Tigers take over 2nd WC with twin-bill sweep

MINNEAPOLIS — The Tigers rolled into Target Field on Thursday morning for a long day of work. They left town with an American League Wild Card spot in their grasp. Justin Verlander’s six innings of work and Erick Aybar’s two RBIs helped Detroit to a doubleheader sweep, capped by a 4-2 win in the nightcap.

The two victories, combined with an Orioles loss to the Red Sox, vaulted Detroit into the second Wild Card spot, taking a half-game lead. Detroit erased a three-game Wild Card deficit by winning its last four games, while the O’s were swept by Boston.

The Tigers took care of their own business on Thursday night by scraping out runs against Twins starter Ervin Santana (7-11), who looked unhittable after striking out the side in the first inning. Three consecutive walks, the last to Aybar with the bases loaded, fueled a two-run second inning before solo homers from Juan Centeno and Byron Buxton drew Minnesota even. Aybar singled in the go-ahead run and scored another in the sixth to put the Tigers back in front.

Verlander (15-8), who picked up a hard-luck no-decision in his last start at Cleveland, earned his first win since Aug. 26 without his best stuff, battling command, but tying a season high with 11 strikeouts over six innings.

MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDTaking advantage: For the second time on Thursday, the Tigers took advantage of miscues and ran the bases aggressively for a deciding inning. Justin Upton ended up on second base with one out in the sixth thanks to a Brian Dozier error, then scored the go-ahead run on Aybar’s …

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