double.dddddddddddd A batter later, Josh Mazzola blasted a two-run shot over the wall in left and the Saltdogs lead was down to two. For Mazzola, it was his second home run in a

MINNEAPOLIS -- Down a couple of key cogs in their lineup, the Detroit Tigers didnt flinch.The all-around performance was well-timed, with little room left on the schedule for stumbles.Matt Boyd bounced back from a bad start by breezing through eight innings, backed by home runs from James McCann and Miguel Cabrera as the Tigers beat the Minnesota Twins 8-1 on Tuesday night to cut the deficit between them and the second AL wild card spot to 1 1/2 games with 12 to go.This is what you live for. I wouldnt want it any other way, said Boyd (6-4), who lost 8-1 to the Twins at home last week.Boyd gave up a homer to Robbie Grossman in the seventh among only three hits allowed. He matched his career best with seven strikeouts and walked just one, after being pounded by Minnesota for seven runs in 3 2/3 innings on Sept. 13.He was on tonight, and youve got to tip your hat to him, Minnesotas Byron Buxton said.Detroit played without Victor Martinez (bruised knee) and second baseman Ian Kinsler (concussion-like symptoms), both having been hit by pitches from Clevelands Trevor Bauer on Sunday.McCann, in the designated hitter role for Martinez, sent a three-run shot into second deck above left-center in a four-run sixth against Hector Santiago (12-9). Cabrera hit his 34th homer the following inning, a two-run drive against Michael Tonkin.Cabrera is batting .375 in 32 at-bats over seven games at Target Field this season, with five doubles, three homers, seven runs and six RBI.Cameron Maybin had an RBI triple, Justin Upton drove in two runs and everybody in the lineup had at least one hit for the Tigers, who damaged their playoff push with a four-game split against the worst-in-the-majors Twins last week. Theyre only 8-9 this month.Brian Dozier had a lonely leadoff single in the bottom of the first and stole second base with none out, only to be stranded by Boyd. Kepler walked in the second inning and was quickly caught stealing. Then Boyd retired 14 straight batters until Grossman went deep with one out in the seventh.Thats a sign of a guy thats getting more comfortable, Tigers catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia said.MIGGY CAN MOVEThe significance of the situation wasnt lost on Cabrera, who started the fourth inning by crushing a double to right field and sliding in to beat the throw from Max Kepler. The hulking power hitter hustled to advance a base by tagging on a fly ball to Buxton in medium-range center field. Then he rumbled home for a 2-0 lead on a groundout to third, sliding underneath catcher John Ryan Murphys tag after the throw home to try to get the double play.We had three chances to throw out Cabrera. I dont know if you ever see that, Twins manager Paul Molitor said.Cabrera was initially called out, but the replay review brought a reversal and a rousing round of high-fives in the dugout.Anytime a big player does something like that, it pumps everybody up, Saltalamacchia said.Said manager Brad Aumsus: Hes got great instincts on the bases. Hes not 21 anymore, but he still has a pretty good idea of what he is and isnt capable of.STILL STREAKINGDozier stretched his hitting streak to 23 straight games, the longest for the Twins in nine years since Torii Hunter had one of the same length and the fourth-longest in the major leagues this season.MENDING ZIMMERMANNTigers right-hander Jordan Zimmerman threw another simulated game without physical trouble, trying to return from a neck injury that has limited him to two starts since June that didnt last past the second inning, but his mechanics arent not quite right enough yet to return to the rotation.TRAINERS ROOMTigers: The likelihood of 3B Nick Castellanos (broken hand) returning this season has lessened, after feeling discomfort on some swings during batting practice on Monday at the minor league complex in Lakeland, Florida.Twins: 3B Miguel Sano (sore back) missed his seventh straight game, but hes been taking groundballs and batting practice and should be able to play this week. 1B Joe Mauer was given another rest for his ailing quadriceps.UP NEXTTigers: RHP Buck Farmer (0-0, 4.07 ERA in 13 relief appearances) was chosen to make his first major league start of 2016 on Wednesday night, the latest to fill Zimmermanns spot with Mike Pelfrey and Anibal Sanchez struggling all season. Farmer has made seven starts over the last two seasons for the Tigers and 20 starts this year for Triple-A Toledo.Twins: RHP Jose Berrios (2-7, 8.88 ERA) will make his 13th start in the middle game of the series. He finished only four innings in his last turn, but the rookie allowed two runs to match a season low. Acheter Yeezy 700 . But when it comes to determining if Raymond will find a place on the Leafs roster when training camp concludes in a week, well, that decision will ultimately fall to the head coach. Air Max 95 Pas Cher France . Denis Coderre, the former federal MP who was elected mayor on Nov. 3, has drawn the ire of some Montreal Canadiens. During last nights game he tweeted: "Hello? Can we get a one-way ticket to (minor-league) Hamilton for David Desharnais please. http://www.airmaxpaschervente.fr/destockage-old-skool-france.html . In Europe, top teams seem to be largely happy with their squads after spending nearly $1 billion in the off-season. And although English league clubs are unlikely to splash cash in January, Arsenal and Chelsea could be tempted to strengthen their squads with new strikers. Vente Air Max 270 . After Mondays hard-fought loss, the wait seemed longer than usual. Getting set to go their separate ways for a short Christmas break, the Raptors coach credited his team for their effort on a seemingly impossible three-game road trip, urging them to build on that success when they get back to work at the end of the week. Vente Air Max 95 . Following a lopsided 5-2 loss against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night, Paul MacLean told reporters that "theres a lack of focus, theres a lack of leadership and theres a lack of preparation" with his struggling team. That came on the heels of Bryan Murray taking the unusual step of going into the locker room at the Prudential Center and addressing the players himself.They loaded the bases in the ninth, but the Winnipeg Goldeyes couldnt quite finish the job. Winnipeg stranded two runners in scoring position in the ninth inning, as they took a tough 7-6 loss to the Lincoln Saltdogs on Wednesday. "They were able to get some big innings. That four run inning seemed to be the difference," said Goldeyes manager Rick Forney. "We had our opportunities with the tying run at third and winning run at second, but we needed one more hit." Winnipeg got on the board in the third. Trailing 2-0, Ray Sadler tripled off the wall in right field to cut Lincolns lead in half. It was Sadlers 48th RBI of the season and 26th in 28 games since coming to Winnipeg in a trade. He would score to tie the game on the next at-bat on a Ryan Scoma groundout. A night after the Goldeyes broke a team record for hits in the fifth, the Saltdogs put up a crooked number in the same inning to take a big lead. Curt Smith would make it a two-run game on his third double of the game. The next batter, Gac, went off the opposite field foul pole for a three run home run and it was 7-2. The Goldeyes would take a big bite out of the lead in their half of the fifth. Casey Haerther starrted the scoring with an RBI double.dddddddddddd A batter later, Josh Mazzola blasted a two-run shot over the wall in left and the Saltdogs lead was down to two. For Mazzola, it was his second home run in as many nights and his team was right back in the game. Amos Ramon started a ninth inning rally with a lead-off double off Lincoln closer R.J. Rodriguez. The Goldeyes would proceed to load the bases with one out against Rodriguez and would come within one when Ramon scored on a RBI groundout. However, Fehlandt Lentini grounded out to end the game and the Goldeyes five-game winning streak. Pete Parise earned his eighth win of the year for Lincoln. He went six innings, allowing ten hits while striking out three. Rodriguez worked the wild ninth inning and got his 23rd save of the season. Justin Garcia gave up all seven of the Saltdogs runs in 5 2/3 innings of work for the loss. He gave up seven hits, all of which went for extra bases. The Goldeyes are still in a position to win their fifth straight series on Thursday when they wrap up an 11-game homestand against the Saltdogs. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. with Chris Salamida getting the call for Winnipeg in the series finale. ' ' '