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MINNEAPOLIS -- Playing against the woeful Twins boosted the Detroit Tigers playoff chances this season.Justin Verlander tied a season-high with 11 strikeouts and Detroit moved into the second AL wild-card spot by beating Minnesota 4-2 Thursday to sweep a day-night doubleheader.Erick Aybar drove in two runs for the Tigers, who moved a half-game ahead of Baltimore for the second wild card and trail Toronto by one game. Detroit went 9-0 at Minnesota this year.It will mean a lot more to me after 10 games, Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said of the wild-card lead. Theres still a little bit of the stretch run to go. But were clearly in the mix.Victor Martinez had a pinch-hit, three-run homer during a six-run ninth inning as Detroit won the opener 9-2. Justin Upton added his 26th home run.Verlander (15-8) allowed four hits in six innings, including home runs by Juan Centeno and Byron Buxton. He has won 12 of his last 13 starts against the Twins.Francisco Rodriguez got three outs for his 44th save in 48 chances.I think this ballclub is kind of unique, Verlander said. Everything is kind of matter of fact. Youve got the end goal, and were all working towards that. I dont think anybodys going to let ups and downs, ebbs and flows, get to you until the season. Hopefully, we get to celebrate and pop some bottles. But until that time comes, its on to the next one every day.Minnesota has lost six straight games and 98 overall, reaching 96 for the fourth time in six seasons and two short of its 2011 total.Ervin Santana (7-11) gave up four runs -- two earned -- five hits and four walks in in six innings in the matchup with Verlander.In the opener, Anibal Sanchez allowed one run and two hits in five innings in a spot start, and Alex Wilson (4-0), Shane Green and Mark Lowe finished the five-hitter.The nightcap was another sloppy game for the Twins, who committed two errors, had two wild pitches and one passed ball. They had three errors and five wild pitches in the doubleheader, scheduled to make up Wednesdays rainout.Its kind of been typical for us to hang in games and then not be able to finish, Minnesota manager Paul Molitor said. Thats part of what were hoping were developing here is these guys are understanding the fine line when you get down to the end, whether its making a pitch or making a play or getting a hit. It can be small when youre losing these close games, especially when theyre low-scoring like that.AMONG SECONDSBrian Doziers first-inning homer in the first game was his 42nd of the season and 40th while playing second base, establishing a new AL record for homers in a season by a second baseman. Dozier passed Alfonso Sorianos total in 2002. Only Rogers Hornsby (42 in 1922), Davey Johnson (42 in 1973) and Ryne Sandberg (40 in 1990) have hit more.Its just another number, Dozier said. But at the same time, I know the fans are enjoying it, so you come out and you play for them. To get a chance to do that here at home is pretty cool.Dozier had his 24-game hitting streak snapped in the second game.TRAINERS ROOMTigers: 2B Ian Kinsler (concussion) had an on-field workout and could be cleared to play Friday if he feels well after the workout.Twins: DH/3B Miguel Sano (lower back tightness) was back in the lineup for the first time since Sept. 12. Molitor said Sano was still sore but was anxious to return. . Molitor confirmed RHP Trevor May has a stress fracture in his back. May was 2-2 with a 5.27 ERA in 44 relief appearances. He made three trips to the DL with the injury, which hadnt been detected in previous exams. . RF Max Kepler left the second game with a mild neck strain after hitting the wall awkwardly.UP NEXTTigers: RHP Michael Fulmer (10-7) is to start Friday against Kansas City LHP Danny Duffy (12-2) in the opener of Detroits final homestand. Fulmer has lost four of his last six decisions and is 0-2 against Kansas City this season despite a 2.75 ERA in three starts.Twins: RHP Kyle Gibson (6-10) is slated to make his final home start of the season on Friday against Seattle, which will start LHP James Paxton (4-7).Phil Jones England Jersey . In taking its goal tally to 99 in all competitions already this season, City delivered another demonstration of its lethal firepower at Etihad Stadium to set up a fourth-round match at home to another second-tier team -- Watford. John Stones England Jersey . Barcelonas entertaining victory ensured the defending Spanish champions retained their share of the league lead with Atletico Madrid two rounds ahead of their meeting in the capital. Real Madrid needed a late goal by substitute Jese Rodriguez to earn a 3-2 victory at Valencia to stay in third place and three points behind its title rivals. http://www.englandsoccerpro.com/Eric-Dier-England-Jersey/ . -- The Missouri Tigers might not have a roster full of superstars. Kyle Walker Jersey . 8 Kansas to a 64-63 win over Texas Tech on Tuesday night. The freshman from Vaughan, Ont. Jack Butland Jersey .C. -- After a listless first half, the Washington Wizards used a big third quarter run to beat the Charlotte Bobcats Bradley Beal scored 21 points and the Wizards used a 17-0 run in the third quarter to take control of what had been a close game and beat the Bobcats 97-83 on Tuesday night.Canterbury consolidated their spot in the NRL top four with a gutsy 32-22 win over the Wests Tigers.Bulldogs winger Brett Morris continued his extraordinary try-scoring blitz on Saturday night, bagging his second double in as many weeks to take his tally to seven tries in just three matches.The former NSW State of Origin winger could have had four but was twice denied by try-saving tackles from Kevin Naiqama either side of halftime.Morris effort was matched by prop Sam Kasiano, who set up two tries in a dynamic first stint upon introduction in the middle of the first half.In front of a crowd of 16,212 at a wet ANZ Stadium, and without State of Origin duo Josh Jackson and David Klemmer, the Bulldogs were twice forced to come from behind against a gallant Tigers outfit.The visitors led 14-4 when Kasiano turned the game, twice handling possession to put Morris over in the 27th minute before offloading to a runaway Josh Reynolds in the ensuing set.The Tigers, who had key trio Robbie Farah, Aaron Woods and James Tedesco also on Origin duty, regained the lead when debutant Jacob Liddle crossed just after halftime.They could have kicked further ahead when Tim Simona broke into the backfield a minute later, but fill-in fullback Jordan Rankin spilled an easy catch with the tryline begging.Instead Canterbury fought back again,, Morris completing his double in the 60th minute before Sam Perrett extended the Bulldogs winning streak to four with a try on fulltime.dddddddddddd.The loss for the Tigers, who had strong performances from Naiqama, Mitchell Moses and Tim Grant, leaves them in 11th spot, two points out of the top eight.Tigers coach Jason Taylor bemoaned his teams poor ball control in the second half and said they failed to overcome the disappointment of Rankins error.Those things can be hard to overcome, he said.Ill talk with the guys in detail about it but when you know there should be six points more on the scoreboard and theres still 30-odd minutes to go in the game, it can be hard mentally to overcome that and get past it.We backed that up with more errors and that was the game, really.Bulldogs coach Des Hasler praised his side for recovering from a slow start and a penalty count that was heavily against them in the first half.At one stage there, they got about five out of the six penalties that were given, he said.Theyre big numbers, theyre big stats to overcome. So there was a fair bit of adversity we had to overcome but we were patient and when we got our opportunities, we were able to capitalise. ' ' '