MLB: Duffey, Plouffe, lead Twins over Detroit

MINNEAPOLIS - Tyler Duffey pitched 6 1/3 strong innings and got plenty of offensive support as the Minnesota Twins beat the Detroit Tigers 7-1 at Target Field on Monday night.
Duffey allowed just one run and scattered seven hits along with two walks while fanning seven in winning his third game.
The Twins were led offensively by third baseman Trevor Plouffe, who got the offense going with a two-run double in the first inning. He also walked. Right fielder Torii Hunter had a pair of hits and an RBI, and first baseman Joe Mauer had three hits, including a double, extending his streak of reaching base to 34 games.
Each team loaded the bases with one out in the first inning, but only one was able to take advantage.
With designated hitter Victor Martinez at the plate, the Detroit threat was squelched when he grounded into a 4-6-3 double play. Martinez is now 0-for-21 with runners in scoring position since Aug. 20.
Given the same opportunity in the bottom half of the inning, Plouffe hit a double high off the wall in right field, scoring two runs for a quick 2-0 lead.
RBI singles by Hunter and catcher Kurt Suzuki gave the Twins a four-run lead after one inning.
Minnesota added on in the second, putting a pair of runners on for designated hitter Miguel Sano, who ripped a sharp single up the middle to make it 5-0.
That hit ended the night of Tigers starter Kyle Lobstein after just 59 pitches and 1 1/3 innings of work.
Shortstop Eduardo Escobar singled later in the inning, closing the book on Lobstein. The left-hander allowed six runs on seven hits and a pair of walks while striking out two in his shortest outing of the season.
Minnesota tacked on a run in the fourth inning on a solo blast by Escobar, his 11th, making it 7-0.
Notes: Tigers INF Andrew Romine got the start at shortstop on Monday in place of Dixon Machado, who has a sore left hamstring. ... Tigers OF Steven Moya started in left field after going 2-for-3 with a triple and a walk in his first start of the season on Sunday. ... Twins LHP Glen Perkins threw a bullpen session on Monday as he attempts to return from a sore back. Perkins received his second cortisone shot last week and said he is aiming for a return to the lineup by the end of the week. ... Twins RHP Ricky Nolasco also threw a bullpen session as he continues to rehab from ankle surgery. Nolasco hasn’t pitched since May 31 and is likely to miss the rest of the rest of the regular season. ... The Tigers and Twins will play the second game of their three-game series at Target Field on Tuesday evening. Detroit RHP Alfredo Simon (12-9, 4.94 ERA) will oppose Minnesota RHP Phil Hughes (10-8, 4.49 ERA).