The Detroit Tigers are the 2013 American League Central division champions.
Detroit clinched the division with a 1-nothing win over the Twins at Target Field Wednesday night.
Controlled excitement pic.twitter.com/amhheENFek
— LaVelle E. Neal III (@LaVelleNeal) September 26, 2013
It was a fitting night to clinch for three reasons:
- Max Scherzer, a leading candidate to win the AL Cy Young Award, struck out 10 Twins over seven innings for his 21st win of the season.
- The Twins, as we pointed out in an earlier post, are in a giving mood. They helped the Athletics clinch the AL West, and there’s a chance the Indians clinch a playoff berth against Minnesota later this week.
- Ex-Twins fan-favorite Torii Hunter drove in the only run of the game with a first-inning single.
Kevin Corriea took the loss, but he pitched very well or the Twins. He allowed just one run on seven hits over seven innings.
As the season winds down, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire told the Pioneer Press how he feels.
“I know what a boxer feels like, now,” he said. “Without the bruises.”
The final series of the season opens Thursday at Target Field against Cleveland.
Note: It was the 62nd time this season the Twins have struck out 10+ times in a game.
