*Photo from SKOR North*
For the first time since 2010, the Minnesota Twins are AL central champions. Their 5-1 win over the Detroit Tigers, combined with the Cleveland Indians' 8-3 loss to the Chicago White Sox, guaranteed the Twins the division. Randy Dobnak pitched 6 strong innings, and Luis Arraez and Eddir Rosario homered as the Twins took care of business on their side. The Cleveland game was on on the clubhouse TV, and when the White Sox got the final out, a celebration ensued.
It was the Tigers who scored first, courtesy of a Jeimer Candelario RBI double in the first inning. It stayed 1-0 Tigers until the 7th inning, when Arraez hit the go ahead two run homer to right field. In the 8th, Nelson Cruz added to the lead with an RBI double, and then Rosario brought him around when he shot a two run bomb into the right field seats to make it 5-1.
Dobnak went 6 strong for the Twins, allowing just one run on just one hit and no walks. He struck out 6 hitters and improved to 2-1 on the season. The Twins also conveniently won the division on manager Rocco Baldelli's 38th birthday. They now have a record of 98-60, which is their highest win total since 1970. 100 wins certainly is in reach for the Twins. Dobnak had a good start to a great week for him, as he is getting married in Maryland this Saturday. He said that ''This is definitely going to be, easily one of the wildest weeks of my life, just to go out there and give our team a chance to win tonight was something that I was really looking forward to do, and luckily things turned out well for us.''
With the loss, the Tigers fell to 46-111, ensuring themselves the first overall pick in the 2020 MLB draft. Starter Daniel Norris went 3 innings, allowing just two hits and no runs. Drew VerHagen took the loss, going 4 1/3 innings and allowing 3 runs on 4 hits and two walks. He struck out two hitters and fell to 4-3 on the season. John Schreiber, Gregory Soto, and Matt Hall finished the game for Detroit. Candelario and 3B Dawel Lugo had the only two hits for Detroit's offense.
The teams played the final game of their series at 1:10 EST today, where Devin Smeltzer faced off against Jordan Zimmerman. Smeltzer got the win as the Twins won 10-4 for their 99th win of the season.
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