The Detroit Tigers entered Saturday with a half-game lead but lost to the Chicago White Sox.
Joe Mauer delivered his biggest hit in an MVP-caliber season, a two-out single off Cy Young candidate Zack Greinke that broke a scoreless tie in the sixth. The Twins took a 4-0 lead before the Royals rallied to tie it.
Cuddyer hit his 31st homer of the season off Dusty Hughes (0-2).
Jon Rauch (5-1) went one inning for the win and Joe Nathan got a brilliant diving catch from Denard Span in right field to help him pick up his 47th save.
White Sox 5, Tigers 1
DETROIT - Detroit dropped into a first-place tie with Minnesota, looking listless in a loss to Freddy Garcia and Chicago.
Tigers manager Jim Leyland made two pitching changes in the second inning, trying to find a way to end his team's slump. Instead, Detroit lost for the fifth time in seven games.
Detroit will start ace Justin Verlander (18-9) today against John Danks. If the Tigers and Twins are still tied at the end of the day, there will be a one-game playoff Tuesday at the Metrodome.
The Tigers are in danger of becoming the first team to be in first place on May 10 and stay atop a division until losing the title in the last week.
