Twins sweep Tigers and climb above .500 for first time since June

Brooks Lee hit a two-run single in the eighth to lift the Twins to a 3-1 win that completed a four-game sweep of the Tigers and moved Minnesota to 7-6, its first winning record since June 15.

Brooks Lee entered Thursday's game as a defensive replacement and delivered a two-run single in the eighth inning that gave the Minnesota Twins a 3-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers. Manager Derek Shelton had started Lee on the bench to give him a mental and physical break after a difficult early stretch. Right-hander Mick Abel turned in six scoreless innings after early-season struggles, and several relievers combined to finish the game. The win completed a four-game sweep of division rival Detroit and moved the Twins to 7-6, their first record above .500 since June 15 of last season. Game highlights: - Brooks Lee batted with the bases loaded and two outs in the eighth and delivered a two-run single after entering earlier as a defensive replacement. - Lee had struggled at the plate and in the field earlier in the season, hitting .167 with no extra-base hits before Thursday. - Mick Abel pitched six shutout innings; catcher Victor Caratini and Abel persuaded manager Derek Shelton to leave Abel in the game late in his outing. - Garrett Acton earned the win in his Twins debut after joining Minnesota following a minor trade. - Eric Orze closed the game, becoming the fourth different Twins reliever to record a save in the four-game sweep; the use of four different pitchers for saves in one series is a rare occurrence since saves became official in 1969. - The Twins improved to 7-6, marking their first winning mark since June 15 last season, and new principal owner Tom Pohlad visited the clubhouse after the game. Summary: The four-game sweep provided an immediate morale boost and returned the Twins to a winning record for the first time since mid-June. The series combined a late offensive rally from a struggling starter, a six-inning outing from a young starter, and varied bullpen contributions. Undetermined at this time.