The Twins were dumped by the Tigers, 4-0 Friday night at Target Field.
It was a pitchers’ duel until Minnesota starter Scott Diamond was pounded for four runs in the top of the sixth inning.
The damage was done when Diamond gave up back-to-back-to-back two-out doubles to the heart of Detroit’s lineup.
Prince Fielder started things with a two-run double off the base of the wall in right-center. Victor Martinez then ripped a double to deep center to score Fielder, and Martinez trotted home when the very next hitter — Jhonny Peralta — doubled to deep left.
The four runs were all Tigers starter Rick Porcello needed. The right-hander held the Twins to three hits over seven shutout innings. He struck out five and didn’t walk a batter.
It’s the second consecutive game the Twins have been held to three hits.
The hits came via a Clete Thomas single in the third, a Ryan Doumit infield single in the fourth, and a ground-rule double to center from Oswaldo Arcia in the fifth.
The loss drops the Twins to 7 1/2 games behind the first place Tigers.
Game 2 of the series is Saturday at 7:15 p.m. Samuel Deduno starts for the Twins against Detroit’s Anibal Sanchez, who threw a one-hit shutout in his last start against Minnesota.
