The Tigers were able to beat the Chicago White Sox 5-3 thanks to great efforts by Justin Verlander and Ryan Raburn. Verlander didn’t give up a run until the eighth inning, while Raburn hit a pair of homers to finish with three runs and three RBIs.

As for the Twins, they strolled to a 13-4 victory over the Kansas City Royals. Minnesota scored four runs in the first and then three more runs in the third to put the contest away. The TWins got five home runs – two by Jason Kubel, two by Delmon Young and one by Michael Cuddyer. Kubel finished the game 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs and six RBIs.

The matchup in the tiebreak will be Rick Porcello of the Tigers versus Scott Baker of the Twins. Porcello is a 20-year-old rookie who is 14-9 with a 4.04 ERA, while the 28-year-old Baker is 15.9 with an ERA of 4.36.

Delmon Young and the Twins will try to win the division on Tuesday (Image: Zuma Press)

Post from: EveryJoe

Tiebreaker Needed for AL Central Title

The Twins beat the Kansas City Royals on Friday, while the Tigers lost to the Chicago White Sox. As a result, the Twins trail the Tigers by only one game now.

After getting up 10-0 on the Royals, the Twins almost saw the entire lead disappear. In fact, the Royals cut the lead to 10-7 and even had the tying run at the plate in the eighth inning. However, the Twins were able to stop the rally and pull out the 10-7 victory.

The Tigers, on the other hand, had their home fans booing after an 8-0 defeat. Jake Peavy threw eight shutout innings for the White Sox to improve his record with the team to 3-0 and lower his ERA to 1.35.

The bad news for the Twins is that they have to face Zack Greinke on Saturday. Greinke, who is undoubtedly the hottest pitcher in all of baseball, could all but clinch the 2009 AL Cy Young Award with a good performance.

Can Joe Mauer and the Twins catch the Tigers (Image: Zuma Press)

Post from: EveryJoe

Twins Closing in on the Tigers

After Gerald Laird put the Tigers up 1-0 with an RBI single in the second inning, the Twins went on a tear. They scored the game’s next eight runs, with the biggest hit being a three RBI bases clearing double by Orlando Cabrera in the eighth inning.

Twins starting pitcher Scott Baker was very good. In five innings, he gave up five hits and no earned runs. With the win, he improved his record to 15-9 and lowered his ERA to 4.36.

The Tigers still lead the AL Central by two games. Without any help, the Tigers can clinch the division if they can beat the Chicago White Sox twice in the upcoming series. Minnesota, on the other hand, enters a series against the Kansas City Royals.

Orlando Cabrera - Minnesota Twins (Image: Zuma Press)

Post from: EveryJoe

Minnesota Twins Stay Alive with Win

In the 3-2 Twins victory, Orlando Cabrera authored the winning hit. With the game tied 1-1 in the tenth inning, Cabrera hit a run scoring single. Delmon Young followed later in the inning with a sac fly.

In the bottom of the tenth, Curtis Granderson hit a solo home run but Joe Nathan retired the other three batters to pick up his 45th save of the season.

In the second game of the doubleheader, the Twins have Brian Duensing going against Justin Verlander. The Tigers have to be favored due to having the experience advantage on the mound and being at home — but these Twins just keep fighting.

Orlando Cabrera and the Twins making a run in the AL Central (Image: Zuma Press)

Post from: EveryJoe

Minnesota Twins Only One Game Back

Placido Polanco was the star at the plate for the Tigers. He went 2-for-4 with a run and three RBIs. His two-run single in the fifth inning gave Detroit a lead that it would never lose.

On the mound, Nate Robertson when five innings while giving up two earned runs and striking out six to earn his second win of the season. For the Twins, Scott Baker struggled in his 4.2 innings of work to lose his ninth game of the year to go along with 13 wins.

The Tigers (79-70) and the Twins (76-73) promise to have an exciting finish to the 2009 baseball campaign. The two teams play four more times before the end of the regular season, which means the AL Central will likely be decided on their upcoming head-to-head matchup.

Placido Polanco - Detroit Tigers (Image: Zuma Press)

Post from: EveryJoe

Tigers Avoid Sweep, Beat Twins

Jim Thome, Paul Konerko, Alexei Ramirez and Juan Uribe completed the rare feat for the White Sox. Thome, Konerko and Ramirez all homered off KC hurler Joel Peralta, before he was yanked in favor of Robinson Tejeda, who surrendered the final blast to Uribe.

The video shows the impressive accomplishment, but you have to wonder what was going through the head of Peralta, who gave up three of the bombs. After the first home run, he probably didn’t think much of it, but it had to be on his mind after the second dinger. It is most certainly, the third tater that he won’t be forgetting for the next few days.

If Peralta’s MLB career is ever cut short, I’m sure the White Sox would love to have him as a batting practice pitcher for their organization. Check out the video below to see all of the long balls.

If you can’t view the video above, click here to see the ESPN.com video.

Post from: EveryJoe

VIDEO – White Sox go back-to-back-to-back-to-back

“I tried to play him in the outfield. It didn’t work. He couldn’t throw in from the outfield.”

I saw the big bold quote on this story before I even read it. And when I saw it – I just about spit a mouthful of Mt. Dew all over my computer screen. Now – this is a quote! A quote from none other than the ‘Master of Words’ – Jim Leyland.

Leyland is obviously fed up with hearing about Gary Sheffield’s claim that the 39-year-old can still play the outfield every day. Right now it looks like Sheff is having a hard time just swinging the bat (.210 average).

Leyland says he told Sheffield, before being traded from the New York Yankees, that he would only DH. So – maybe Sheffield is just in denial. Either way, one thing is certain. When a quote like this comes out, maybe you should think if you really have a legitimate claim. Sheffield may need to rethink the situation.

Photo: Newscom

Post from: EveryJoe

The Master of Words: Jim Leyland

In case you haven’t noticed, the best pennant chase in Major League Baseball is not happening in the American League East. It’s actually happening in the AL Central, where the Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins are fighting for the top spot.

Coming into today’s games, the White Sox hold a slim one-half game lead over the second place Twins. However, it took 12th inning heroics by the Kansas City Royals to knock the Twins from the top spot on Sunday.

Sure, the AL East has big names like the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees (who are both losing to the Tampa Bay Rays). And the National League East seems to have a good fight between the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets. But, the Twins and White Sox are both defying the odds. This wasn’t supposed to be the story this season. It was the Detroit Tigers’ year to win the division. Not so fast!

Chicago opened the season at 28/1 odds of winning the AL pennant. Minnesota faced 15/1 odds. Both trailed Detroit at 6/1 odds. However, it’s the White Sox and Twins that are the stories this season, with unproven lineups and pitching rotations.

The two clubs have just one three-game series left against each other, which will take place September 23, 24, and 25 at the Metrodome. We’ll have to wait and see how this chase finishes.

Think you know who will win the AL Central? Make your voice be heard with a comment or by voting in the poll (located in the right sidebar).

Photo of Chicago White Sox outfielder Jermaine Dye: Newscom

Post from: EveryJoe

The Race: American League Central

You already know my feelings on the Sabathia trade. The Indians didn’t get enough in return for the former Cy Young Award winner. Shapiro jumped the gun and sold off Sabathia out of panic.

Believe it or not, there are a few diehard Indians’ fans left (no – this is isn’t a Major League movie). Check out this video of one fan’s attempt at a tribute to his favorite team.

Post from: EveryJoe

Indians drop 10th straight