ut as his weight dipped late in the season,

DETROIT -- The Minnesota Twins are finally seeing the Hector Santiago they expected when they acquired him from the Los Angeles Angels at the trade deadline.Santiago held the Detroit Tigers to one run in 5 ? innings on Thursday as the Twins earned a split of the four-game series with a 5-1 win.Hector had to dance out of trouble a few times, but he did a nice job, Twins manager Paul Molitor said. If he pitches like this, his spot with us next year will take care of itself.Santiago lost his first four starts with the Twins, posting a 10.89 ERA, but hes 2-0 in the last four with a 1.82 ERA.I made some adjustments when I got here, but I ended up leaving a bunch of pitches over the plate, he said. Now Im back to trying to throw good pitches, not just getting strike one.Santiago only got one ground-ball out and three strikeouts.I had really good command of the fastball, so I was able to keep jamming guys up and in, he said. They kept popping it up, so I kept throwing it.The Tigers can little afford losses in the crowded AL wild-card race. Detroit came into the series with a 10-2 record against Minnesota.This is obviously not what we wanted, Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. Any time you lose four out of seven, it isnt a good homestand.Mike Pelfrey (4-10) lost in his first major-league appearance since July 31. He started the game with a 60-pitch limit, but only lasted 36, giving up four runs on five hits in 1 2/3 innings.The Twins took the lead in the second on Max Keplers RBI single, and he moved to third when Miguel Cabrera missed a pick-off attempt. Eduardo Escobar singled to make it 2-0, and Eddie Rosario beat out a bunt single.Juan Centeno bunted the runners over, and Pelfrey retired Byron Buxton. That brought up Brian Dozier with two on, two out and first base open. Despite his torrid numbers in the second half, Ausmus decided to pitch to him.With the bases loaded, you dont have any room to maneuver, he said. If he grounds out to third, no one is asking me about it.Instead, Dozier lined a soft single to left to give the Twins a 4-0 lead and bring Blaine Hardy out of the bullpen.Our guys were going to attack Mikes fastball, Molitor said of Pelfrey, who spent the last three seasons with the Twins. That helped us get those two early runs, and then Dozier came up with that huge hit to get the lead from two to four.The Tigers had two runners on in the third, fourth and fifth innings, but Santiago escaped all three jams without allowing a run.TRAINERS ROOMTwins: 3B Miguel Sano flew back to Minnesota to have more tests run on his sore back. Sano left Mondays game, and said that the problem hasnt improved. He will miss the weekend series against the Mets, but could return next week when the Twins return home.OLYMPIC WEEK CONCLUDESFor the fourth day in a row, the Tigers had a Rio Olympic medalist throw out the ceremonial first pitch. On Thursday, it was swimmer Connor Jaeger, who won silver in the 1,500-meter freestyle. Jaeger swam for Michigan.PITCHING WOESWith the Tigers fighting for a playoff spot, they have been badly let down by their starting pitching. In the last three games of the Twins series, Pelfrey, Anibal Sanchez and Matt Boyd combined to allow 17 runs in 9 1/3 innings.UP NEXTTwins: Travel to New York for a three-game weekend series against the Mets. Friday night, Minnesotas Jose Berrios (2-6. 9.27) faces New Yorks Bartolo Colon (13-7, 3.27).Tigers: Head to Cleveland for a three-game series and their last chance to get back into the AL Central race. Rookie of the Year favorite Michael Fulmer (10-6, 2.76) goes up against Cy Young candidate Corey Kluber (16-9, 3.05) in the opener. Jonathan Schoop Twins Jersey . The Redskins announced Monday that the quarterback who led the team to the Super Bowl championship in the 1987 season will serve as a personnel executive. Paul Molitor Jersey . By having more great seasons. Manning was the only unanimous choice for the 2013 Associated Press NFL All-Pro team Friday. http://www.twinssale.com/twins-tony-oliva-jersey/ . -- Former San Diego Chargers safety Paul Oliver was found dead at his Atlanta-area home Tuesday night, and a medical examiner said Wednesday that the ex-player committed suicide. Max Kepler Jersey . -- Al Jefferson found a groove just in time for the Charlotte Bobcats. Marwin Gonzalez Jersey . Only three players drafted by NHL clubs were included on the Czech selection camp roster on Wednesday. Those players were Dallas Stars 2012 first-rounder Radek Faksa, Winnipeg Jets 2013 fourth-rounder Jan Kostalek and Phoenix Coyotes 2012 seventh-rounder Marek Langhamer. COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- When Daeshon Hall lined up as a freshman defensive end for Texas A&M in 2013, the 6-foot-6 former basketball player wasnt much of a threat, tipping the scales at just over 200 pounds.Four years and about 60 pounds later, Hall has morphed into a star for the eighth-ranked Aggies . And his performance in their win over South Carolina on Saturday when fellow defensive end and likely first-round draft pick Myles Garrett was out with a leg injury earned Hall SEC defensive lineman of the week honors.As the Aggies prepare to host No. 9 Tennessee in a matchup of unbeaten teams on Saturday, theyll need another big game from Hall, especially if Garrett sits out again. Coach Kevin Sumlin refused to give any information on Garretts health on Tuesday.Hall had two quarterback hits, six tackles, two sacks and 3 1/2 tackles for losses against the Gamecocks. His work left him with a team-leading 8 1/2 tackles for losses and his five sacks tie Garrett for the team lead.Sumlin said the key to Halls improvement comes down to the work hes put in to bulk up to a size appropriate for playing on the defensive line. He said Hall shouldnt have played as a freshman, but that it was a necessity because they didnt have anyone else to do it.Should have redshirted, but we had to play him, Sumlin said. Four years later all that experience is a big deal. Size is a big deal. Strength is a big deal. Hes a developmental player. Happy hes hung in there. Hes a tough guy. Last week he was fabulous.Hall shakes his head when aasked about how difficult it was to pack on the pounds.dddddddddddd.I ate a crazy amount of food, but I had a high metabolism so I would start off heavy but it would burn off, Hall said. This year Im doing a real good job of keeping and maintaining my weight.Hall made a big leap last season when he had a career-high seven sacks and 14 + tackles for losses, but as his weight dipped late in the season, there were again questions about his size. Hes aware that people have talked about his lanky frame since he arrived in College Station, and hopes his detractors see the work hes put in to become a force for Texas A&Ms defense.People can see that Im serious about it, he said. I was trying to change peoples mindset about things.Though Hall is often overshadowed by Garrett, who led the SEC with 12 1/2 sacks last season, he is a big reason why the Aggies lead the nation with 50 tackles for losses this season. But Hall deflected praise for his contribution, instead raving about the work of defensive coordinator John Chavis.He does a great job, Hall said. Its a pressure defense and coach Chavis always puts us in great position to make plays.He also shook off questions about whether it was nice not to play in the shadow of Garrett last week.Just try to play hard for Myles, play hard for everybody. ... If somebody goes down we feel like anybody thats behind us can play and take the spot, he said. ' ' '