Twins 2 - 4 Tigers
Final
  for this game

Blackburn, surprising Twins look to close first half in style

Jul 13, 2008 - 1:51 PM Minnesota (53-41) at Detroit (46-47) 1:05 pm EDT

DETROIT (Ticker) -- No Johan Santana, no Torii Hunter, no problem for the Minnesota Twins so far.

Rookie Nick Blackburn takes the hill on Sunday as the Twins aim to complete a four-game sweep of the Detroit Tigers and head into the All-Star break on high note.

Minnesota figured to be near the bottom of the American League Central after trading Santana and losing Hunter in free agency. However, the Twins are a major league-best 21-6 since June 13, thanks to some contributions from unexpected sources.

One of them is Brendan Harris, who homered and drove four runs to lead the Twins to a 6-5 victory on Saturday. Harris was acquired this offseason in the deal that sent Matt Garza to Tampa Bay, and is hitting .357 with three homers and 14 RBI since June 17.

Blackburn (7-4, 3.72 ERA) has also been a key reason the Twins are exceeding expectations. The 26-year-old righthander is 3-0 with a 3.16 ERA in his last five starts.

Meanwhile, Detroit has lost seven of its last 11 games, but has a great chance to avoid the sweep with Justin Verlander (6-9, 4.24) on the hill.

Verlander is 4-0 with a 2.54 ERA in his last six starts, including a 9-2 win over Cleveland on Tuesday in which he allowed two runs and two hits in seven innings.








  • AL
    FINAL
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
    - - - - - - - - - - - -
    MINNESOTA 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 4 2
    DETROIT 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 1 x 4 6 0 (FINAL)

    BATTERIES: MIN - NICK BLACKBURN, BRIAN BASS (8TH) AND JOE MAUER
    DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER, JOEL ZUMAYA (8TH), TODD JONES
    (9TH) AND BRANDON INGE

    HOME RUNS: MIN - NONE
    DET - CLET

    Jul 13 3:35 PM


  • AL
    AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE
    SOLO HOME RUN BY MATTHEW JOYCE (9) TO CENTER WITH 1 OUT IN
    THE 8TH OFF BRIAN BASS.
    CURRENT SCORE: MINNESOTA 2, DETROIT 4
    DUE UP FOR DETROIT: M THAMES (.265, 0-FOR-3)

    Twins 2, Tigers 4  Bot 8, 0 OutsJul 13 3:23 PM
  • 2
    roots
    RUWTbot Took away 35 roots

    Twins 2, Tigers 4  Bot 8, 0 OutsJul 13 3:23 PM
  • 37
    roots
    RUWTbot Added 37 roots (Close Finish)

    Twins 2, Tigers 3  Bot 7, 0 OutsJul 13 2:58 PM


  • AL
    AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE
    GROUND OUT BY MIGUEL CABRERA SCORED CURTIS GRANDERSON.
    SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, C GUILLEN ON SECOND, 2 OUT
    CURRENT SCORE: MINNESOTA 2
    DETROIT 3 BOTTOM, 5TH
    DUE UP FOR DETROIT: M JOYCE (.261, 0-FOR-2)

    Twins 2, Tigers 3  Bot 5, 0 OutsJul 13 2:39 PM


  • AL
    AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE
    SINGLE BY BRENDAN HARRIS SCORED JUSTIN MORNEAU.
    SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, B HARRIS ON FIRST, J KUBEL ON SECOND, 2 OUT
    CURRENT SCORE: MINNESOTA 2
    DETROIT 2 TOP, 4TH
    DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: B BUSCHER (.313, 0-FOR-1)

    Twins 2, Tigers 2  Top 4, 0 OutsJul 13 2:07 PM


  • AL
    AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE
    WILD PITCH BY JUSTIN VERLANDER ALLOWED JOE MAUER TO
    SCORE.
    SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J MORNEAU ON SECOND, 2 OUT
    CURRENT SCORE: MINNESOTA 1
    DETROIT 2 TOP, 4TH
    DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J KUBEL (.264, 0-FOR-1)

    Twins 1, Tigers 2  Top 4, 0 OutsJul 13 2:02 PM


  • AL
    AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE
    TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY CLETE THOMAS (1) TO RIGHT WITH 1 OUT IN
    THE 2ND OFF NICK BLACKBURN SCORED MARCUS THAMES.
    CURRENT SCORE: MINNESOTA 0, DETROIT 2
    DUE UP FOR DETROIT: B INGE (.224, 6 HR, 23 RBI)

    Twins 0, Tigers 2  Bot 2, 0 OutsJul 13 1:33 PM

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