Minnesota outlasts Detroit in epic playoff

MINNEAPOLIS -- Baseball's only real pennant race needed an extra game and extra innings to finish off an AL Central thriller that got better with every pitch.

Alexi Casilla singled home the winning run with one out in the 12th and the Minnesota Twins rallied past Detroit 6-5 in their tiebreaker Tuesday night, completing a colossal collapse for the Tigers.

"This is the most unbelievable game I've ever played or seen," Twins shortstop Orlando Cabrera said.

As Carlos Gomez streaked home from second with the winning run -- well ahead of a late throw from right field -- Homer Hankies spiraled around the Metrodome. The Twins celebrated and scrambled -- they had 21 hours to get ready for Game 1 of the AL playoffs at Yankee Stadium against New York ace CC Sabathia.

The Tigers became the first major league team to blow a three-game lead with four games left.

"I guess it's fitting to say there was a loser in this game because we lost the game, but it's hard for me to believe there as a loser in this game," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "Both teams played their hearts out. You can't ask for anything more than that."

The Twins overcame a seven-game gap in the final month, went 17-4 to pull even on the final weekend and won their fifth division title in eight years.

"We just feel like we have nothing to lose, man," outfielder Denard Span said.

Both teams had their chances to end it earlier, and each club scored in the 10th. Casilla was thrown out at the plate to end that inning by left fielder Ryan Raburn after tagging up.

Detroit thought it had taken the lead in the 12th. But with the bases loaded, plate umpire Randy Marsh ruled that Brandon Inge was not hit by a pitch by Bobby Keppel. The replay appeared to show the pitch grazing Inge's billowing uniform.

It was the first AL tiebreaker to go to extra innings, and made up for Minnesota's disappointment last October when it lost 1-0 in Chicago to the White Sox in an AL Central tiebreaker.

Had the Twins lost, it would've been the final baseball game at the Metrodome. Instead, the Twins get the Yankees -- New York was 7-0 against Minnesota this season.

"We're not afraid. I can guarantee you that," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said.

A day after Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings beat the Green Bay Packers at the Dome -- "Monday Night Football" is what delayed this tiebreaker for a day -- the Twins pulled off a Tuesday Night Stunner.

Tigers reliever Fernando Rodney (2-5) worked his longest appearance of the season, getting the last two outs of the ninth. He gave up a single to Gomez to start the 12th, and the speedy center fielder -- who came in for defense late in the game -- moved up on a groundout. He came racing around for the winning run when Casilla's single made it through the right side of the infield.

The Twins rushed out of the dugout in celebration even before Gomez reached the plate. Their comeback from a huge gap with 20 to play was complete.

Joe Mauer, who heard thunderous "M-V-P!" chants from the largest regular-season baseball crowd in Metrodome history throughout the game, led his team on a sprint around the warning track as they slapped hands with fans in the first rows.

"One of the best games I'll ever play in," Mauer said.

The Twins got nipped by the White Sox in Game 163 last year, but this struggle for the division on the last possible day was even more dramatic with all kinds of chances for either team to take it.

There will be no rest for the winners, though: The Yankees predictably picked today to start their series, with Game 2 scheduled for Friday.

Both managers played down the potential disadvantage before the game, but whichever team emerged from this was going to be drained.

Gardenhire and Leyland made so many moves for defense and relief that the lineups and pitching staffs were depleted by the end.

Twins 6, Tigers 5 (12)

One out when winning run scored. E--Porcello (2). LOB--Detroit 12, Minnesota 12. 2B--Mi.Cabrera (34), Inge (16), Mauer (30). 3B--Cuddyer (7). HR--Mi.Cabrera (34), off S.Baker; Ordonez (9), off Guerrier; Kubel (28), off Porcello; O.Cabrera (9), off Miner. S--Span. DP--Detroit 1; Minnesota 2.

S.Baker pitched to 1 batter in the 7th. Mijares pitched to 1 batter in the 7th.

HBP--by Miner (B.Harris), by Crain (A.Huff).

T--4:37.

A--54,088.

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