Detroit, MI -- (Sports Network) - Orlando Cabrera went 2-for-5 with a three-run double and scored once as the Minnesota Twins kept their slim hopes for winning the AL Central alive with an 8-3 win against the Detroit Tigers.

Minnesota and Detroit split the four-game series and the Tigers currently hold a two-game lead over the Twins for the division crown, the last undecided playoff spot in the American League.

Detroit, which has a magic number of two, hosts Chicago for its final three games of the season. Minnesota returns home to play the last regular-season set ever at the Metrodome, a three-game series with Kansas City.

Joe Mauer had two hits and drove in two, while Denard Span had an RBI and scored twice for the Twins, who have remained in contention for the division this season thanks to an 11-7 record against Detroit.

"We beat the ball around pretty decent and we finally broke it loose," said Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire. "We did what we had to do and now we have to go home and sweep and see what happens."

Scott Baker (15-9) got the win as he threw five innings and was charged with one unearned run on five hits with three walks and three strikeouts. Five other Minnesota pitchers combined to throw the final four innings and gave up two unearned runs on two hits and three walks.

"However this turns out we definitely had to win today," said Baker. "It's nice to know that we can win a ballgame in a must-win situation."

Gerald Laird went 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Curtis Granderson knocked in a run for the Tigers, who are still looking for their first division title since 1987. Nate Robertson (2-3) was tagged for four runs -- three earned -- on nine hits with two strikeouts over six-plus innings of work.

"They played good baseball this series," said Robertson. "I didn't beat myself, I made them beat me and they did."

The Tigers scored first with a run in the second inning. Marcus Thames led off with a single and moved to second as Delmon Young misplayed the ball. Thames moved to third on Brandon Inge's groundout and scored on Laird's single.

However, the Twins surged ahead in the third. Nick Punto led off with a single and Span was hit by a pitch. After Cabrera flied out, Mauer singled home a run and Michael Cuddyer followed with an RBI single. Jason Kubel then lofted a sacrifice fly to center to score Mauer for a 3-1 lead.

In the top of the fourth, Brendan Harris got on base after Inge fielded the grounder cleanly, but threw it away. Mike Redmond then singled and a sacrifice bunt from Punto moved the runners up a base. Span's groundout plated Harris for a 4-1 advantage.

Detroit threatened in the fourth by loading the bases with two outs, but Ramon Santiago fouled out to end the frame.

Magglio Ordonez started the Detroit fifth with a single, but Miguel Cabrera hit into a double play. Carlos Guillen then walked, but Thames struck out to end the inning.

Jon Rauch and Ron Mahay worked the sixth inning while Matt Guerrier pitched the seventh, with the frame ending when Santiago left the bag too early on a tag-up attempt and was doubled off first base.

In the eighth, Minnesota sealed the win on a three-run double from Cabrera followed by an RBI single from Mauer for an 8-1 advantage.

The extra runs proved to be a boon for the Twins as the Tigers got two across in the eighth. Guillen scored on Harris' fielding error, and an RBI single from Granderson made it an 8-3 game. Detroit manager Jim Leyland was ejected by home plate umpire Angel Hernandez for arguing after the run-scoring hit.

"Their managers and their players did better than us today," said Leyland. "They played the game and won the game and now he have to get back to it."

Two batters had been hit in the game coming into the ninth, one from each team, Jeremy Bonderman began the frame by plunking Young.

When Young got up, he slammed his helmet on the ground and gestured angrily at his own bench. Both benches spilled on the field, but no melee ensued as cooler heads prevailed. However, Bonderman and Laird were ejected.

Joe Nathan worked around a leadoff walk in the ninth to close the game.

Game Notes

Minnesota finished its road schedule with a 38-43 record...Baker has won his past two starts...Detroit used six relievers...Robertson fell to 9-11 in 26 games (24 starts) against Minnesota in his career...Baker improved to 5-4 in 16 games against Detroit.