Morneau, Twins use six-run fourth to top Tigers

Baseball Betting Lines

07/05/2009 - Minneapolis, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Justin Morneau went 2-for-4 and belted a two-run home run during a six-run fourth inning, while Nick Blackburn tossed his third complete game of the season to lead the Minnesota Twins past the Detroit Tigers, 6-2, in the rubber match of a three-game set at the Metrodome.

Blackburn (7-4) gave up two runs -- one earned -- on seven hits with six strikeouts and one walk to snap a two-start skid. Blackburn has just two wins in his last six outings.

Denard Span and Delmon Young each had a pair of hits and drove in a run apiece for the Twins, who have won two in a row and four of their last five overall. Joe Mauer, who is the AL's starting catcher for the All-Star Game, had a single and scored a run for Minnesota, which has won four consecutive series.

Rick Porcello (8-6) lasted just four frames, allowing six runs -- four earned -- on seven hits with three strikeouts and two walks to take the loss for the Tigers, who finished 3-6 on a nine-game road trip.

Brandon Inge stroked a two-run homer for Detroit. No Tigers player had more than one hit in the tilt.

The Twins scored all their runs in the fourth inning. Mauer stroked a one-out single and scored when Morneau drove a Porcello offering over the wall in center field.

Michael Cuddyer walked and Joe Crede singled to put men on the corners with two outs. Young followed with an RBI single. Nick Punto then walked to load the bases for Span, who hit an RBI infield single. Three runs scored on the play due to Adam Everett's throwing error.

Detroit put men on first and second with nobody out in the sixth but failed to score any runs. After giving up back-to-back singles to Adam Everett and Curtis Granderson, Blackburn retired the next three batters on a pop-up, groundout and strike out to end the threat.

The Tigers finally got to Blackburn in the ninth, but it proved to be too late. After a Miguel Cabrera fly out, Don Kelly reached base on Span's error. Inge then made things interesting when he drove the ball over the wall in left. Detroit put runners on the corners later in the frame, but Adam Everett grounded out to end the contest.

Game Notes

The Twins signed pitcher Matthew Bashore, the 46th overall pick from the 2009 First-Year Player Draft, on Sunday...The Twins swept a three-game series from Detroit at the Metrodome between May 12-14 and are 6-2 against the Tigers this season. Minnesota has also taken 12 of the past 17 overall meetings between the divisional foes...Granderson is a reserve outfielder for the All-Star Game, while pitchers Justin Verlander and Edwin Jackson will be a part of the AL pitching staff for the Mid-Summer Classic. Minnesota pitcher Joe Nathan will also be a part of the AL squad. Morneau made the team as a reserve...The Twins will begin a home three-game set with the Yankees, starting Tuesday. The Tigers will begin a six-game homestand with a three-game set versus the Kansas City Royals, beginning Monday.

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