Final/13
Tigers-Twins Preview
Sep 2, 2010 - 4:48 AMVideo
Detroit (65-67) at Minnesota (76-56), 8:10 p.m. EDT
The way the Minnesota Twins have played at Target Field lately, they may be hoping to seal the AL Central title for all practical purposes by the end of their nine-game homestand.
That stretch has begun with back-to-back victories over the Detroit Tigers, and the Twins will go for a three-game sweep Thursday night behind red-hot right-hander Scott Baker.
Minnesota (77-56) has built a four-game division lead over Chicago thanks in part to winning 13 of its last 15 at home.
The Tigers (65-68) have lost seven of eight at the Twins' new outdoor stadium, including a 2-1, 10-inning defeat Wednesday night that was capped by rookie third baseman Danny Valencia's walk-off RBI single.
Valencia is 5 for 9 in this series, raising his average to .332.
"I knew I'd be able to play up here obviously, but to do this well it's pretty surreal," Valencia said. "I'm just happy the way it's going right now."
While the Twins continue to operate without slugger Justin Morneau and deal with recent injuries to Orlando Hudson and Jim Thome, strong pitching has been the hallmark of their recent success.
Minnesota has held opponents to four runs or fewer in 10 consecutive games, posting a 2.28 ERA in that stretch. Since the All-Star break, the Twins' 3.36 staff ERA ranks second in the majors.
Baker (12-9, 4.55 ERA) has certainly done his part, helping Minnesota win each of the last seven times he has started. He's 5-0 with a 3.02 ERA in those outings.
Baker, whose improvement has coincided with a mechanical change, allowed two runs in 6 2-3 innings of a 6-3 victory over Seattle on Friday. He posted similar results when he faced Detroit at home May 3, yielding three runs in seven innings of a 10-4 win.
It may be difficult for the Twins to provide him with as much support against Justin Verlander (14-8, 3.58).
The Tigers' ace has completed eight innings in each of his last two outings, with three solo home runs accounting for all of the damage against him.
Two of those homers came in Detroit's 3-2, 11-inning loss to Toronto on Friday, but Tigers manager Jim Leyland still called Verlander's performance "tremendous."
"This was one of the best games he's pitched all year," Leyland said.
Verlander has a 1.64 ERA in two starts against the Twins this year, but has failed to make it through six innings in either of them, going 1-1. This will be his first appearance at Target Field - likely a welcome development for the right-hander, who went 1-2 with a 4.32 ERA in five starts at the Metrodome.
Detroit has struggled in virtually any road venue lately. Dating back to their last series at Minnesota from June 28-30, the Tigers have lost 20 of 26 away from home, falling to 22-43 on the season. Only Washington, Baltimore, Seattle and Pittsburgh have worse road records.
The Tigers' lineup, which included four rookies Wednesday, has been erratic in the second half, scoring three or fewer runs 25 times in 47 games.
"We've got (young players) throughout the lineup and that's going to happen, but we have to just keep grinding it," Leyland said. "They'll learn at some point in their careers."
- Twins 9, Tigers 10 - FINAL
DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Jackson cf 6 3 3 0 2 2 0 .307
W Rhymes 2b 6 0 2 2 1 0 4 .315
J Damon dh 6 0 1 0 1 0 2 .266
M Cabrera 1b 3 0 0 1 0 2 3 .336
C Wells lf-rf 4 1 1 1 0 1 3 .355
B Boesch rf 3 0 0 1 0 0 2 .268
va-B Ing
Sep 3 12:58 AM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY GERALD LAIRD (5) TO LEFT CENTER WITH 1 OUT
IN THE 13TH OFF NICK BLACKBURN.
CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 10, MINNESOTA 9
DUE UP FOR DETROIT: R SANTIAGO (.269, 1-FOR-6)
Tigers 10, Twins 9 Top 13, 0 OutsSep 3 12:47 AM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - PITCHING CHANGE
MIN: NICK BLACKBURN (8-8, 6.02) STARTING THE 13TH
CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 9, MINNESOTA 9
DUE UP FOR DETROIT: R RABURN (.256, 3-FOR-3, HR, 2 RBI)
Tigers 9, Twins 9 Top 13, 0 OutsSep 3 12:46 AM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY GERALD LAIRD (5) TO LEFT CENTER WITH 1 OUT
IN THE 13TH OFF BRIAN DUENSING.
CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 10, MINNESOTA 9
DUE UP FOR DETROIT: R SANTIAGO (.269, 1-FOR-6)
Tigers 10, Twins 9 Top 13, 0 OutsSep 3 12:46 AM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
FORCE OUT BY DELMON YOUNG SCORED DENARD SPAN
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, D YOUNG ON FIRST, A CASILLA ON THIRD, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 9
MINNESOTA 9 BOTTOM,11TH
DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: D VALENCIA (.340, 3-FOR-4, SF, 2 RBI)
Tigers 9, Twins 9 Bot 11, 0 OutsSep 3 12:22 AM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY RYAN RABURN SCORED BRANDON INGE
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, R RABURN ON FIRST, J PERALTA ON SECOND, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 9
MINNESOTA 8 TOP,11TH
DUE UP FOR DETROIT: A AVILA (.218, 2-FOR-5)
Tigers 9, Twins 8 Top 11, 0 OutsSep 3 12:05 AM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY CASPER WELLS (1) TO RIGHT WITH 0 OUT IN THE
9TH OFF JESSE CRAIN.
CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 8, MINNESOTA 8
DUE UP FOR DETROIT: B INGE (.251, 0-FOR-1)
Tigers 8, Twins 8 Top 9, 0 OutsSep 2 11:19 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY ALEXI CASILLA SCORED JASON REPKO
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, A CASILLA ON FIRST, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 7
MINNESOTA 8 BOTTOM,8TH
DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J MAUER (.327, 1-FOR-3, BB)
Tigers 7, Twins 8 Bot 8, 0 OutsSep 2 11:12 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY WILL RHYMES SCORED AUSTIN JACKSON AND ALEX AVILA
SITUATION: 4 RUNS IN, W RHYMES ON FIRST, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 7
MINNESOTA 7 TOP,8TH
DUE UP FOR DETROIT: J DAMON (.266, 0-FOR-3, BB)
Tigers 7, Twins 7 Top 8, 0 OutsSep 2 11:01 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY RYAN RABURN (11) TO LEFT CENTER WITH 1 OUT
IN THE 8TH OFF MATT GUERRIER.
CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 5, MINNESOTA 7
DUE UP FOR DETROIT: A AVILA (.216, 1-FOR-3)
Tigers 5, Twins 7 Top 8, 0 OutsSep 2 10:54 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY JHONNY PERALTA (14) TO CENTER WITH 1 OUT IN
THE 8TH OFF RANDY FLORES.
CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 4, MINNESOTA 7
DUE UP FOR DETROIT: D KELLY (.234, 1-FOR-3, HR, RBI)
Tigers 4, Twins 7 Top 8, 0 OutsSep 2 10:49 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY DANNY VALENCIA SCORED MICHAEL CUDDYER
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, D VALENCIA ON FIRST, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 3
MINNESOTA 7 BOTTOM,7TH
DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J MORALES (.333, 3-FOR-3, 2 RBI)
Tigers 3, Twins 7 Bot 7, 0 OutsSep 2 10:39 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JASON REPKO SCORED DELMON YOUNG
SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, J REPKO ON FIRST, J MORALES ON THIRD, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 3
MINNESOTA 6 BOTTOM,5TH
DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J HARDY (.255, 0-FOR-1, SF, RBI)
Tigers 3, Twins 6 Bot 5, 0 OutsSep 2 10:02 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
SACRIFICE FLY BY DANNY VALENCIA SCORED MICHAEL CUDDYER
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, D YOUNG ON FIRST, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 3
MINNESOTA 5 BOTTOM,5TH
DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J MORALES (.250, 2-FOR-2, 2 RBI)
Tigers 3, Twins 5 Bot 5, 0 OutsSep 2 9:56 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
ERROR BY RAMON SANTIAGO ALLOWED JOE MAUER TO SCORE.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, D YOUNG ON FIRST, M CUDDYER ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 3
MINNESOTA 4 BOTTOM,5TH
DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: D VALENCIA (.338, 2-FOR-2)
Tigers 3, Twins 4 Bot 5, 0 OutsSep 2 9:54 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
GROUND OUT BY MIGUEL CABRERA SCORED AUSTIN JACKSON
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, W RHYMES ON SECOND, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 3
MINNESOTA 3 TOP,5TH
DUE UP FOR DETROIT: B BOESCH (.269, 0-FOR-2, RBI)
Tigers 3, Twins 3 Top 5, 0 OutsSep 2 9:45 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
SACRIFICE FLY BY J.J. HARDY SCORED DANNY VALENCIA
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J MORALES ON THIRD, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 2
MINNESOTA 3 BOTTOM,4TH
DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: D SPAN (.267, 0-FOR-2)
Tigers 2, Twins 3 Bot 4, 0 OutsSep 2 9:31 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JOSE MORALES SCORED DELMON YOUNG AND MICHAEL
CUDDYER
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, J MORALES ON FIRST, D VALENCIA ON SECOND, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 2
MINNESOTA 2 BOTTOM,2ND
DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J REPKO (.214, 3 HR, 6 RBI)
Tigers 2, Twins 2 Bot 2, 0 OutsSep 2 8:53 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY DON KELLY (5) TO RIGHT CENTER WITH 0 OUT IN
THE 2ND OFF SCOTT BAKER.
CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 2, MINNESOTA 0
DUE UP FOR DETROIT: A AVILA (.214, 5 HR, 22 RBI)
Tigers 2, Twins 0 Top 2, 0 OutsSep 2 8:33 PM - AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
DETROIT 1 1 1 0
MINNESOTA 0 0 0 (BOT 1)
CURRENT PITCHERS: DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER
MIN - SCOTT BAKER
DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: D SPAN (.268, 3 HR, 44 RBI)
A CASILLA (.274, 1 HR, 14 RBI)
J MAUER (.327, 8 HR, 69 RBI)
Tigers 1, Twins 0 Bot 1, 0 OutsSep 2 8:24 PM
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