By AP
MINNEAPOLIS – Gerald Laird hit a solo home run in the 13th inning to lift the Detroit Tigers to a 10-9 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Thursday night.
Ryan Raburn added three hits and two RBIs after entering the game in the sixth inning for the injured Miguel Cabrera. Jose Valverde (2-3) pitched a career-high three innings of relief to help the Tigers avoid a three-game sweep.
Laird, who entered the game in the 11th inning, hit a 1-1 pitch from Nick Blackburn (8-9) into the bullpen in left-center field.
Blackburn was scheduled to start the series opener against Texas on Friday night.
Danny Valencia had three hits and two RBIs for the Twins, who led 7-3 going into the eighth and 9-8 in the ninth only to let both leads slip away. They lead the White Sox by 3 1/2 games in the AL Central.