Seattle, WA -- (Sports Network) - Brian Buscher's pinch hit two-run single in the eighth inning proved to be the difference as Minnesota fought back to beat Seattle, 6-5, in the finale of a three-game set at Safeco Field.

Denard Span added a two-run double and a huge defensive play for the Twins, who snapped a four-game skid and climbed to within 1 1/2 games of Chicago in the AL Central race. The White Sox play in Baltimore Wednesday night. Justin Morneau was 2-for-5 with a pair of runs scored.

Glen Perkins (12-3) allowed four runs on eight hits in seven innings to pick up the win. Joe Nathan earned his 36th save with a perfect ninth.

Jose Lopez had a two-run homer and Raul Ibanez added a solo shot for the Mariners, who lost for the first time in four games.

In his third outing since being called up from the minors earlier this month, Ryan Feierabend surrendered three runs on eight hits in seven innings. Sean Green (3-4) lost it after giving up three runs in just one-third of an inning.

Trailing by a run, the Twins regained control off Green in the eighth. Morneau greeted the reliever by ripping a double to right and quickly advanced to third on a Randy Ruiz single to left. Jason Kubel followed by tying the game with a double to right-center. After Delmon Young grounded out to first Seattle went back to the bullpen for Cesar Jimenez.

Buscher greeted him by lining his first pitch into center for a two-run single and the Twins led 6-4.

The Mariners made it interesting off Eddie Guardado with two outs in the bottom of the eighth. Kenji Johjima and Jeff Clement made it a one-run game with consecutive doubles and Miguel Cairo almost evened things with a single to right. But, Span made a perfect throw to the plate to cut down pinch-runner Tug Hulett and end the inning.

Nathan came on from there to record a 1-2-3 ninth to secure things for Minnesota.

The Twins jumped on top with a run in the third on Young's sacrifice fly.

The M's evened things in the second when Ichiro Suzuki got on with a two-out single and scored after Yuniesky Betancourt laced a double just out of the reach out of Young in left.

Minnesota went back in front with a pair of runs in the fourth. Ruiz and Kubel opened the frame with consecutive singles. Feierabend settled down a bit from there and fanned Young and Brendan Harris but the left-hander then walked Nick Punto to load the bases before Span slapped a two-run ground-rule double to into the gap in right-center.

Seattle quickly answered in the home half, when Beltre got on with an infield single and Lopez followed with a two-run homer down the left field line.

Ibanez gave the Mariners their first lead with two outs in the seventh when he turned on a high Perkins fastball and deposited it into the right field stands for a solo homer, his 21st of the year.

Game Notes

Lopez's home run was his 12th, a career-high...Kubel finished 2-for-4 and is 17-for-28 versus the Mariners this season...Minnesota is now 3-4 on a lengthy 14-game road trip, the franchise's longest since 1969.