Twins drop battle of bullpens in Game 1

MINNEAPOLIS — Justin Upton hit a go-ahead homer in the seventh inning on Thursday afternoon at Target Field before Victor Martinez’s pinch-hit three-run homer in the ninth sent the Tigers on their way to an 9-2 win over the Twins to begin a day-night doubleheader.

The win moved Detroit within a half-game of Baltimore for the second American League Wild Card spot. A win in the nightcap and an Orioles loss Thursday evening would put the Tigers into the spot by themselves.

Pat Dean and Anibal Sanchez, both thrust into spot starts when storms washed out Wednesday’s game and its scheduled starters in the third inning, put on an unlikely pitching duel with five innings of one-run ball apiece, trading zeros after both teams scored first-inning runs.

Detroit rallied off Alex Wimmers (1-3) for the second time in 10 days. This time, it came off one swing from Upton, who connected on his 26th home run of the season and his 13th since Aug. 21. Martinez, making his first appearance since suffering a bruised right knee on a hit by pitch Sunday in Cleveland, delivered his third pinch-hit home run of the season, punctuating a six-run ninth that blew the game open.

Alex Wilson (4-0) earned the victory with 1 2/3 innings in relief of Sanchez. Shane Greene stranded the bases loaded in the seventh by retiring Robbie Grossman before striking out Miguel Sano to end the eighth with the potential tying run on third.

MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDUpton unleashes another clutch homer: Not only have Upton’s home runs been numerous of late, they’ve been timely. Five of his 13 home runs in the past 32 days have either tied the game or put Detroit in front …

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