Minneapolis, MN – Samuel Deduno pitched seven-plus innings to remain unbeaten in his young career and Darin Mastroianni sparkled in a highlight night with a homer and three RBI in Minnesota's 9-3 rout of the Detroit Tigers.
Mastroianni also made a diving catch in the eighth inning to slow a Tigers rally. Ryan Doumit smacked a three-run homer, as the Twins snapped a four-game slide.
Deduno (4-0), who made his seventh major league start and 13th appearance, surrendered five hits and three runs while fanning six batters.
"He kept those guys off balance all night," Doumit said.
Anibal Sanchez (1-3) was pelted for a season-high 12 hits and five runs over 5 1/3 innings, as the Tigers dropped their third in a row.
"So far he hasn't really gotten the ball down," Tigers manager Jim Leyland commented on Sanchez, who was acquired from the Marlins on July 23. "I certainly know he's a better pitcher than what he's shown so far."
Sanchez was hit in the knee area on a bouncer off the bat of Joe Mauer in the opening inning. Sanchez, who recovered for the out, received medical attention, but stayed in the game and allowed three straight singles in the third, the last coming on Justin Morneau's run-scoring hit to left.
Jhonny Peralta doubled in Brennan Boesch in the fifth inning, but the Twins went ahead for good in their half of the frame on Mastroianni's homer to left.
Minnesota added three runs in each the sixth and seventh frames for an 8-1 cushion. Alexi Casilla doubled in one, and Mastroianni's line base hit to center made it 5-1.
Doumit cranked his 14th homer of the year in the seventh. Facing Duane Below, Doumit homered to left on the eighth pitch of his at-bat.
Miguel Cabrera and Delmon Young singled in runs in the eighth. The Tigers were actually threatening for a huge frame. Cabrera's hit was the third in a row to start the eighth, but Prince Fielder then sent a line drive to right, where Mastroianni made a sliding catch.
Josh Willingham's sacrifice fly capped the scoring.
Game Notes
The Twins returned Trevor Plouffe from his rehab assignment and reinstated him from the 15-day disabled list. He went 0-for-4...Detroit lost for just the fourth time in their last 14 games at Target Field...Cabrera has 16 RBI against the Twins this season...Twins center fielder Denard Span (sore right shoulder) missed the game.
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