MINNEAPOLIS -- Detroits makeup against Minnesota on Thursday felt like an American Legion game to Tigers manager Brad Ausmus. Justin Upton said the game dragged because of a quiet and sparse crowd.Upton and the Tigers picked up another win in the AL wild-card chase, beating the Twins 9-2 in the opener of a day-night doubleheader.These games matter. We should be into them regardless of whos in the stands, Upton said. But we snapped out of it and started getting some runs.Upton hit a tiebreaking homer off Alex Wimmers (1-3) in the seventh for a 2-1 lead. Jose Iglesias had a sacrifice fly in the eighth and Martinez, who had missed two straight games because of a swollen right knee, pinch hit had a three-run homer against Pat Light in a six-run ninth.Detroit began the day one game behind Baltimore for the ALs second wild card.The makeup of Wednesday nights rainout drew an announced paid crowd of 18,374, but there were far fewer people in the seats. Fans in the small crowd could be heard calling out to the players on several occasions.You can hear every single thing said in the stands, Ausmus said. When you have a big crowd, everything is kind of just a buzz. But you could hear every single thing said; they had some fairly good barbs thrown out.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.Brian Dozier led off the bottom of the first with his 42nd homer, one behind major league leader Mark Trumbo of Baltimore.Minnesota dropped to a big league-worst 55-97, the Twins most losses since they went 63-99 in 2011. Twins starter Pat Dean gave up one run and three hits in five innings.The offense is having a tough time, Minnesota manager Paul Molitor said. Were not putting much together. Some guys are scuffling. Were trying to find a way to create some offense. It just isnt happening right now.Detroits Justin Verlander (14-8) was to start against Ervin Santana (7-10) in the night game.AMONG SECONDSDozier has an AL record 40 homers as a second baseman, one more than 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.Dozier extended his hitting streak to 24 games, tied for the third-longest in Twins history.Its unfortunate for him that he hasnt been able to celebrate a lot of those home runs with the losses, Molitor said. Impressive run continues. Hitting streaks alive.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.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). Disocunt Football Jerseys . Colin Wilson had two goals and an assist, and Mike Fisher scored a goal and helped set up two others in the Predators 6-4 victory over the Red Wings on Monday night. Wholesale Jerseys 2019 . LOUIS -- Rookie Tavon Austin has missed another day of practice, lessening the odds hell be ready for the St. http://www.jerseysnflcheap.com/ . "It doesnt get any better than that," Giambi said. "Im speechless." The Indians are roaring toward October. Giambi belted a two-run, pinch-hit homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give Cleveland a shocking 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, keeping the Indians up with the lead pack in the AL wild-card race. China Jerseys Cheap .ca. Hey Kerry, big fan of yours, just finished reading your book. I think that we all saw the Canucks/Flames line brawl just after puck drop. It was obvious that something was about to happen, even to the referees because the fourth lines were on to start. China Jerseys . -- Gus Malzahn finally had his day in Fayetteville. HOMESTEAD, Fla. --?Rick Hendrick expects?Dale Earnhardt Jr.?to receive his final clearance from doctors in the next six weeks, which will allow him to return to Sprint Cup racing in February.Sometime in December, the doctor is going to give him final clearance, and then well get him in a car, Hendrick said Friday at Homestead-Miami Speedway. He feels great. Everything is on track.Earnhardt, who will miss his 18th straight race this weekend as he recovers from vision and balance issues caused by a concussion suffered in June, has repeatedly said that his rehabilitation and recovery have been on track for a February return.NASCAR will allow Earnhardt to participate in a private test to allow doctors to approve his return to racing.Every step that we supposedly need to go through, weve gone through. I dont see anything holding us back, Hendrick said. I think weeve just got a couple of more hurdles.ddddddddddddEarnhardt has been replaced by Jeff Gordon and Alex Bowman over the second half of the season. Bowman led a race-high 194 laps last week at Phoenix before an accident on a late restart while battling for the lead.Im so happy because our cars are so good, Earnhardt said Monday on The Dale Jr. Download podcast. Im going to get into that thing next year, and its going to be as good or better than when I got out of it.I feel like a very lucky guy in that regard. ... Man, Im really looking forward to getting back on the track, cutting some laps and just being a driver. I miss it, especially as I am getting more and more healthy and more confident in my health. I miss it more and more. ' ' '