MINNEAPOLIS, April 3 (UPI) — Eduardo Escobar’s double drove in the tying and winning runs in the bottom of the ninth inning Wednesday, rallying the Minnesota Twins over Detroit 3-2.
Trailing 2-1 entering their final at-bat, the Twins put together a walk and two hits for a pair of runs against the Tigers’ bullpen, corralling their first victory of the season.
Detroit’s Joaquin Benoit began the ninth by issuing a walk to leadoff hitter Trevor Plouffe. Jamey Carroll came in as a pinch-runner and Phil Coke (0-1) took over on the mound for the Tigers.
After Chris Parmalee flew out, Brian Dozier blooped a single, sending Carroll to third.
That brought up Escobar, who belted a pitch deep into center field that fell between outfielders Austin Jackson and Andy Dirks and bounced off the fence, allowing both runners to score for the walk-off win.
Glen Perkins (1-0) earned the victory with a scoreless top of the ninth for Minnesota.
Miguel Cabrera drove in both Detroit runs.
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