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). Fjallraven Kanken Saldi . LOUIS -- Heading into the final stretch of the season, the issues for the Chicago Bears banged-up defence only seem to be getting worse. Zaino Fjallraven Kanken Sconto . If ever they start actually putting pictures beside words in the dictionary, the Blue Jays left-handers mug will appear beside “Consistency. http://www.fjallravenkankenitalia.it/zaino-fjallraven-kanken-mini-gelo-verde-pesca-rosa-7l.html . The 29-year-old from Port Colborne, Ont., has nothing but good things to say about former U.S. marine Liz (Girlrilla) Carmouche ahead of their co-main event Wednesday on the UFCs "Fight for the Troops" televised card in Fort Campbell, Ky. Zaino Kanken Classic Offerta . McCarthy, a player who played some games in the second tier for Wigan at the start of this season, would go on to shine inside Evertons midfield, outplaying the man he was brought in to replace, on one of the grandest stages in English football. On Saturday, it was fitting that Manchester Uniteds most recent dagger into the chest was delivered by Frenchman Yohan Cabaye, a wonderfully gifted central midfielder who put on an outstanding effort for Newcastle at Old Trafford. Zaino Kanken Mini Usato . MORITZ, Switzerland -- Fog prevented downhill racers from getting their Olympic dress rehearsal. CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Looking at the schedule back in August, Michigan State-Illinois was not a game many people would have guessed would pit a pair of 2-6 teams against each other.When the teams meet on Saturday, theyll bring identical records to the field, along with losing streaks and injury problems that might make them look a lot alike.Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio and Illinois leader Lovie Smith even sound a little alike in diagnosing their seasons so far.Obviously, were not where we thought we would be at the beginning of the season, Dantonio said. We are playing a lot of young players, going through some injuries, different things of that sort.Smith offered similar thoughts on his team this week: We want our team to play to the best of its ability every week. That hasnt happened. ... Weve won two games. Thats who we are right now.Michigan State (0-5 Big Ten) and Illinois (1-4) have some key differences, too. Here are some things to keep an eye on when they meet Saturday:AT QUARTERBACK?Neither team is settled at quarterback.Illinois starter Wes Lunt hasnt played in almost a month and second-stringer Chayce Crouch is out for the season with a shoulder injury. Smith doesnt discuss injuries ahead of a game, but there is a chance that redshirt freshman Jeff George Jr. will see his third straight start. He was 16 of 34 for 56 yards and a touchdown in last Saturdays loss to Minnesota, modest numbers but an improvement from his first start at Michigan.The Spartans lost Brian Lewerke to a broken leg against Michigan, leaving them with fifth-year senior Tyler OConnor and junior Damion Terry.While Michigan State has an edge here in experience, Dantonio doesnt sound so sure.The quarterback position is a little bit in flux there, I would say. When the quarterback situation is in flux whether due to injury or production, you know, theres going to be inconsisttency, he said.ddddddddddddUN GAMESBoth Illinois and Michigan State rely on the run, and their production is remarkably similar -- the Illini average 163.1 yards a game, the Spartans 163 .But there are differences, and they favor MSU. The Spartans ran the ball for 217 yards last Saturday against Michigan, a defense thats giving up just over half that on average and is ranked second in the Big Ten. When Illinois went to Michigan two weeks ago, the Illini managed just 77 yards on the ground.MICHIGAN TESTOther aspects of their games against Michigan illustrate the differences between the two-win teams.The Illini, in Georges first start, lost 41-8. They trailed 21-0 at the end of the first quarter and were never in the game. The Spartans were down by 17 at halftime but pulled within a touchdown in the fourth quarter before falling 32-23.I think weve had an opportunity to win every single game weve played, Dantonio said.WHATS AT STAKEThe loser on Saturday will have no possibility for six wins, bowl eligibility and will finish with a losing season. For Illinois, it would the fifth losing season in a row. Michigan State hasnt had a losing season since 2009.LOVIES SITUATIONFormer NFL coach Smith is in his first season at Illinois, hired to rebuild the program. But he spent part of his week denying that there was any truth in an ESPN.com report based on anonymous sources that hes unhappy enough at Illinois to leave after a single season.Am I happy right now with where we are? No, no one on our football team is happy where we are right now, Smith said. My time in Champaign, its a little bit bigger that just where we are right now.---Follow David Mercer on Twitter: (at)davidmercerAP----More AP college football: www. collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '