Joe Mauer nearly homered twice Tuesday, but he got credit for just one long ball.
Detroit left fielder Clete Thomas robbed Minnesota's red-hot catcher of a home run, pulling back a deep flyball that would have cleared the fence in the first inning. In Mauer's next at-bat, he didn't give Thomas a chance. Mauer hit his fourth home run of the season, and his fourth to the opposite field. After hitting nine homers all last season, Mauer has four in 36 at-bats this season.
"He's unbelievable," right fielder Michael Cuddyer said Saturday after Mauer hit his second home run in as many days. "I think this year, granted it's only been (eight) games, but those balls that he's hit out, last year and the years previous have been outs. They catch them on the warning track. He's just getting so much stronger now. Same hitter, same swing, same hits, he's just stronger and those balls are leaving the park."
The two-time batting champ also walked Tuesday. He is hitting .500 in 10 games this season, and his on-base-plus-slugging percentage is 1.488. Of Mauer's 18 hits, seven have been for extra bases.
"He can hit the ball a long ways," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "He's fresh and he looks strong."
TWINS 6, TIGERS 2: RHP Kevin Slowey gave up eight hits and walked a season-high two batters, but he allowed just one of those baserunners to score. Slowey was helped by two-run homers from 3B Joe Crede and C Joe Mauer.
