updated 11:36 p.m. ET May 17, 2006

DETROIT - Johan Santana made one mistake and it cost him.

Rookie Justin Verlander outdueled the 2004 American League Cy Young Award winner, and Vance Wilson homered to give the Detroit Tigers a 2-0 win over the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday night.

It was Detroit’s sixth-straight win and sixth consecutive victory over Minnesota at home this season. It was the Twins’ fourth-straight loss.

Verlander (5-3) allowed six hits in eight innings. He didn’t issue a walk or have a strikeout.

“Usually not my style of pitching,” said Verlander. “They were aggressive on the fastball and were putting it in play.”

Todd Jones pitched the ninth for his 11th save in 12 opportunities.

Santana (4-4), who had his four-game winning streak snapped, pitched a four-hitter. He struck out a season-high 12 and walked one.

“It was one of those games that you were facing a top team and wanted to challenge them,” said Santana. “I felt good and did my best out there, but that wasn’t enough. It takes 25 guys to win and we couldn’t get the job done tonight.”

Chris Shelton drew a walk with one out in the eighth inning. After Santana struck out Brandon Inge, Wilson lined the first pitch over the left-field fence for his first homer of the season.

“He had been getting me out on the inside fastball, so I started getting caught in between looking for the change-up,” said Wilson. “But I can’t hit the change-up anyway, it’s such a nasty pitch. So I just figured I’d try to turn and burn on the fastball.”

Slide show   Week in Sports Pictures Pain on the skating rink, flying high on the hardwood, upsets on the football field, and more. more photos

Wilson, the Tigers’ backup catcher, was playing because manager Jim Leyland used Ivan Rodriguez as the designated hitter. The two teams play a day game on Thursday and Leyland doesn’t want Rodriguez catching a day game after a night game.

“He’s a regular player for me,” Leyland said when asked about Wilson. “They’re all regular players, they’re all going to play ... Is Pudge the catcher? Absolutely. But Vance Wilson is a regular player for me.”

MORE FROM BASEBALL

Baseball Section Front

Twins’ Mauer wins historic AL MVP award CTB: Mauer had truly historic season CTB: Mets keeping an eye on Sheets CTB: Did A-Rod throw cousin under financial bus? CTB: Red Sox willing to throw money into Lowell deal DeMarco: Red Sox should take measured approach No horror film: Yankees like this Series movie Blyleven: Pitching to be had beyond Halladay CTB: Dye open to move at first base CTB: Future Hall of Famer Vizquel joins White Sox Baseball Section Front   Add Baseball headlines to your news reader: