Jurrjens' gem keeps Tigers in contention in Central

Tigers 6, Twins 4

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- After sweeping the Minnesota Twins, Detroit wasted little time in looking forward to a crucial three-game series at division-leading Cleveland beginning Monday.

But the Tigers did spend a few minutes celebrating Todd Jones' 300th career save.

"Great win for us, good for [Jones], off to Cleveland," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said.

Jones became the 21st pitcher in major league history to reach the milestone and Jair Jurrjens took a no-hitter into the sixth inning in only his fifth major league start, as the Tigers beat the Twins 6-4 on Sunday to complete the three-game sweep.

"We've got a 260-yard approach to win the Open, and we've got to stick it on the green," Jones said, using a golf analogy to describe his team's playoff chase.

The Tigers won their seventh consecutive game against the Twins and pulled within 4 1/2 games of Cleveland in the division. The Indians lost 4-3 to Kansas City earlier in the day.

"We've got a slugger's chance, and it's great," Jones said.

Leyland started Jurrjens on Sunday so that Kenny Rogers could pitch the opener against the Indians. Jurrjens (3-1) retired 16 of 17 batters -- his one blemish a walk to Brian Buscher -- before giving up two extra-base hits in the sixth.

Jurrjens, who left the clubhouse before reporters had a chance to speak with him, wasn't overpowering but displayed good control and was content to let the Twins swing and harmlessly fly out.

"He pitched very well," Leyland said.

The Curacao-native, who began the season in Double-A Erie, lasted 5 1/3 innings with six strikeouts and a walk.

"He pretty much shut us down," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "He had great location today. He shut us down for a long time."

Tim Byrdak, Fernando Rodney and Joel Zumaya combined in relief before Jones worked through a shaky ninth.

After allowing an RBI single to Nick Punto, Jones got Michael Cuddyer to ground out with the bases loaded for his 37th save in 42 chances.

"Of course I made it interesting," Jones said.

Curtis Granderson led off the game by sending a 3-1 offering from Scott Baker (9-8) off the right field seats.

The next inning, Baker made a bad throw to first on a comebacker, allowing Timo Perez to score from first and Ramon Santiago to reach third on the error. Santiago scored on Brandon Inge's ensuing sacrifice bunt to make it 3-0.

"Sometimes that happens, but you have a responsibility to continue to pitch and try to provide a good start and keep the team in the game," Baker said. "It just stinks giving up a leadoff home run."

Gary Sheffield scored from third on a double play in the third and Detroit added two more runs in the eighth on a double by Carlos Guillen and a sacrifice fly by Ivan Rodriguez.

"We pretty much gave them the ballgame with mistakes early," Gardenhire said.

Baker settled down after the fifth and recorded back-to-back 1-2-3 innings before being pulled for Pat Neshek. Baker lasted seven innings, allowing eight hits and striking out three.

Minnesota, the reigning AL Central champion, was swept for the eighth time this season.

The Twins finally broke through in the sixth when Nick Punto legged out a double. Jason Tyner followed with a standup triple to erase the shutout and Leyland promptly signaled for Byrdak.

The Twins scored again in the seventh thanks to back-to-back errors that allowed Cuddyer to score. Buscher made it to second on the play but ran through a stop sign on Chris Heintz's ensuing single and was thrown out at the plate.

Zumaya walked in a run in the eighth to make it 6-3 but struck out Joe Mauer looking to end the threat.

"We had lots of chances and just couldn't come up with the final big hit to get it back in there," Gardenhire said.

Game notes
Granderson has three homers in 23 career at-bats against Baker. He has six leadoff home runs this season and 12 in the first inning in his career. ... Minnesota has scored only 12 runs in its last seven losses to Detroit. ... Gardenhire was forced to reshuffle his lineup after INF Alexi Casilla showed up late to the clubhouse. Gardenhire scratched Casilla and inserted Tyner -- who originally was batting sixth -- into the leadoff spot.