Tigers hit 4 HRs off Blackburn in 7-4 win vs Twins
Johnny Damon's three-run shot in the fifth inning was Detroit's fourth home run against Nick Blackburn, and the surging Tigers went on to beat the Minnesota Twins 7-4 Saturday.
Miguel Cabrera hit a two-run homer in the first, rookie Alex Avila and Magglio Ordonez followed with solo shots in each of the next two innings and Damon's drive gave the Tigers a four-run lead.
AL Central-leading Detroit has won five straight overall and 17 of 19 at home to move a season-high 11 games over .500. The third-place Twins have lost four in a row and seven of nine.
Jeremy Bonderman (5-6) gave up three runs in six innings for the win. Jose Valverde pitched a perfect ninth for his 19th save.
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Blackburn (7-7) allowed seven runs and seven hits over four innings and matched a career high by giving up four homers.
Even though the Tigers roughed up Blackburn and didn't have to face All-Star slugger Justin Morneau for the second straight game, they couldn't put the game out of reach.
Orlando Hudson hit a two-run single in the third for Minnesota and Michael Cuddyer had a solo homer the next inning.
Jason Kubel, the only batter to face Tigers reliever Daniel Schlereth, hit a leadoff double in the seventh and scored on Delmon Young's grounder to make it 7-4.
Minnesota also made some slick plays defensively to keep it relatively close.
Third baseman Nick Punto stopped a shot in the hole, wheeled and threw home to prevent Austin Jackson from scoring in the first, an at-bat before Cabrera hit his 22nd homer.
The next inning, Punto went to his left to get another grounder and made a throw to first from behind the pitcher's mound one at-bat before Avila's homer.
Poor starting pitching, though, made the gems in the field moot for the slumping Twins.
NOTES: Morneau will miss the All-Star game Tuesday night in Anaheim, Calif. He was evaluated by Dr. Kenneth Podell, a concussions specialist who consults with pro teams in Detroit, and was advised to rest in Minnesota during the break. ... Minnesota fell to three games over .500 for the first time since April 14 when it was 6-3.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)