Dozier’s homer caps seven-run ninth, Twins beat Tigers 8

Friday’s Twins win seemed so unlikely because of how in control of the game Justin Verlander had been through 7 innings.

Minnesota just got Ervin Santana back from suspension, and he shined in his season debut on Sunday, tossing 8 innings and allowing just 2 runs on 3 hits in a no decision against the Royals. Dozier homered off Detroit closer Joakim Soria (3-1), who blew his third save in 23 chances. One out later, with Gose on third, Kinsler connected on a two-strike pitch. After walking light-hitting center fielder Aaron Hicks and grazing Kurt Suzuki in the shoulder with a breaking ball – after being ahead of both hitters 0-2, mind you – Soria imploded in the worst way possible, allowing a rocket single by Santana and Dozier’s home run. He has given up one run or less in four of his last five starts, a stretch in which he has a 1.97 ERA and has struck out 38 batters in 32 innings. Verlander completely flummoxed the Twins all evening long, allowing just two hits in his first seven frames. He finished the night 2-for-5 with four RBIs and the homer. I thought it was (gone). It allowed Brian Dozier to reach first base.

For the second time in five days, Dozier’s teammates spilled from the dugout and mobbed him at home plate as he completed the sweetest trot in the game. Teammates congratulated him at home plate with dances and displays of momentary ecstasy, fans cheered him as he answered questions for an on-field interview, and they cheered some more when Trevor Plouffe took cover behind T.C. Bear and doused the powerful second baseman with a cooler full of water.

In Chicago, pinch hitter J.B. Shuck’s one-out sacrifice liner as the White Sox beat the Cubs 1-0. The southpaw struck out eight in the win.

The White Sox took the opener of the three-game interleague city series in front of an announced crowd of 41,530 at Wrigley Field on a sun-kissed afternoon featuring temperatures in the mid-70s.

Soria, the Tigers’ closer, was working for the third straight game. The Twins have won six straight games when scoring more than three runs.

The score was tied 2-all with two outs in the eighth when Kinsler hit an RBI double off the top of the left-field fence, chasing Pelfrey. Dozier did the Twins one better, blasting a walk-off home run to left field.

The Rangers snapped a five-game skid overall and an eight-game losing streak at Globe Life Park. Martinez, Victor Martinez and Yoenis Cespedes, but regardless of what happens in this series, do not forget to vote for Cespedes in the 2015 All-Star Game Final Vote.

The Tigers scored 7.2 runs per game in the first five since Cabrera strained his calf, but they had to scratch and claw for everything they got against Pelfrey. Salvador Perez led off the eighth with his 15th home run, a shot off reliever Ryan Tepera. Greg Holland worked the ninth for his 18th save.

In San Francisco, Hunter Pence hit a grand slam as part of an eight-run fourth inning and the Giants pounded on 22 hits in the rout. But after giving up four runs without recording an out against the Twins, Soria now has to bounce back.