Twins 5, Tigers 3: Trevor Plouffe stroked the tiebreaking two-run single and Phil Hughes pitched seven strong innings as host Minnesota defeated Detroit.

Plouffe’s fifth-inning single with the bases loaded off Phil Coke was the first hit of the contest for the Twins and gave Minnesota a 4-2 lead. Jared Burton induced Miguel Cabrera to ground into a double play with the bases loaded in the eighth and Glen Perkins allowed a homer to Victor Martinez and a double to Austin Jackson to start the ninth before retiring three consecutive hitters for his sixth save.

Hughes (2-1) allowed two runs (one earned) and four hits and struck out six. Minnesota’s other runs scored on a throwing error, a bases-loaded walk and Josmil Pinto’s fifth homer while Detroit’s first two runs came on Cabrera’s double and Martinez’s sacrifice fly in the first.

Tigers starter Anibal Sanchez left after 2 2/3 hitless innings due to a blister on a pitching finger and Jose Ortega (0-1) suffered wildness issues with four walks – three occurring in the Twins’ four-run fifth. Catcher Bryan Holaday’s throwing error to third on a bunt allowed Sam Fuld to score Minnesota’s first run and Joe Mauer drew a bases-loaded walk off Coke to knot the score.

Plouffe followed with the line drive to center to give the Twins a two-run lead. Burton gave up two hits and a walk in the top of the eighth before working out of the jam and Pinto added a homer to left-center field in the bottom of the inning.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Tigers OF Torii Hunter had three hits and is 6-for-9 in the series. … Plouffe left the game in the seventh inning with a triceps injury suffered during his fifth-inning at-bat. … Ortega was recalled from Triple-A Toledo prior to the game and RHP Justin Miller was optioned to the same club.