLIS - Delmon Young had two hits, including the go-ahead single in the seventh, to lift the Minnesota Twins to a 4-3 victory Tuesday night.
Young's big hit came after Tigers reliever Phil Coke (7-4) hit two batters to load the bases and Ryan Perry walked in the tying run.
Danny Valencia had three hits and an RBI and Brian Duensing gave up three unearned runs on nine hits in 6 2-3 innings for the Twins, who stayed four games ahead of the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central.
Jhonny Peralta had three hits and an RBI for the Tigers, but struck out with the tying run at third base to end the game. Armando Galarraga gave up two runs on eight hits in six innings and left with a 3-2 lead before the Tigers bullpen faltered.
The lefty Coke started the seventh inning and walked J.J. Hardy. Denard Span bunted him over and then Coke hit lefties Joe Mauer and Jason Kubel to load the bases. Manager Jim Leyland went to the righty Perry against Michael Cuddyer, who walked on four pitches to tie the game.
Young followed with a sharp single to right field for the lead, but the inning ended when Kubel was thrown out at home plate by about 30 feet.