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		Twins top Tigers, advance to playoffs By Yamato Sakai October 6, 2009
	Minnesota Twins' Carlos Gomez(notes) (22) scores the game-winning run as his teammates follow during the 12th inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009, in Minneapolis. The Twins won 6-5 to take the AL Central title. (AP Photo)
	A one game playoff between Minnesota and Detroit, winner advancing on , pitching Scott Baker for the Twins and Rick Porcello for Detroit started off their respective teams before 55,000 fans at the Metro in Minneapolis. Each pitcher retired the side in the top and bottom of the first and second innings. Detroit’s, Michael Cabrera doubled to deep left field. Raburn then singled to right advancing Cabrera to third, but Baker was able to retire the side. Rick Porcello pitching for Detroit was able to follow with effective pitching in the bottom of the second getting Cuddyer, to ground out and striking out Young and Morales to end the inning. In the top of the Third Baker walked Granderson while Polanco grounded out to second. Ordenez then singled to center scoring Granderson and Michael Cabrera followed with his second hit homer to bring the score to 3 to 0. Tigers had 3 runs on 2 hits and no errors at the top of the 3rd. In the bottom of the third , Rick Porcello allowed a single to Tolder . Span singled advancing Torbert to second. O Cabrera advance Tolbert to third flying out. Tolbert then scored on a throwing error by Rick Porcello who hit the first base umpire. Porcello after walking Mauer and advancing Span, struckout Kubel to end the inning giving Minnesota its first run on 2 hits and one error. Minnesota allowed Raburn a hit in the top of the 4th but got Inge to foul out to first. Minnesota got Laird to ground out into a double play, third to second to first getting Raburn out at second.Rick Porcello got Cuddyer to strike out , Young to pop out to second and Morales got struck out swinging to end the inning. Top of the 5th Scott Baker got Santiango to foul out to short stop, Granderson fouled out to first . Polcanco single to right center but Ordonez grounded into a fielders choice to short stop ending inning with Polanco out at second. In the bottom of the 5th Score Tolbert struck out , Punto grounded out to shortstop and Span flied out to second ending the inning with the score remaining Detroit 3 and Minnesota 1. Detroit - Top of 6th SCORE Scott Baker pitching for Minnesota D Cabrera grounded out to third.31C Guillen popped out to first.31R Raburn fouled out to third.310 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors Minnesota - Bottom of 6thSCORERick Porcello pitching for Detroit O Cabrera flied out to center.31J Mauer struck out swinging.31J Kubel homered to right center.32M Cuddyer walked.32Z Miner relieved Rick Porcello.32 Minnesota - Bottom of 6th SCORE Rick Porcello pitching for Detroit O Cabrera flied out to center.31J Mauer struck out swinging.31J Kubel homered to right center.32M Cuddyer walked.32Z Miner relieved R Porcello.32D Young singled to center, M Cuddyer to third.32B Harris hit for J Morales.32B Harris hit by pitch, D Young to second.32M Tolbert flied out to center.321 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors Detroit - Top of 7thSCORE Scott Baker pitching for Minnesota B Inge walked.32J Rauch relieved S Baker.32G Laird bunt popped out to first.32R Santiago flied out to center.32J Mijares relieved J Rauch.32C Granderson singled to right, B Inge to third.32M Guerrier relieved J Mijares.320 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors Bottom of 7th with Zach Miner Pitching for Detroit, Punto singled to left , D Span struck out and O Cabrera homered to left schirng Punto. JMaurer then singled to right. F. Ni relieved Z Miner. JKubel flied out to center.. BLyon relived F. Ni getting MCuddyer to ground out to him ending the inning. 2 runs 3 hits 0 Errors. Top of the 8th Score M Guerrier pitching for Minnesota MOrdenez homered to left. MCaberear grounded out to third. C Guillen walked. W Ramirez ran for C Guillen. Raburn walked, sending W Ramirez to second JNathan relieved M Guerrier, B Inge pooped out to second and G Laird struck out looking ending the inning. 1 run 1 hits Bottom of the 8th: Nothing doing for Minny. Young grounds out to second, Harris grounds to third. Tolbert goes down swinging. No runs, no hits, none left on. Tied at 4. Top of the 9th: The Tigers had a man on third with none out but couldn't score. Santiago dropped down a bunt single to start the inning, and Adam Everett came on to run for him. Granderson followed with a single to center, moving Everett to third. Polanco, a great contact hitter, was called out on str ikes, and Magglio Ordonez lined into a double play, 6-3 (Granderson picked off at first). No runs, 2 hits, 1 left on. Tied at 4. Bottom of the 9th: Welcome to extra innings in the 163rd game of the season. Incredible. In the inning: Punto walks. Span sacrifices him to second. Closer Fernando Rodney comes in, Cabrera grounds to third. Mauer is intentionally walked, and Carlos Gomez ends the inning with a 6-4 ground out. No runs, no hits, 2 left on. Tied at 4. Top of the 10th: Tigers take the lead, 5-4. Three outs left for Minny. Jesse Crain comes on in relief to start the inning. Aubrey Huff is hit by a pitch with one out, Don Kelly pinch runs for him. Raburn strikes out before Inge doubles to left, scoring Kelly. Laird grounds out 4-3. 1 run, 1 hit, 1 left on. 5-4 Tigers. Bottom of the 10th: The Shot Heard 'Round the World is gettin a run for its money. The bottom of the 10th ended on a runner being thrown out at the plate, and the game is tied. Here's how it went: Cuddyer tripled to left. Raburn slid to try to catch the ball, but it rolled to the wall where Granderson got it. Young grounded out to short, keeping Cuddyer on third. Harris walked, and was replaced by Alexi Casilla at first. Tolbert singled to center, and Cuddyer scored. Casilla moved to third. Punto lined to left, and Raburn threw Casilla out at home on the tag attempt. 1 run, 2 hits, 1 left on. Tied at 5. Top of the 11th: Let's keep going, eh? Adam Everett strikes out. Ron Mahay replaces Jesse Crain. Granderson strikes out, and another pitching change: Bob Keppel comes in. Polanco lines out to second. No runs, no hits, none left on. Tied at 5. Bottom of the 11th: Span flies out to center, where Granderson makes a sliding catch. Cabrera goes down looking. Mauer grounds out to second. Wow. To the 12th inning. No runs, no hits, none left on. Tied at 5. Top of the 12th: Clete Thomas lines out to center. Cabrera walks. Don Kelly singles, Cabrera takes third, Kelly second. Raburn intentionally walked, loading the bases with one out. Inge grounds out to second, who gets the force out at home. Laird strikes out, stranding three. No runs, 1 hit, 3 left on. Tied at 5. Bottom of the 12th: Carlos Gomez starts off the winning rally with a single to left. Cuddyer grounds out to third, moving Gomez to second. Rodney intentionally walks Young. Casilla singles to right, Gomez scores without a play. They're going crazy! 1 run, 2 hits. Twins win, 6-5. Twins win, 6-5.