DETROIT _ It was the first of what could be a few memorable achievements for the Twins this week.
Right-hander Jose Berrios was dominant early and the offense was a constant threat as the Twins whipped the Tigers 10-4 to complete a sweep of the four-game series and, with an 82-74 record, guarantee a winning season.
And that's nothing to take lightly, as the Twins are the first team since the 1988-89 Orioles to lose 100-plus games one year then post a winning record the next.
In doing so, they are making it more difficult to be caught for the second wild-card spot in the American League. The closest teams are the Angels, Rangers and Royals _ all five games back now as their games started after the Twins-Tigers meeting.
With six games remaining in the regular season, the Twins are close to becoming the first team ever to make the playoffs the year after losing 100-plus games. The addition of the second wild card makes it easier. But the Twins will be the first team to pull it off since it was instituted in 2012.
The Twins will get to savor the moment as they head to Cleveland to face the Indians in a series that begins on Tuesday. They will land in Cleveland on a roll after outscoring Detroit 39-12 in the recently-completed series.
And many of the players responsible for their surprising run produced on Sunday.
Berrios, who has settled into a rotation spot after a rocky baptism last season, showed how dominant he can be on Sunday. He faced one over the minimum over the first three innings, issuing a walk to Andrew Romine in the third. The first hit was a single to right by Alex Presley in the fourth that got by first baseman Kennys Vargas, on a ball that Joe Mauer likely would have fielded.
But Berrios (13-8) was strong until the fifth inning, when Detroit scored twice. The Twins, mindful of Berrios wearing down late in the season, pulled him after that inning. He gave up two runs on five hits and two walks with six strikeouts as he won for the first time since Aug. 30.
Eduardo Escobar continues to live Miguel Sano's life at third base. He went 2 for 5 for with four RBIs, including a three-run home run in the sixth. Escobar has 20 homers, an unexpected power source in an unexpected season. With Sano not expected to be ready for a potential wild card game, Escobar will be their guy at third base.
Jorge Polanco continues to hold down the No. 3 spot in the batting order. He went 2 for 4 with a solo home run, raising his batting average to .260. He was batting .213 on Aug. 2.
And Mauer's resurgent swing was a threat once again. He went 2 for 5 with a two-run single in the sixth and two runs scored.
These are just four players on a Twins team that is charging toward the postseason.
Polanco's home run opened the scoring in the first, and Brian Dozier's RBI single in the second made it 2-0. Zack Granite's sacrifice fly in the fourth made it 3-0 in the fourth, then the teams each scored two runs in the fifth.
The Twins broke the game open in the sixth, which included Escobar's homer, a drive to right-center, not the easiest place to hit one out of Comerica Park.
