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and C Marc-Andre Cliche were scratched by Colorado.
DETROIT - Max Scherzer was finally willing to do a bit of scoreboard watching. Kevin Mchale Jersey .For the Detroit Tigers, a fourth straight AL Central title is within reach.Ive said the whole time Im not worried about what Kansas City does, and Im focused only on what we do, but this is the first time this season, I actually want Kansas City to lose, Scherzer said. That way we can come to the park (Friday) and win, and clinch it.Scherzer didnt get his wish a€” the second-place Royals won Thursday night a€” but the Tigers had already reduced their magic number to two with a 4-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins. Detroit needs more than just a victory to clinch the division Friday a€” but if the Tigers win and the Royals lose, the Central will belong to Motown again.The Tigers, who have already wrapped up a post-season spot, lead Kansas City by two games with three to play.Scherzer made it through six tough innings, Victor Martinez hit a two-run homer in the first and Miguel Cabrera added a solo shot in the fourth. Detroits bullpen, so often a problem this year, breezed through the final three innings without allowing a baserunner.Weve battled Scherzer pretty good through the course of the year, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. Hes got great stuff and we thought it was moving everywhere tonight. We had a lot of good at-bats and made him throw a ton of pitches. He still hangs in there.Scherzer (18-5) allowed two runs and five hits.Minnesotas Trevor May (3-6) allowed three runs and five hits in six innings. He struck out seven and walked one.Martinez gave Detroit an early lead with his 32nd homer of the year. Cabreras 24th made it 3-0, but the Twins made Scherzer work. After escaping trouble in the second and fourth, the right-hander allowed a two-run double to Joe Mauer in the fifth.Scherzer struck out nine and walked four while throwing 116 pitches.He had good stuff. I think he was a little erratic at times with his location. As a result, his pitch count got up, Detroit manager Brad Ausmus said. He worked out of a couple jams and then held them to a couple runs.Rajai Davis doubled home an insurance run for Detroit in the seventh.RELIEVEDDetroits maligned bullpen held on rather easily. Joakim Soria pitched the seventh, Joba Chamberlain handled the eighth and Joe Nathan finished for his 34th save in 41 chances.Nathan struck out two in the ninth and lowered his ERA to 4.89.Today was smooth. The results worked out, Nathan said. Was it my best stuff? I dont know about that. I threw pretty good.KEPT IN CHECKMinnesota has given the Tigers problems of late, splitting a four-game set in late August and taking two of three from Detroit earlier this month. The Twins scored 60 runs in those seven games, but they were quiet offensively Thursday.Mauer drove in Minnesotas only runs but also struck out twice.TRAINERS ROOMTwins: Minnesota does not expect 3B Trevor Plouffe to need surgery after he broke his left forearm Wednesday, but hes seeking a second opinion just to be sure.Tigers: Detroit RHP Anibal Sanchez was up in the bullpen briefly, but he didnt come into the game. Sanchez hasnt pitched since being activated Tuesday from the disabled list. He was on the DL with a pectoral strain.Ausmus says hed like to get Sanchez in a game soon, but its hard to find a good spot for what would be his first appearance since Aug. 8.I think he does need to get in there, Ausmus said. We were looking for opportunities the last two days. Im a little hesitant to throw him, first inning out of the pen, into the fire of a one-run game in the seventh, but we do have to get him in there.UP NEXTThe Tigers send Rick Porcello (15-12) to the mound Friday against Minnesotas Anthony Swarzak (3-2) on a night Detroit hopes will turn celebratory. The Tigers have not clinched a division title at home since 1987. Gordon Hayward Celtics Jersey . A lovely summer day in England with abundant sunshine and minimal wind allowed him to attack Royal Liverpool. Kevin Mchale Celtics Jersey . After a first half in which he thought "the lid was on the basket," the Toronto Raptors coach watched his squad mount a second half surge to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 98-91.WASHINGTON -- Colorado Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov enjoyed his time with Washington Capitals. Despite some nerves, he also had a good time in his first game against them. Alex Tanguay scored twice and Varlamov made 40 saves in his return to Washington as the Avalanche remained perfect under coach Patrick Roy with a 5-1 win on Saturday night. "I got too excited to play against my old team," said Varlamov, who was drafted by Washington in 2006 and traded to Colorado in 2011. "Thats why I think I am too nervous. In the warmups, my legs were shaking. The whole first period my legs were shaking. But after the first period, I feel so much better." It is the first time the Avalanche franchise is 5-0 since the 1994-95 season when the team was the Quebec Nordiques. "We take it one day at a time and just say, Why not? Why not us?" Roy said of Colorados early success. "Were working hard every day. Were humble. We know were playing against good teams." Roy was careful when asked if he sees some of himself in the 25-year-old Varlamov, who improved to 4-0 with a 1.00 goals against average. "I dont want to start comparing," he said, "but at the same time, hes playing outstanding. Both goalies have been, Wow, for us. What I like about Varly is hes always under control." Rookie Nathan MacKinnon added his first NHL goal and an assist, and Matt Duchene and Jamie McGinn also scored for Colorado. Paul Stastny earned two assists, including his 400th NHL point as Colorado went 3-0 on a trip that included stops at Toronto and Boston. Varlamov carried a shutout into the third period before Eric Fehr beat him at 2:03. "He played great. Hes been playing great," Washington coach Adam Oates said of Varlamov. "Everything they do right now is turning to gold." Michael Neuvirth made 23 saves for the Capitals (1-4) in his first start this season. Washington has lost three straight. "It starts in our end. Weve got to be stronger. Weve got to make sure pucks get out," Fehr said. "I think we need to want the puck a little bit more." Trailing 2-0 after one period, the Capitals put 19 shots on Varlamov in the second without scoring. Robert Parish Jersey. "He made a lot of big saves," Roy said. "I think we gave up like 14 scoring chances, which is a lot, but he was solid." Midway through the period, Fehr shot wide while Varlamov was out of position. Minutes later, Varlamov denied Tom Wilson in front. "The second period, thats a shame," Oates said. "We come out and dominate the period, probably our best period of the season." Colorado stretched its lead to 3-0 with 2:19 left in the second after the Capitals were caught with too many men on the ice. Stastny fed the 18-year-old MacKinnon in front, and MacKinnon -- the top pick in this years NHL draft -- beat Neuvirth. He celebrated by skating to the corner and jumping into the glass. Tanguay made it 4-0 with a short-handed goal at 1:19 of the third. Fehr spoiled Varlamovs shutout bid off a pass from behind the goal line by Jason Chimera. Tanguay opened the scoring at 6:42 of the first when his shot from the left circle deflected off a Washington stick and past Neuvirth. Later in the period, just after an Avalanche power play ended, Colorado made it 2-0. "I like our intensity. Theres no doubt about it," Roy said. "I thought we were very focused before the game. We jumped on them right at the start." Duchene skated in on the right side, worked around defenceman John Carlson and lifted the puck over Neuvirths shoulder for his third goal. Washington went 0 for 2 on the power play. Colorado hasnt allowed a power-play goal in 12 short-handed situations this season. NOTES: Avalanche LW Cody McLeod was assisted off the ice after he blocked Alex Ovechkins shot in the second period. ... Washington D John Erskine sat out with an upper body injury. LW Aaron Volpatti was also scratched. ... D Nick Holden, D Tyson Barrie and C Marc-Andre Cliche were scratched by Colorado. ... Washington D Nate Schmidt, recalled from Hershey of the AHL on Friday, made his NHL debut. ... The Nordiques were 7-0 in the 1985-86 season, the best start in franchise history. ' ' '
- Created: Aug 7 '19
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