hitting two fours in his 28 off 35 balls

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MINNEAPOLIS -- Playing against the woeful Twins boosted the Detroit Tigers playoff chances this season.Justin Verlander tied a season-high with 11 strikeouts and Detroit moved into the second AL wild-card spot by beating Minnesota 4-2 Thursday to sweep a day-night doubleheader.Erick Aybar drove in two runs for the Tigers, who moved a half-game ahead of Baltimore for the second wild card and trail Toronto by one game. Detroit went 9-0 at Minnesota this year.It will mean a lot more to me after 10 games, Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said of the wild-card lead. Theres still a little bit of the stretch run to go. But were clearly in the mix.Victor Martinez had a pinch-hit, three-run homer during a six-run ninth inning as Detroit won the opener 9-2. Justin Upton added his 26th home run.Verlander (15-8) allowed four hits in six innings, including home runs by Juan Centeno and Byron Buxton. He has won 12 of his last 13 starts against the Twins.Francisco Rodriguez got three outs for his 44th save in 48 chances.I think this ballclub is kind of unique, Verlander said. Everything is kind of matter of fact. Youve got the end goal, and were all working towards that. I dont think anybodys going to let ups and downs, ebbs and flows, get to you until the season. Hopefully, we get to celebrate and pop some bottles. But until that time comes, its on to the next one every day.Minnesota has lost six straight games and 98 overall, reaching 96 for the fourth time in six seasons and two short of its 2011 total.Ervin Santana (7-11) gave up four runs -- two earned -- five hits and four walks in in six innings in the matchup with Verlander.In the opener, Anibal Sanchez allowed one run and two hits in five innings in a spot start, and Alex Wilson (4-0), Shane Green and Mark Lowe finished the five-hitter.The nightcap was another sloppy game for the Twins, who committed two errors, had two wild pitches and one passed ball. They had three errors and five wild pitches in the doubleheader, scheduled to make up Wednesdays rainout.Its kind of been typical for us to hang in games and then not be able to finish, Minnesota manager Paul Molitor said. Thats part of what were hoping were developing here is these guys are understanding the fine line when you get down to the end, whether its making a pitch or making a play or getting a hit. It can be small when youre losing these close games, especially when theyre low-scoring like that.AMONG SECONDSBrian Doziers first-inning homer in the first game was his 42nd of the season and 40th while playing second base, establishing a new AL record for homers in a season by a second baseman. Dozier passed Alfonso Sorianos total in 2002. Only Rogers Hornsby (42 in 1922), Davey Johnson (42 in 1973) and Ryne Sandberg (40 in 1990) have hit more.Its just another number, Dozier said. But at the same time, I know the fans are enjoying it, so you come out and you play for them. To get a chance to do that here at home is pretty cool.Dozier had his 24-game hitting streak snapped in the second game.TRAINERS ROOMTigers: 2B Ian Kinsler (concussion) had an on-field workout and could be cleared to play Friday if he feels well after the workout.Twins: DH/3B Miguel Sano (lower back tightness) was back in the lineup for the first time since Sept. 12. Molitor said Sano was still sore but was anxious to return. . Molitor confirmed RHP Trevor May has a stress fracture in his back. May was 2-2 with a 5.27 ERA in 44 relief appearances. He made three trips to the DL with the injury, which hadnt been detected in previous exams. . RF Max Kepler left the second game with a mild neck strain after hitting the wall awkwardly.UP NEXTTigers: RHP Michael Fulmer (10-7) is to start Friday against Kansas City LHP Danny Duffy (12-2) in the opener of Detroits final homestand. Fulmer has lost four of his last six decisions and is 0-2 against Kansas City this season despite a 2.75 ERA in three starts.Twins: RHP Kyle Gibson (6-10) is slated to make his final home start of the season on Friday against Seattle, which will start LHP James Paxton (4-7). Bart Starr Super Bowl Jersey . Takahashi, who had a 10-point lead after the short program, received 268.31 points after the free skate to finish 15 points ahead of second-place Nobunari Oda. Marquez Valdes-Scantling Super Bowl Jersey . White came in fourth place in the event. He was the two-time defending gold medallist. The gold medal went to Swiss snowboarder Iouri Podladtchikov. http://www.officialgreenbaypackerspro.co...rs-jersey/ . Ashley Youngs cross was inadvertently headed by Chester into his own net in the 66th minute, allowing United to claim a third straight league win. "We had to dig deep with our fighting spirit and weve done that," United striker Wayne Rooney said. Brett Favre Super Bowl Jersey . -- Canadian Andrew Wiggins got the ball on the wing, made a nifty spin move and then let go with a soft floater from about 10 feet that swished through the net in Allen Fieldhouse. Jaire Alexander Super Bowl Jersey .C. -- When North Carolina freshman Ryan Switzer reported to training camp in August he was a little miffed to learn he was third on the depth chart at punt returner. Khulna Titans 151 for 7 (Mahmudullah 44, Taijul 3-18) beat Barisal Bulls 129 (Mushfiqur 35, Shafiul 4-17) by 22 runsScorecard and ball-by-ball detailsKhulna Titans climbed to the top of the BPL points table after a 22-run win over Barisal Bulls. As was the case in their four previous wins, it was their bowlers who made their moderate total look very competitive.Shafiul Islam led the five-man bowling attack to defend their 151 runs comfortably. The paceman took four wickets while Junaid Khan and Mosharraf Hossain took two each as Barisal capitulated for 129 in 19.3 overs.Barisals chase was always going to be interesting as they had a batting line-up to compete with Khulnas discipline. Jeevan Mendis, promoted to open the innings, struck four fours on his way to 21 before falling to Shafiul in the fourth over. His opening partner Fazle Mahmud was earlier trapped lbw for a duck in the second over.After Shamsur Rahman was caught at long-on cheaply, Barisals main batsmen Shahriar Nafees and Mushfiqur Rahim added 43 runs for the fourth wicket. Nafees batted at a slower pace, hitting two fours in his 28 off 35 balls. Mushfiqur held the chase together till the 16thh over before he top-edged a pull after making 35 off 23 balls with four fours.ddddddddddddThisara Pereras failure with the bat made it harder for Barisal who folded in the last four overs of their chase.After they had decided to bowl, Barisal were given early breakthroughs by Taijul Islam who struck twice in the fifth over to remove the Khulna openers Hasanuzzaman and Andre Fletcher. Both batsmen holed out to Abu Hider at long-on.Mahmudullah ensured that they recovered from an ordinary Powerplay, adding 53 for the third wicket with Riki Wessels. He slammed three sixes through long-on and two fours in his 26-ball 44, before becoming Taijuls third victim, caught at point. Next ball, Shuvagata Hom was run-out after a mix-up with Wessels with both batsmen ending at the non-strikers end.Wessels, who had contributed just five runs to the third-wicket stand, found a higher gear as he struck four fours and a six over long-on in his 29-ball 40. Like Mahmudullah, Wessels wicket also hurt Khulna, who added 39 runs in the last five overs. ' ' '