MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- C.J. Cron broke open the game with a three-run homer, and the Minnesota Twins beat the Detroit Tigers 8-3 on Saturday night to earn a split of a doubleheader.
Cron's line drive to left field in the fifth inning off rookie Gregory Soto was his second of the day -- he also went deep in the opener -- and it put Minnesota up 7-3, giving Kohl Stewart a cushion. Stewart (1-1) allowed three runs in six innings to earn the third victory of his major league career.
Cron had four hits in the nightcap and went 5-for-8 on the day. Marwin Gonzalez also homered for the Twins, and Eddie Rosario had three hits and drove in a run.
The Twins jumped on Soto (0-1), who made his major league debut after being called up from Double-A Erie as the Tigers' 26th man. Soto was charged with seven runs on nine hits in four innings, departing after Cron's homer.
The doubleheader was scheduled to make up a game that was postponed on April 12 because of blizzard-like conditions. Rain fell briefly during the opener. It was enough to send fans scurrying for cover, but the game was not delayed.
ROSTER MOVES
Minnesota placed Martin Perez on the paternity list and recalled Stewart from Triple-A Rochester. The Twins added RHP Tyler Duffey as the 26th man.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Tigers: Detroit reinstated LHP Blaine Hardy from the 10-day injured list. He had been on the IL since April 22 with a left forearm strain. To make room on the 25-man roster, the Tigers optioned RHP Eduardo Jimenez to Triple-A Toledo.
Twins: Gonzalez, who suffered a facial contusion Friday during a collision with Detroit first baseman Niko Goodrum, sat out the opener.
UP NEXT
Tigers: LHP Daniel Norris (1-0, 3.47 ERA) will face the Twins for the second time this year when he starts Sunday's series finale.
Twins: LHP Perez (5-0, 2.83) returns from the paternity list to start Sunday.
