Final
  for this game

Tigers-Twins Preview

Jul 12, 2015 - 1:57 AM The Minnesota Twins have pounded their way to a successful homestand leading into the All-Star break.

They'll look to maintain that offensive success while trying for a third consecutive victory over the Detroit Tigers on Sunday.

Minnesota (48-40) has belted eight homers while averaging 6.0 runs and 10 hits to go 5-1 on a seven-game home stay. Less than 24 hours after a seven-run ninth resulted in Friday's improbable 8-6 victory, the Twins recorded 16 hits en route to a 9-5 win over Detroit (44-43).

''Every time we step on the field we're ready to win the ballgame. Real gritty and right from the get-go," said second baseman Brian Dozier, who was named an All-Star injury replacement Saturday.

Torii Hunter hit a towering two-run homer and Trevor Plouffe and Eddie Rosario each had three hits as Minnesota's Nos. 5-9 hitters went 11 for 19 with six RBIs. Rosario is 5 for 8 in the last two games.

The Twins' offensive surge could continue against Shane Greene (4-6, 5.82 ERA), who was recalled to make his first major league appearance since June 10. The right-hander allowed one earned run over 23 innings to win his first three starts then went 1-6 with an 8.60 ERA in his last 10.

He gave up 22 runs in 14 2-3 innings to lose his final four outings before being demoted to Triple-A Toledo, where he was 1-1 with a 3.42 ERA in five starts. Manager Brad Ausmus has not decided if Greene will remain with the Tigers following the break.

"He's been working hard down there," Ausmus told MLB's official website. "No one wants to get sent down to Triple-A from the big leagues. I've never met anyone that's happy about that move."

Greene began his season April 9 by yielding an unearned run and four hits in eight innings of a 7-1 home victory over the Twins. On April 29, he was tagged for seven and nine hits in 4 1-3 innings of a 10-7 win at Minnesota.

Plouffe is 3 for 6 with a home run against Greene this season.

Kyle Gibson (7-6, 3.04), meanwhile, tries to win four straight starts for the first time in his three-year career. He's posted a 1.74 ERA in the last three, and allowed a two-run homer and struck out seven in six innings of Tuesday's 8-3 victory over Baltimore.

''All these are learning experiences and definitely a good feeling when you can go out there and execute a couple of pitches when you don't feel your best,'' Gibson said.

The right-hander opposed Greene on April 9 when he yielded six runs, eight hits and walked a season-high five in 3 2-3 innings. He was much better at Detroit on May 12, allowing a J.D. Martinez homer over seven innings in a 2-1, 10-inning defeat.

Martinez has homered twice off Gibson this season, and is 7 for 17 (.412) against him overall. Teammate Anthony Gose is 4 for 6 with a double against Gibson in 2015.

Neftali Feliz pitched a scoreless inning Saturday, hours after Detroit signed him following his release from Texas last week. Feliz, who recorded 72 saves for the Rangers in 2010 and '11, was 1-2 with a 4.58 ERA and six saves in 18 games for Texas this season.

''Feliz was good, yeah,'' Ausmus said. ''If he can pitch similar to that on a regular basis, he can be a nice addition to the bullpen.''

He was brought in to help a Tigers bullpen that ranks among the worst in baseball with a 4.02 ERA and has yielded nine runs in 6 1-3 innings over the last two contests.








  • DETROIT: 1
    MINNESOTA: 7
    Final

    Jul 12 4:57 PM


  • Plouffe homered to center on a 1-0 count.

    Tigers 1, Twins 7  Bot 5, 2 OutsJul 12 3:52 PM
  • 32
    roots
    RUWTbot Added 8 roots

    Tigers 1, Twins 7  Bot 5, 2 OutsJul 12 3:52 PM


  • Trevor Plouffe homers to center field.

    Tigers 1, Twins 7  Bot 5, 2 OutsJul 12 3:52 PM


  • Dozier hit a sacrifice fly to center fielder Gose, Da.Santana scored.

    Tigers 1, Twins 6  Bot 4, 2 OutsJul 12 3:35 PM


  • Brian Dozier out on a sacrifice fly to center field to Anthony Gose. Danny Santana scores.

    Tigers 1, Twins 6  Bot 4, 1 OutJul 12 3:35 PM


  • Da.Santana tripled to right, Hicks scored, Fryer scored.

    Tigers 1, Twins 5  Bot 4, 1 OutJul 12 3:31 PM
  • 24
    roots
    RUWTbot Took away 12 roots

    Tigers 1, Twins 5  Bot 4, 1 OutJul 12 3:31 PM


  • Danny Santana triples to deep right center field. Eric Fryer scores. Aaron Hicks scores.

    Tigers 1, Twins 5  Bot 4, 1 OutJul 12 3:31 PM


  • Hicks singled to center, E.Rosario scored.

    Tigers 1, Twins 3  Bot 4, 1 OutJul 12 3:27 PM


  • Aaron Hicks singles to right center field. Eddie Rosario scores.

    Tigers 1, Twins 3  Bot 4, 1 OutJul 12 3:27 PM


  • Krauss grounded into fielder's choice, shortstop Da.Santana to second baseman Dozier, J.Martinez scored, Krauss to first, Castellanos out.

    Tigers 1, Twins 2  Top 2, 2 OutsJul 12 2:45 PM


  • Marc Krauss reaches on a fielder's choice to shortstop. Nick Castellanos out at second. J.D. Martinez scores.

    Tigers 1, Twins 2  Top 2, 1 OutJul 12 2:45 PM


  • Sano homered to left on a 0-2 count, Tor.Hunter scored.

    Tigers 0, Twins 2  Bot 1, 2 OutsJul 12 2:34 PM


  • Miguel Sano homers to center field. Torii Hunter scores.

    Tigers 0, Twins 2  Bot 1, 2 OutsJul 12 2:34 PM


  • Ian Kinsler singles to right field.

    Jul 12 2:14 PM


  • DETROIT: 0
    MINNESOTA: 0
    Top 1, 0 Outs

    Jul 12 2:13 PM
  • 36
    roots
    RUWTbot Added 36 roots

    Tigers vs. TwinsDec 28 8:32 AM