MINNEAPOLIS -- Playing against the woeful Twins boosted the Detroit Tigers playoff chances this season.Justin Verlander tied a season-high with 11 strikeouts and Detroit moved into the second AL wild-card spot by beating Minnesota 4-2 Thursday to sweep a day-night doubleheader.Erick Aybar drove in two runs for the Tigers, who moved a half-game ahead of Baltimore for the second wild card and trail Toronto by one game. Detroit went 9-0 at Minnesota this year.It will mean a lot more to me after 10 games, Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said of the wild-card lead. Theres still a little bit of the stretch run to go. But were clearly in the mix.Victor Martinez had a pinch-hit, three-run homer during a six-run ninth inning as Detroit won the opener 9-2. Justin Upton added his 26th home run.Verlander (15-8) allowed four hits in six innings, including home runs by Juan Centeno and Byron Buxton. He has won 12 of his last 13 starts against the Twins.Francisco Rodriguez got three outs for his 44th save in 48 chances.I think this ballclub is kind of unique, Verlander said. Everything is kind of matter of fact. Youve got the end goal, and were all working towards that. I dont think anybodys going to let ups and downs, ebbs and flows, get to you until the season. Hopefully, we get to celebrate and pop some bottles. But until that time comes, its on to the next one every day.Minnesota has lost six straight games and 98 overall, reaching 96 for the fourth time in six seasons and two short of its 2011 total.Ervin Santana (7-11) gave up four runs -- two earned -- five hits and four walks in in six innings in the matchup with Verlander.In the opener, Anibal Sanchez allowed one run and two hits in five innings in a spot start, and Alex Wilson (4-0), Shane Green and Mark Lowe finished the five-hitter.The nightcap was another sloppy game for the Twins, who committed two errors, had two wild pitches and one passed ball. They had three errors and five wild pitches in the doubleheader, scheduled to make up Wednesdays rainout.Its kind of been typical for us to hang in games and then not be able to finish, Minnesota manager Paul Molitor said. Thats part of what were hoping were developing here is these guys are understanding the fine line when you get down to the end, whether its making a pitch or making a play or getting a hit. It can be small when youre losing these close games, especially when theyre low-scoring like that.AMONG SECONDSBrian Doziers first-inning homer in the first game was his 42nd of the season and 40th while playing second base, establishing a new AL record for homers in a season by a second baseman. Dozier passed Alfonso Sorianos total in 2002. Only Rogers Hornsby (42 in 1922), Davey Johnson (42 in 1973) and Ryne Sandberg (40 in 1990) have hit more.Its just another number, Dozier said. But at the same time, I know the fans are enjoying it, so you come out and you play for them. To get a chance to do that here at home is pretty cool.Dozier had his 24-game hitting streak snapped in the second game.TRAINERS ROOMTigers: 2B Ian Kinsler (concussion) had an on-field workout and could be cleared to play Friday if he feels well after the workout.Twins: DH/3B Miguel Sano (lower back tightness) was back in the lineup for the first time since Sept. 12. Molitor said Sano was still sore but was anxious to return. . Molitor confirmed RHP Trevor May has a stress fracture in his back. May was 2-2 with a 5.27 ERA in 44 relief appearances. He made three trips to the DL with the injury, which hadnt been detected in previous exams. . RF Max Kepler left the second game with a mild neck strain after hitting the wall awkwardly.UP NEXTTigers: RHP Michael Fulmer (10-7) is to start Friday against Kansas City LHP Danny Duffy (12-2) in the opener of Detroits final homestand. Fulmer has lost four of his last six decisions and is 0-2 against Kansas City this season despite a 2.75 ERA in three starts.Twins: RHP Kyle Gibson (6-10) is slated to make his final home start of the season on Friday against Seattle, which will start LHP James Paxton (4-7). Cheap Micah Kiser Jersey . -- Patrick Reed got an early start in golf. Cheap Justin Lawler Jersey . The defence is doing its part, too. Drew Brees threw a pair of touchdown passes in the first half and the guys on the other side made sure that was enough, sending the Saints to a 17-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night. http://www.cheapramsjerseyselite.com/?tag=cheap-jamil-demby-jersey . In the lead up - which seemed to begin the moment Mike Geiger blew the whistle in Houston last Thursday night - the Impact rumour mill went into overdrive. The speculation went into meltdown mode, of the golden nugget variety. Cheap Rams Jerseys . Louis Blues. Shane Hnidy joins Brian Munz for the broadcast on TSN 1290 Radio at 7pm ct. Cheap Ogbonnia Okoronkwo Jersey . The return match will take place next Wednesday. Udinese leads Fiorentina 2-1 in the other semifinal. Napoli staged a second-half comeback from two goals down after Gervinhos opener and a stunning strike from Kevin Strootman. Halloween is usually a day dedicated to children, as they toss on their costumes and walk from door to door in hopes of accumulating as much candy as possible. But there are an abundance of adults who are just as intrigued by the idea of celebrating Halloween by getting creative with costume designs.?Including players from across the NFL.?Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and his wife Ciara dressed up like Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, following their Batman-Catwoman display from last year. But they werent the only ones to have some fun Monday night.Heres a look at a few other players who brought their A-game for Halloween.Denver Broncos LB Von Miller:Broncoss CB Kayvon Webster:Pittsburgh Steelers RB DeAngelo Williams:Steelers LB Arthur Moats and his family:(Maybe) New England Patriots QB Tom Brady:Buffalo Bills DT Kyle Williams and his family:New York Jets kicker Nick Folk and his family:Atlanta Falcons QB Matt Ryan:Arizona Cardinals CB Patrick Peterson:Washington Redskins TE Vernon Davis:Halloween has passed us by, and weve now reached the midway point of the 2016 season.dddddddddddd So NFL players will get back to regularly scheduled programming as we come down the home stretch.?-- Josiah Turner NFL Jerseys Outlet Cheap Jerseys Store NFL Jerseys China Wholesale NFL White Jerseys Cheap NFL Autographed Jerseys Discount Jerseys Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys ' ' '