Fielder bomb lifts Detroit past Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — All the spirit and fight the Minnesota Twins showed in the final month of the season wasn't enough to hide the truth for manager Ron Gardenhire.

Of all the disappointing numbers in another last-place season for the Twins, none stung more than a 31-50 record at home, the worst mark in the majors.

The final loss came in the Target Field finale when Prince Fielder hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning to lift the Detroit Tigers to a 2-1 win on Sunday.

“We haven't won enough games for our fans,” Gardenhire said. “They deserve wins. All's I can say is these guys put it out there. They tried. They were getting after it today and they put it on the line. Unfortunately it was a tough season for our fans at home. We didn't see enough wins here. We'll finish off this season and try to make it better.”

Joe Mauer went 3 for 4 to raise his average to .323, putting him right on the heels of Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera for the AL batting crown. Cabrera went 0 for 3 to fall to .325 as he tries to become the first player since 1967 to win the Triple Crown.

Liam Hendriks allowed five hits and struck out three in seven shutout innings and the Twins took a 1-0 lead on Pedro Florimon's single in the seventh inning. But rock-steady setup man Jared Burton (3-2) gave up an opposite field homer to Fielder to let the lead slip away and Jose Valverde picked up his 34th save to help the Tigers take a season-high three-game lead on the White Sox in the division with three games to go.

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