Zach Miner had struggled in his previous two starts and when you looking at the pitching match ups, this looked like the game the Tigers would least likely have a chance to win.  On the other side was Francisco Liriano, who’s throwing better then anyone right now.  Liriano was good, but not good enough.  He gave up two runs in the first inning on Magglio Ordonez’s two run double, and by the third inning, Zach Miner had given up two runs as well.

Miner went six innings and didn’t give up a run in his final three frames.  Jamie Walker pitched two scoreless innings and then Fernando Rodney threw a perfect ninth to send the game into extra frames.

In the top of the tenth, Chris Shelton led off with a single and Omar Infante ran for him.  Infante was bunted over to second by Vance Wilson.  Curtis Granderson struck out and that left things up to Placido Polanco.  Polanco had hit .400 with men in scoring position heading into today’s game and he kept up with a clutch single that moved Infante to third.  Then Craig Monroe came up huge with a single that drove home Omar Infante to make it 3-2.

Todd Jones got the Twins out in the order, including striking out the final batter, to pick up his 28th save.  Pat Caputo mentioned this over at Open Book, but Jones has been throwing very well.  He’s now thrown 11 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings and it the last time he blew a game was June 14th.

The White Sox won, so they move a game ahead of the Twins and remain 8 1/2 games behind the Tigers.  Tomorrow we have Nate Robertson vs. Brad Radke.

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