GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: DETROIT (80-67) at MINNESOTA (72-74)

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: T Jones relieved F Rodney.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 4
MINNESOTA 2 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: M Cuddyer (.273, 0-FOR-3)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: J Tyner hit for R White.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 4
MINNESOTA 2 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J Tyner (.294, 1 HR, 21 RBI)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
DETROIT 0 1 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 4 6 0
MINNESOTA 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 5 0 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: DET - NATE ROBERTSON, TIM BYRDAK (8TH), FERNANDO RODNEY (8TH), TODD
JONES (9TH) AND IVAN RODRIGUEZ

MIN - MATT GARZA, JUAN RINCON (6TH), PAT NESHEK (8TH),
MATT GUERRIER (9TH) AND JOE MAUER, CHRIS HEINTZ (9TH)

HOME RUNS: DET - NONE

MIN - JUSTIN MORNEAU (30) OFF NATE ROBERTSON IN THE 4TH, 1 ON</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
DETROIT 0 1 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 4 6 0
MINNESOTA 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 5 0 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: DET - NATE ROBERTSON, TIM BYRDAK (8TH), FERNANDO RODNEY (8TH), TODD
JONES (9TH) AND IVAN RODRIGUEZ

MIN - MATT GARZA, JUAN RINCON (6TH), PAT NESHEK (8TH),
MATT GUERRIER (9TH) AND JOE MAUER, CHRIS HEINTZ (9TH)


WP - NATE ROBERTSON (8-11)
LP - MATT GARZA (3-6)
SAVE - TODD JONES (35)

HOME RUNS: DET - NONE

MIN - JUSTIN MORNEAU (30) OFF NATE ROBERTSON IN THE 4TH, 1 ON


TIME: 2:48 ATT: 22,282

PROBABLES: DET - YORMAN BAZARDO (1-1, 3.00)
MIN - JOHAN SANTANA (15-11, 3.09)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">DETROIT (4) VS MINNESOTA (2) - FINAL

DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Granderson cf 4 1 1 0 0 1 0 .301
P Polanco 2b 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 .342
G Sheffield dh 2 1 0 0 2 0 0 .271
M Ordonez rf 4 0 1 0 0 0 3 .357
C Guillen ss-1b 2 2 0 0 2 0 1 .295
I Rodriguez c 3 0 1 1 1 1 1 .284
T Perez lf 4 0 3 3 0 0 0 .429
S Casey 1b 3 0 0 0 0 2 4 .286
R Santiago ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .227
B Inge 3b 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 .242

Totals 31 4 6 4 5 7 12

BATTING: RBI - T Perez 3 (9), I Rodriguez (58). 2-out RBI - I Rodriguez, T
Perez 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - S Casey 1. GIDP - S Casey, M
Ordonez. Team LOB - 5.


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Casilla 2b 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241
J Bartlett ss 3 0 0 0 1 0 1 .271
J Mauer c 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 .294
L Ford pr-cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .232
T Hunter cf 4 1 2 0 0 2 3 .293
C Heintz c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .227
J Morneau 1b 4 1 1 2 0 2 2 .280
M Cuddyer rf 4 0 0 0 0 2 1 .272
J Kubel dh 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 .266
R White lf 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 .149
a-J Tyner ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
N Punto 3b 3 0 1 0 0 0 3 .199

Totals 31 2 5 2 3 7 10

a-grounded to second for R White in the 9th.

BATTING: 2B - T Hunter (42, N Robertson). HR - J Morneau (30, 4th inning off N
Robertson 1 on, 0 Out). RBI - J Morneau 2 (107). Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - N Punto 2, T Hunter 1, J Bartlett 1. Team LOB - 6.

BASERUNNING: CS - L Ford (1, 2nd base by F Rodney/I Rodriguez).

FIELDING: DP: 2 (J Bartlett-A Casilla-J Morneau, A Casilla-J Bartlett-J
Morneau).


----------------------------------------------------
DETROIT - 010 003 000 -- 4
MINNESOTA - 000 200 000 -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
N Robertson (W, 8-11) 7 5 2 2 3 5 1 4.93
T Byrdak (H, 8) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.62
F Rodney (H, 11) 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 4.30
T Jones (S, 35) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.32

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
M Garza (L, 3-6) 5 2/3 4 4 4 4 2 0 3.93
J Rincon 1 1/3 1 0 0 0 2 0 5.40
P Neshek 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 2.71
M Guerrier 1 1 0 0 0 3 0 2.31

T Byrdak pitched to 1 batter in the 8th.

HBP - J Mauer (by T Byrdak). Pitches-strikes: N Robertson 106-65; T Byrdak
5-3; F Rodney 12-9; T Jones 10-8; M Garza 98-63; J Rincon 24-17; P Neshek 8-4;
M Guerrier 14-10. Ground balls-fly balls: N Robertson 8-8; T Byrdak 0-0; F
Rodney 0-0; T Jones 2-1; M Garza 6-9; J Rincon 2-0; P Neshek 2-1; M Guerrier
0-0. Batters faced: N Robertson 29; T Byrdak 1; F Rodney 2; T Jones 3; M Garza
24; J Rincon 5; P Neshek 3; M Guerrier 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Larry Vanover. 1B--Chad Fairchild. 2B--Tony Randazzo. 3B--Greg
Gibson.
EJECTIONS: MINNESOTA's Gardenhire by Fairchild (8th), MINNESOTA's Hunter by Fairchild (8th).
T--2:48. Att--22,282.
Weather: INDOORS</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
AL
DETROIT 4
MINNESOTA 2 FINAL</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DETROIT (4) AT MINNESOTA (2) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

DETROIT 2ND: M Ordonez flied out to right. C Guillen walked. I Rodriguez
singled to center, C Guillen to third. T Perez singled to left center,
C Guillen scored, I Rodriguez to third. S Casey grounded into double play,
shortstop to second to first, T Perez out at second.(1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
DETROIT 1, MINNESOTA 0.

MINNESOTA 4TH: T Hunter reached on infield single to shortstop. J Morneau
homered to right, T Hunter scored. M Cuddyer struck out swinging. J Kubel
grounded out to second. R White grounded out to third. (2 Runs, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) DETROIT 1, MINNESOTA 2.

DETROIT 6TH: C Granderson singled to center. P Polanco popped out to
third. G Sheffield walked, C Granderson to second. M Ordonez flied out to
right. C Guillen walked, C Granderson to third, G Sheffield to second.
I Rodriguez walked, C Granderson scored, G Sheffield to third, C Guillen to
second. J Rincon relieved M Garza. T Perez singled to right, G Sheffield and
C Guillen scored, I Rodriguez to second. S Casey struck out swinging. (3 Runs,
2 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 4, MINNESOTA 2.</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DETROIT (4) AT MINNESOTA (2) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Detroit Starting Lineups -- C Granderson CF, P Polanco 2B, G Sheffield DH,
M Ordonez RF, C Guillen SS, I Rodriguez C, T Perez LF, S Casey 1B, B Inge 3B,
N Robertson LHP.

Minnesota Starting Lineups -- A Casilla 2B, J Bartlett SS, J Mauer C, T Hunter CF,
J Morneau 1B, M Cuddyer RF, J Kubel DH, R White LF, N Punto 3B, M Garza RHP.

Umpires -- Larry Vanover (HP), Chad Fairchild (1B), Tony Randazzo (2B),
Greg Gibson (3B).

Gametime Weather: INDOORS.


DETROIT 1ST: C Granderson grounded out to second. P Polanco struck out
looking. G Sheffield flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 0,
MINNESOTA 0.

MINNESOTA 1ST: A Casilla grounded out to third. J Bartlett flied out to
right. J Mauer grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 0,
MINNESOTA 0.

DETROIT 2ND: M Ordonez flied out to right. C Guillen walked. I Rodriguez
singled to center, C Guillen to third. T Perez singled to left center,
C Guillen scored, I Rodriguez to third. S Casey grounded into double play,
shortstop to second to first, T Perez out at second.(1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
DETROIT 1, MINNESOTA 0.

MINNESOTA 2ND: T Hunter doubled to deep center. J Morneau popped out to
shortstop. M Cuddyer struck out looking. J Kubel walked. R White walked,
T Hunter to third, J Kubel to second. N Punto flied out to left. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) DETROIT 1, MINNESOTA 0.

DETROIT 3RD: B Inge flied out to center. C Granderson grounded out to
second. P Polanco flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 1,
MINNESOTA 0.

MINNESOTA 3RD: A Casilla flied out to left. J Bartlett flied out to right.
J Mauer flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 1, MINNESOTA 0.

DETROIT 4TH: G Sheffield grounded out to shortstop. M Ordonez reached on
infield single to second. C Guillen flied out to left. I Rodriguez flied out
to center. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) DETROIT 1, MINNESOTA 0.

MINNESOTA 4TH: T Hunter reached on infield single to shortstop. J Morneau
homered to right, T Hunter scored. M Cuddyer struck out swinging. J Kubel
grounded out to second. R White grounded out to third. (2 Runs, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) DETROIT 1, MINNESOTA 2.

DETROIT 5TH: T Perez flied out to center. S Casey struck out swinging.
B Inge grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 1,
MINNESOTA 2.

MINNESOTA 5TH: N Punto grounded out to shortstop. A Casilla grounded out
to third. J Bartlett walked. J Mauer singled to right, J Bartlett to third.
T Hunter struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) DETROIT 1, MINNESOTA 2.

DETROIT 6TH: C Granderson singled to center. P Polanco popped out to
third. G Sheffield walked, C Granderson to second. M Ordonez flied out to
right. C Guillen walked, C Granderson to third, G Sheffield to second.
I Rodriguez walked, C Granderson scored, G Sheffield to third, C Guillen to
second. J Rincon relieved M Garza. T Perez singled to right, G Sheffield and
C Guillen scored, I Rodriguez to second. S Casey struck out swinging. (3 Runs,
2 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 4, MINNESOTA 2.

MINNESOTA 6TH: C Guillen at first base. R Santiago at shortstop. J Morneau
struck out swinging. M Cuddyer flied out to left. J Kubel grounded out to
first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 4, MINNESOTA 2.

DETROIT 7TH: B Inge grounded out to pitcher. C Granderson struck out
swinging. P Polanco grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 4,
MINNESOTA 2.

MINNESOTA 7TH: R White struck out swinging. N Punto singled to left.
A Casilla grounded out to third, N Punto to second. J Bartlett flied out to
right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) DETROIT 4, MINNESOTA 2.

DETROIT 8TH: P Neshek relieved J Rincon. G Sheffield walked. M Ordonez
grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, G Sheffield out at
second. C Guillen fouled out to catcher. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 4,
MINNESOTA 2.

MINNESOTA 8TH: T Byrdak relieved N Robertson. J Mauer hit by pitch.
F Rodney relieved T Byrdak. L Ford ran for J Mauer. T Hunter struck out swinging.
Minnesota's Manager R Gardenhire ejected by C Fairchild. Minnesota's T Hunter
ejected by C Fairchild. L Ford caught stealing second, catcher to shortstop.
J Morneau struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 4, MINNESOTA 2.

DETROIT 9TH: L Ford in center field. C Heintz catching. M Guerrier relieved
P Neshek. I Rodriguez struck out swinging. T Perez singled to center.
R Santiago struck out swinging. B Inge struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) DETROIT 4, MINNESOTA 2.

MINNESOTA 9TH: T Jones relieved F Rodney. M Cuddyer grounded out to third.
J Kubel popped out to second. J Tyner hit for R White. J Tyner grounded out to
second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 4, MINNESOTA 2.</div>

 

Perez leads Tigers to third straight win

<h3>DETROIT 4, MINNESOTA 2</h3>By Anthony Maggio
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Timo Perez drove in three runs and NateRobertson earned his first win in more than a month as theDetroit Tigers topped the Minnesota Twins, 4-2, on Friday.

Ivan Rodriguez drew a two-out, bases-loaded walk againstMinnesota starter Matt Garza to tie the game at 2-2 in thesixth, and Perez followed with a single to right off relieverJuan Rincon to put the Tigers ahead for good.


Robertson (8-11) allowed a two-run homer in the fourth by JustinMorneau but not much else as Detroit began its six-game roadtrip on a winning note. With the triumph, the Tigers (81-67)remained 5 1/2 games behind the first-place Cleveland Indians(86-61) in the American League Central Division but climbedwithin three of the New York Yankees (83-63) for the top spot inthe wild card standings.


Garza (3-6) fell to 0-2 in his last three starts and remainedwinless in his career at home.


Detroit got on the board first as Perez followed a one-out walkby Carlos Guillen and a single by Rodriguez with an RBI base hitin the second inning. But Garza avoided further damage byinducing a double-play grounder from Sean Casey and cruised fromthere until the sixth inning.


Morneau put Minnesota in front in the fourth, belting a shot toleft field after Torii Hunter's leadoff infield single. It wasMorneau's 30th blast of the season, giving him back-to-back30-homer campaigns.


The reigning AL MVP, Morneau is hitting .154 lifetime againstRobertson, with three of his four hits being home runs.

But Garza, who allowed just an unearned run and three hits inseven innings at Comerica Park in a loss on July 17, unraveledin the sixth. He gave up a leadoff single to Curtis Grandersonand loaded the bases by walking Gary Sheffield and Guillen withone and two outs, respectively.


Garza had a full count on Rodriguez, but the 14-time All-Starfouled off three straight pitches before walking to drive in arun and end the righthander's night.


Perez followed with his two-run single off Rincon.

Garza failed to win at home yet again, falling to 0-10 in 11career starts here. He has a 6.40 lifetime ERA at the Metrodomewith a .317 opponents batting average.


Robertson took it from there, tossing seven innings to notch hisfirst win since August 12 against Oakland. He allowed two runsand five hits with three walks and five strikeouts to improveto 2-0 in three starts against Minnesota this year.

In his only other start in the Metrodome on July 17, Robertsonheld the Twins scoreless over seven innings. He had been 1-5 in10 starts since before Friday's performance.


Fernando Rodney relieved Tim Byrdak in the eighth and recordedthree outs before Todd Jones retired the side in order in theninth for his 35th save in 40 chances.


Guillen walked twice and scored two runs for the Tigers, whohave won five straight meetings with the Twins and improved to6-1 at the Metrodome this season.


Hunter had a pair of hits for Minnesota, which lost for theeighth time in its last 11 games.

 

Perez leads Tigers to third straight win

<h3>DETROIT 4, MINNESOTA 2</h3>By Anthony Maggio
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Timo Perez drove in three runs and NateRobertson earned his first win in more than a month as theDetroit Tigers topped the Minnesota Twins, 4-2, on Friday.

Ivan Rodriguez drew a two-out, bases-loaded walk againstMinnesota starter Matt Garza to tie the game at 2-2 in thesixth, and Perez followed with a single to right off relieverJuan Rincon to put the Tigers ahead for good.


Robertson (8-11) allowed a two-run homer in the fourth by JustinMorneau but not much else as Detroit began its six-game roadtrip on a winning note. With the triumph, the Tigers (81-67)remained 5 1/2 games behind the first-place Cleveland Indians(86-61) in the American League Central Division and 3 1/2 backof the New York Yankees (84-63) for the top spot in the wildcard standings.


"We're behind the eight ball, so we've got to win as many as wecan and hope we catch a break," Detroit manager Jim Leylandsaid. "We just have got to keep playing. Keep playing, seewhat happens. We're obviously a long shot."


Garza (3-6) fell to 0-2 in his last three starts and remainedwinless in his career at home.


Detroit got on the board first as Perez followed a one-out walkby Carlos Guillen and a single by Rodriguez with an RBI base hitin the second inning. But Garza avoided further damage byinducing a double-play grounder from Sean Casey and cruised fromthere until the sixth.


Morneau put Minnesota in front in the fourth, belting a shot toleft field after Torii Hunter's leadoff infield single. It wasMorneau's 30th blast of the season, giving him back-to-back30-homer campaigns.


The reigning AL MVP, Morneau is hitting .154 lifetime againstRobertson, with three of his four hits being home runs.

But Garza, who allowed just an unearned run and three hits inseven innings at Comerica Park in a loss on July 17, unraveledin the sixth. He gave up a leadoff single to Curtis Grandersonand loaded the bases by walking Gary Sheffield and Guillen withone and two outs, respectively.


Garza thought he had strike three on Sheffield for the secondout, and Twins manager Ron Gardenhire thought that began hisstarter's downfall.


"He lost his composure a little bit," Gardenhire said. "Mattkind of let it get to him, he ends up walking a couple of guys.That kind of happens with young pitchers. It's one of thosethings where once something happens, you can't bring it back,you have to move on past it."


Garza disagreed.


"I was able to bounce back and regroup and got the flyout fromMagglio (Ordonez)," Garza said. "Guillen, four pitches. ButRodriguez, we battled and the fastball just got away from me. Itrose on me. It started right down the middle of the plate."

Garza had a full count on Rodriguez, but the 14-time All-Starfouled off three straight pitches before walking to drive in arun and end the righthander's night.


Perez followed with his two-run single off Rincon.

"He's a nice player, kind of lost in the bottom of the orderthere," Leyland said. "He's dangerous because he swings. He'sbeen laying the bat on the ball real well."


Garza failed to win at home yet again, falling to 0-10 in 11career starts here. He has a 6.40 lifetime ERA at the Metrodomewith a .317 opponents batting average.


Robertson took it from there, tossing seven innings to notch hisfirst win since August 12 against Oakland. He allowed two runsand five hits with three walks and five strikeouts to improveto 2-0 in three starts against Minnesota this year.

In his only other start in the Metrodome on July 17, Robertsonheld the Twins scoreless over seven innings. He had been 1-5 in10 starts since.


"It was a good day today," Robertson said. "The command got offthere a little bit, and with this kind of club, they'll makeyou throw strikes. Fortunately, I got out of the inning where Iwalked a few guys and nobody scored right there."


Fernando Rodney relieved Tim Byrdak in the eighth and recordedthree outs before Todd Jones retired the side in order in theninth for his 35th save in 40 chances.


Guillen walked twice and scored two runs for the Tigers, whohave won five straight meetings with the Twins and improved to6-1 at the Metrodome this season.


Hunter had a pair of hits for Minnesota, which lost for theeighth time in its last 11 games.