MINNEAPOLIS -- The Detroit Tigers were barely finished celebrating another go-ahead homer in the ninth inning when an ill-advised dive and an infield single cost them a victory. Aaron Hicks hit a two-out RBI single in the ninth inning and the Minnesota Twins rallied for a 4-3 victory over the AL Central-leading Tigers on Tuesday night. "Anybody who thought this was going to be easy and wed go out and win every game really doesnt understand the game of baseball," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. After J.D. Martinez hit a three-run home run to give Detroit a 3-2 lead in the top of the ninth, Trevor Plouffe drew a one-out walk against Joe Nathan (4-4) in the bottom of the inning and was replaced by pinch-runner Doug Bernier. Bernier scored when centre fielder Ezequiel Carrera dove for Kurt Suzukis line drive and missed it, allowing the ball to roll to the wall. Chris Herrmann ran for Suzuki and scored when Hicks battled Nathan to a full count and beat out a bouncer fielded by shortstop Andrew Romine near second base. Nathan cited the walk to Plouffe as his main mistake. "For me, I guess the one thing I can look back on is the walk, the one thing I can do to change the inning is not walk the guy with one out and nobody on," the former Minnesota closer said. Then Suzuki got one past Carrera. "With Suzuki, what can I say?" Nathan said. "He placed one right in the spot. I love seeing Carrera go all out and trying to make a play in that situation, but unfortunately, the worst thing happens." After Martinezs homer off Glen Perkins (4-3), it looked as if the Tigers had another big ninth-inning win as they try to maintain a slim lead over Kansas City in the AL Central. "Everyone was excited. We know whats going on. Were all in it," Martinez said. "To come through was huge, but it hurts at the same time. Right now, its pointless. Just got to come back tomorrow and get ready for tomorrow." Torii Hunter and Miguel Cabrera hit back-to-back homers in the ninth to rally the Tigers to a win Monday night in the series opener. Minnesota rookie slugger Kennys Vargas was a double away from the cycle and hit a home run in the sixth that made it 2-0. Twins starter Ricky Nolasco held the Tigers scoreless over eight innings and only allowed two runners to reach second base. Even though the Twins are out of contention, theyre still showing some intensity down the stretch. "Its so emotional," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "Everything is so emotional. These guys are fighting to win a pennant. Were fighting to try to win a ballgame" Rick Porcello struck out five and allowed two runs in eight innings. THE DIVE Ausmus said he already talked to Carrera about not taking unnecessary risks in those types of late-game situations. "He was trying his tail off, which is good," Ausmus said. "But the smart play there is if youre not sure that youre going to catch it, contain it and keep it first and second." TRAINERS ROOM TIGERS: C Alex Avila became light-headed during a pregame workout and missed his second straight game with concussion-like symptoms. He remains day to day. 3B Nick Castellanos was scratched from the lineup about an hour before first pitch with left foot soreness. Don Kelly moved to third and Rajai Davis took over in centre field. Anibal Sanchez (strained muscle) hopes to throw another bullpen session before pitching in a simulated game. He could pitch out of the bullpen when he returns. TWINS: SS Eduardo Escobar left the game in the fourth after jamming his right shoulder diving for a Hunter grounder. Hell be evaluated Wednesday. OF Oswaldo Arcia told Gardenhire he could play, but the manager gave him the night off with a strained back. UP NEXT David Price (14-11, 3.26) has lasted at least seven innings in six of his eight starts since being traded to the Tigers. He faces Kyle Gibson (11-11, 4.58) on Wednesday in the series finale. Cheap Jose Fernandez Jersey . -- All-Pro tight end Jimmy Graham and the New Orleans Saints met Tuesday for arbitration on his contract. Cheap Miami Marlins Jerseys . There is no argument that the line of Pacioretty, David Desharnais and Thomas Vanek was one of the hottest in the NHL leading into the post-season, and they did combine for three goals and seven points, but it was the depth of all four lines that helped propel Montreal. http://www.cheapmarlinsjerseys.com/ . Spezza scored a power-play goal with 5 minutes left and Stephane Da Costa had the other two goals to lead the Ottawa Senators to a 3-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night. Cheap Marlins Jerseys Authentic . Fabio Fognini pulled off a surprise 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 victory over two-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray to level the best-of-five quarterfinal at 2-2 before Andreas Seppi defeated James Ward 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 in the decisive match. Cheap Marlins Jerseys . Team spokesman Donald Beauchamp said there was no new information on the 80-year-old Hall of Famers condition. The family has requested privacy.NEWARK, N.J. - New Jersey Devils rookie Keith Kinkaid has never been a fan of the shootout, and that was long before he faced Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane in his first NHL start.Toews and Kane scored on the Blackhawks first two chances, and Chicago rallied late and earned its seventh straight victory, 3-2 over the Devils on Tuesday night.They are top guys in the NHL, Kinkaid said after his outstanding 37-save performance ended in a loss. Obviously I was a little too far out on the Toews one, I wanted to get the leg out, and then Kane has a great set of hands. You never know what he is going to do.Chicago had to work to get the best of the 25-year old Kinkaid, who was called up from Albany earlier Tuesday with the Devils playing the second game of a back-to-back set.New Jersey had the better of play for almost the first 25 minutes before the Blackhawks started showing why they are one of the NHLs top teams.Early on, he was playing pretty well, Toews said of Kinkaid. We threw some shots at him and I think, if anything, we built his confidence up a little bit throughout the game. Nowadays, even backups are strong, and you have to make their job as tough as you can.Bryan Bickell and Duncan Keith had goals in regulation for Chicago, whose winning streak matches the NHL high for this season. Scott Darling made 22 saves, including two stops in the shootout.Jordin Tootoo and Stephen Gionta scored for New Jersey. Steve Bernier added two assists for the Devils, who were trying for back to back wins for the first time in almost a month.Darling made a glove save on Martin Havlat to start the shootout, and Toews easily beat Kinkaid with a backhander. After Darling made a pad save on Jaromir Jagr, Kane skated in on Kinkaid, danced in front of him, and slid the puck into the net for the Blackhawks fourth win in four shootouts.You want to get the win for the team, so its a little tough, Kinkaid said. I hate the shootout anyway, so they aare big points, and we are fortunate to get one.ddddddddddddChicago had tied it with 3:13 left in regulation when defenceman Duncan Keith put the rebound of Marian Hossas shot into an open net. The play developed after the Blackhawks kept the puck in the Devils zone, and Toews found Hossa for a good shot in close.Give him some credit, Keith said of Kinkaid. He played big for his first game. We just played a patient game. I dont think it was our best game, but we hung in there until the end and we were able to do it in the shootout.It appeared that Stephen Giontas goal on a baseball swing at 2:31 of the third period was going to be the winner.Defenceman Damon Severson took a shot from the right point that Darling stopped. Blackhawks defenceman Klas Dahlbeck used his glove to swat the rebound away, but Gionta lined it right into the net.Havlat nearly gave the Devils a two-goal lead later in the period but his breakaway drive hit off the post and crossbar with 9:30 left.Kinkaid had stopped Patrick Sharp on a breakaway just about 30 seconds before Giontas second goal of the season.Chicago was a little off its game in the first period, but it dominated the second, outshooting New Jersey 17-7. Bickell got the only goal with a shot from the right circle after he carried the puck into the Devils zone leading a 3-on-1 break.Sharp, playing for the first time since Nov. 4 because of a lower-body injury, got the only assist on the play set up by a Devils turnover.New Jerseys goal also was the result of a turnover. Tootoo scored from the same circle as Bickell after taking a pass from Bernier.NOTES: The game was the second of a five-game trip for Chicago. ... Keith played 30:36 for Chicago. ... Devils F Dainius Zubrus missed the game after getting stitches in his leg Monday night. ... Schneider had started 27 of 28 games. ... This was the Devils 11th home game, tying them with Vancouver for fewest in the NHL this season. ' ' '