Romine empire: Tiger’s epic grab part of key W

DETROIT — Miguel Cabrera provided the latest addition to the Tigers’ late-inning rallies with a go-ahead home run in the seventh inning en route to a 9-6 win over the Twins on Wednesday night at Comerica Park.

The win moved Detroit one game back of Toronto for an American League Wild Card spot. The Tigers remained six games behind the AL Central-leading Indians.

On a night when the teams combined for nine fourth-inning runs, with neither starter Tyler Duffey nor Anibal Sanchez recording an out in the fifth, Cabrera’s 33rd home run was the deciding tally — barely. His line drive off Ryan Pressly tested the depths of left-center field at Comerica Park, hitting off the top of the fence and bouncing over.

“It was a tough loss last night, so we had to come back and win the game today,” Cabrera said. “We did it. Hopefully we can bring the same energy tomorrow and win again.”

Until then, second basemen Ian Kinsler and Brian Dozier had either scored or driven in half of the total runs. Kinsler and Cameron Maybin hit back-to-back doubles off Duffey in the first inning to build an early lead, then belted consecutive triples in the Tigers’ fourth following the Twins’ five-run top of the fourth inning. Kinsler fell a home run shy of the cycle, but singled home an insurance run in the eighth.

“They’re a team full of veteran hitters,” said Duffey, who gave up six runs in 3 2/3 innings. “When you miss, they don’t. It’s really frustrating, especially with our offense scoring runs the last two days.”

Sanchez logged three perfect innings until Dozier belted the first pitch of the fourth for his 41st home run. Minnesota’s next three hitters reached base and scored, three on a Kurt Suzuki home run. Alex Wilson, Shane Greene and Bruce Rondon combined to retire 10 in a row to give Detroit a chance to pull ahead for good. Francisco Rodriguez worked the ninth for his 42nd save.

“It does put pressure on your bullpen,” Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. “We’re just taking it day to day, trying to win games. The relievers will tell you themselves, ‘We have to suck it up sometimes.'”

MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDTriple, doubled: The Tigers hadn’t hit a triple since Aug. 6 until Kinsler and Maybin hit back-to-back RBI three-baggers in the fourth. Kinsler’s line drive to right-center field easily cleared Byron Buxton’s diving attempt and rolled to the wall to score Andrew Romine. Two pitches later, Maybin drove one to the fence in …

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