MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota right-hander Mike Pelfrey allowed two runs on three hits in seven strong innings of work as the Twins won 3-2 against the Detroit Tigers at Target Field on Tuesday.

Only one of the runs was earned off Pelfrey, who improved to 2-0 in four starts this season and lowered his ERA to 2.25 in the process.

For the Twins (9-11), it was their first win against Detroit in their fifth attempt.

The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for the Central Division-leading Tigers.

Detroit (14-7) led much of the game, clinging to a 2-1 lead all the way until the seventh behind a solid outing by right-hander Anibal Sanchez.

The Twins finally got to Sanchez in the bottom of the inning, tying the game on a double by shortstop Eduardo Escobar with nobody out. Escobar scored two batters later on a single by catcher Kurt Suzuki, giving Minnesota its first lead against the Tigers this season.

Twins closer Glen Perkins worked a perfect ninth for his sixth save.

Sanchez took the loss, allowing three runs -- all earned -- on nine hits while striking out six, dropping to 1-3 this season.

The Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the third inning, getting a two-out, RBI single from center fielder Anthony Gose.

A two-out single by Twins shortstop Danny Santana evened the score in the bottom half of the inning.

Detroit regained the lead in the fourth thanks to back-to-back doubles from the middle of the batting order. The second, by left fielder Yoenis Cespedes, produced a 2-1 lead.

NOTES: Tigers RHP Justin Verlander played catch from 30 feet Tuesday as he attempts to recover from a strained right triceps. ... Tigers OF Rajai Davis remained out of the lineup with a sore groin. ... Twins RHP Trevor May threw his normal bullpen Tuesday and is in line to make his next start Thursday. May was hit in the throwing elbow with a comebacker in his last start on Saturday in Seattle. ... Twins RHP Ricky Nolasco reported no ill effects from his rehab start Sunday, and he could rejoin the rotation as soon as this weekend. ... The Twins and Tigers conclude their three-game series at Target Field on Thursday.