Nelson Cruz hit the go-ahead homer, Mitch Garver homered and drove in three runs, and the Minnesota Twins topped the host Detroit Tigers 6-3 on Friday.

Cruz has 18 career homers against the Tigers. Garver hit his 10th homer and C.J. Cron blasted his 14th this season for the Twins. Marwin Gonzalez added four hits and an RBI and Jorge Polanco extended his on-base streak to 22 games with two hits.

Michael Pineda was activated off the injured list for the start and gave up three runs on eight hits in five innings in a no-decision. Rookie Ryne Harper (1-0) struck out all three batters he faced in the seventh inning for his first major league victory. Blake Parker picked up his ninth save despite walking two batters.

Detroit starter Matthew Boyd gave up three runs on nine hits in seven innings and struck out eight with no walks. Miguel Cabrera had three hits and scored a run while Ronny Rodriguez contributed two hits and an RBI.

Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire was ejected for arguing a balk call against Boyd in the third inning.

Detroit scored a run in the first on Brandon Dixon's bases-loaded sacrifice fly.

Minnesota took a 2-1 lead in the third. Byron Buxton singled and with two out, Garver blasted a fastball over the left field fence.

The Tigers evened the score in the fourth. Cabrera led off with a double, advanced on a flyout and scored on Rodriguez's double to left.

Detroit regained the lead at 3-2 in the fifth. Niko Goodrum reached on an infield single, stole second, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on Nicholas Castellanos' single to left-center.

Cron's one-out homer off Boyd the next inning tied it at 3-all.

Cruz put the Twins on top in the eighth against Joe Jimenez (2-4) with a leadoff homer to the opposite field. They added another run later in the inning on a Cron double and Gonzalez single.

Detroit had runners in scoring position with two out in the eighth but Dawel Lugo grounded out to reliever Tyler Duffey.

Minnesota tacked on another run in the ninth when Buxton doubled, moved up on a fly ball and scored on Garver's single.

--Field Level Media