AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: J Tyner hit for M LeCroy. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 4 MINNESOTA 3 BOTTOM, 9TH DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J Tyner (.293, 1 HR, 21 RBI)</div>
AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: B Buscher hit for N Punto. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 2 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 4 MINNESOTA 3 BOTTOM, 9TH DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: B Buscher (.294, 2 HR, 5 RBI)</div>
AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: A Casilla ran for B Buscher. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, A CASILLA ON FIRST, 2 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 4 MINNESOTA 3 BOTTOM, 9TH DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J Bartlett (.271, 1-FOR-3, RBI)</div>
AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - DETROIT 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 6 1 MINNESOTA 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 3 6 0 (FINAL) BATTERIES: DET - YORMAN BAZARDO, BOBBY SEAY (5TH), ZACH MINER (6TH), JOEL ZUMAYA (7TH), TODD JONES (9TH) AND IVAN RODRIGUEZ MIN - JOHAN SANTANA, MATT GUERRIER (9TH) AND JOE MAUER HOME RUNS: DET - NONE MIN - NONE</div>
AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - DETROIT 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 6 1 MINNESOTA 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 3 6 0 (FINAL) BATTERIES: DET - YORMAN BAZARDO, BOBBY SEAY (5TH), ZACH MINER (6TH), JOEL ZUMAYA (7TH), TODD JONES (9TH) AND IVAN RODRIGUEZ MIN - JOHAN SANTANA, MATT GUERRIER (9TH) AND JOE MAUER WP - JOEL ZUMAYA (2-3) LP - JOHAN SANTANA (15-12) SAVE - TODD JONES (36) HOME RUNS: DET - NONE MIN - NONE TIME: 2:53 ATT: 35,230 PROBABLES: DET - JAIR JURRJENS (2-1, 3.15) MIN - SCOTT BAKER (9-7, 4.17)</div>
AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">DETROIT (4) VS MINNESOTA (3) - FINAL DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg R Raburn lf 4 1 1 0 0 1 2 .300 R Santiago ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .227 P Polanco 2b 4 1 1 0 0 0 1 .341 G Sheffield dh 4 0 0 0 0 1 3 .269 M Ordonez rf 2 1 0 0 2 0 0 .356 C Guillen ss-1b 3 1 1 1 0 1 1 .295 I Rodriguez c 4 0 1 3 0 0 1 .284 M Thames 1b 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 .242 C Granderson cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .301 B Inge 3b 4 0 1 0 0 2 3 .242 B Clevlen cf-lf 4 0 1 0 0 3 3 .125 Totals 32 4 6 4 3 9 15 BATTING: 2B - I Rodriguez (29, J Santana); B Inge (23, J Santana). RBI - C Guillen (95), I Rodriguez 3 (61). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - B Inge 1, R Raburn 1, B Clevlen 1. GIDP - I Rodriguez. Team LOB - 5. FIELDING: E - Z Miner (2, throw). DP: 2 (Y Bazardo-C Guillen-M Thames, P Polanco-R Santiago-C Guillen). MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Bartlett ss 4 0 1 1 1 0 1 .271 J Kubel lf 3 0 1 0 1 0 1 .267 J Mauer c 4 0 0 0 0 0 5 .291 T Hunter cf 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 .290 J Morneau 1b 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 .278 M Cuddyer rf 2 0 1 0 1 1 0 .273 G Jones dh 2 0 0 0 0 2 2 .164 a-M LeCroy ph-dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .333 b-J Tyner ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292 L Rodriguez 2b 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 .217 N Punto 3b 3 2 2 0 0 0 0 .202 c-B Buscher ph 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .294 A Casilla pr 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241 Totals 32 3 6 1 4 5 10 a-grounded to second for G Jones in the 6th; b-flied out to left for M Lecroy in the 9th; c-walked for N Punto in the 9th. BATTING: 2B - L Rodriguez (5, Y Bazardo); M Cuddyer (26, B Seay). RBI - J Bartlett (42). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M LeCroy 1, J Mauer 1. GIDP - J Mauer 2. Team LOB - 7. BASERUNNING: SB - N Punto (16, 2nd base off Z Miner/I Rodriguez). FIELDING: DP: 1 (L Rodriguez-J Bartlett-J Morneau). ---------------------------------------------------- DETROIT - 400 000 000 -- 4 MINNESOTA - 001 010 100 -- 3 ---------------------------------------------------- DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era Y Bazardo 4 2/3 4 2 2 2 2 0 3.24 B Seay 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 2.53 Z Miner (H, 9) 2/3 1 1 0 1 0 0 2.94 J Zumaya (W, 2-3) 1 2/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.94 T Jones (S, 36) 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 4.25 MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era J Santana (L, 15-12) 8 6 4 4 2 7 0 3.14 M Guerrier 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 2.29 WP - Y Bazardo. IBB - C Granderson (by M Guerrier). HBP - M Cuddyer (by Y Bazardo); C Guillen (by M Guerrier). Pitches-strikes: Y Bazardo 87-50; B Seay 18-13; Z Miner 24-13; J Zumaya 14-11; T Jones 17-11; J Santana 107-77; M Guerrier 20-11. Ground balls-fly balls: Y Bazardo 8-4; B Seay 1-0; Z Miner 3-0; J Zumaya 3-1; T Jones 1-2; J Santana 10-7; M Guerrier 1-0. Batters faced: Y Bazardo 20; B Seay 4; Z Miner 5; J Zumaya 4; T Jones 4; J Santana 31; M Guerrier 5. UMPIRES: HP--Chad Fairchild. 1B--Tony Randazzo. 2B--Greg Gibson. 3B--Larry Vanover. T--2:53. Att--35,230. Weather: INDOORS</div>
Four-run first fuels Tigers past Twins <h3>DETROIT 4, MINNESOTA 3</h3>By Brian Hall PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) - If opposing teams are going to get toMinnesota Twins lefthander Johan Santana, they typically need todo it early. On Saturday, the Detroit Tigers did it early. Detroit scored four runs in the first inning off the two-time CyYoung Award winner and the Tigers held on to beat the Twins,4-3, at the Metrodome. With the victory, Detroit (82-67) pulled a game closer to theNew York Yankees (84-64) in the American League wild-card raceafter the Yankees lost, 10-1, at Boston. The Tigers trail NewYork by 2 1/2 games. Santana entered the game with a 5.40 ERA and a .292 opponents'batting average in the first inning, allowing 18 runs in 30innings. From there, the numbers drop to a 2.68 ERA and .212average. It would be much of the same in this one. Five of the Tigers' first six batters reached base againstSantana as the team put up four runs. Carlos Guillen had an RBIsingle and Ivan Rodriguez added a three-run double off the wallin right field. From there, Detroit wouldn't get much against the Twins starter.Santana (15-12) retired 12 straight after a lead-off single byBrent Clevlen opened the second. He allowed four runs on sixhits in eight innings. In his first career start, Tigers starter Yorman Bazardo wasable to hold down Minnesota's struggling offense early. Therighthander made nine appearances coming out of the bullpen inthree separate stints with the Tigers this season. Bazardo scattered four hits and allowed just two runs. But, hewalked two, hit a batter, had one wild pitch which led to a run,and was unable to get out of the fifth. The Twins scratched across single runs in the third and thefifth. The wild pitch allowed Nick Punto to score in the third,and Jason Bartlett had an RBI groundout to score Luis Rodriguezin the fifth. However, following a walk to Jason Kubel, Bazardo was relievedby lefthander Bobby Seay, who got Joe Mauer to ground into aninning-ending fielder's choice. Seay went one inning, strikingout two. The Twins added an unearned run in the seventh inning off ofZach Miner. Kubel hit a ball back to the pitcher who turned andthrew high to Ramon Santiago at second base trying for thedouble play. Santiago's throw was late to first, and Punto camehome from second on the play. Joel Zumaya (2-3) came on to end the threat, getting Mauer tobounce into a double play. Mauer went 0-for-4, grounded intotwo double plays and left five runners on base. Zumaya pitched a scoreless eighth and Todd Jones finished thegame for his 36th save in 41 chances.
AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ DETROIT (4) AT MINNESOTA (3) - HOW THEY SCORED ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ DETROIT 1ST: R Raburn singled to left. P Polanco singled to left, R Raburn to second. G Sheffield struck out swinging. M Ordonez walked, R Raburn to third, P Polanco to second. C Guillen singled to right, R Raburn scored, P Polanco to third, M Ordonez to second. I Rodriguez doubled to deep right, P Polanco, M Ordonez and C Guillen scored. M Thames grounded out to third. B Inge struck out swinging. (4 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 4, MINNESOTA 0. MINNESOTA 3RD: L Rodriguez grounded out to second. N Punto singled to center. J Bartlett singled to right, N Punto to third. N Punto scored, J Bartlett to second on wild pitch by Y Bazardo. J Kubel lined out to first. J Mauer grounded out to first. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 4, MINNESOTA 1. MINNESOTA 5TH: L Rodriguez doubled to deep right. N Punto flied out to left, L Rodriguez to third. J Bartlett grounded out to second, L Rodriguez scored. J Kubel walked. B Seay relieved Y Bazardo. J Mauer grounded into fielder's choice to second, J Kubel out at second. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) DETROIT 4, MINNESOTA 2. MINNESOTA 7TH: R Santiago at shortstop. C Guillen at first base. C Granderson in center field. B Clevlen in left field. L Rodriguez grounded out to second. N Punto singled to center. N Punto stole second. J Bartlett walked. J Kubel grounded into fielder's choice to pitcher, N Punto scored on throwing error by pitcher Z Miner, J Bartlett safe at second on throwing error by pitcher Z Miner. J Zumaya relieved Z Miner. J Mauer grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, J Kubel out at second.(1 Run, 1 Hit, 1 Error) DETROIT 4, MINNESOTA 3.</div>
AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ DETROIT (4) AT MINNESOTA (3) - EVENT LOG ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Detroit Starting Lineups -- R Raburn LF, P Polanco 2B, G Sheffield DH, M Ordonez RF, C Guillen SS, I Rodriguez C, M Thames 1B, B Inge 3B, B Clevlen CF, Y Bazardo RHP. Minnesota Starting Lineups -- J Bartlett SS, J Kubel LF, J Mauer C, T Hunter CF, J Morneau 1B, M Cuddyer RF, G Jones DH, L Rodriguez 2B, N Punto 3B, J Santana LHP. Umpires -- Chad Fairchild (HP), Tony Randazzo (1B), Greg Gibson (2B), Larry Vanover (3B). Gametime Weather: INDOORS. DETROIT 1ST: R Raburn singled to left. P Polanco singled to left, R Raburn to second. G Sheffield struck out swinging. M Ordonez walked, R Raburn to third, P Polanco to second. C Guillen singled to right, R Raburn scored, P Polanco to third, M Ordonez to second. I Rodriguez doubled to deep right, P Polanco, M Ordonez and C Guillen scored. M Thames grounded out to third. B Inge struck out swinging. (4 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 4, MINNESOTA 0. MINNESOTA 1ST: J Bartlett lined out to third. J Kubel singled to center. J Mauer grounded into double play, pitcher to shortstop to first, J Kubel out at second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) DETROIT 4, MINNESOTA 0. DETROIT 2ND: B Clevlen singled to center. R Raburn struck out swinging. P Polanco flied out to center. G Sheffield grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, B Clevlen out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) DETROIT 4, MINNESOTA 0. MINNESOTA 2ND: T Hunter grounded out to shortstop. J Morneau grounded out to shortstop. M Cuddyer walked. G Jones struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 4, MINNESOTA 0. DETROIT 3RD: M Ordonez grounded out to second. C Guillen popped out to second. I Rodriguez grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 4, MINNESOTA 0. MINNESOTA 3RD: L Rodriguez grounded out to second. N Punto singled to center. J Bartlett singled to right, N Punto to third. N Punto scored, J Bartlett to second on wild pitch by Y Bazardo. J Kubel lined out to first. J Mauer grounded out to first. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 4, MINNESOTA 1. DETROIT 4TH: M Thames flied out to left. B Inge grounded out to third. B Clevlen struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 4, MINNESOTA 1. MINNESOTA 4TH: T Hunter grounded out to third. J Morneau flied out to left. M Cuddyer hit by pitch. G Jones struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 4, MINNESOTA 1. DETROIT 5TH: R Raburn flied out to center. P Polanco flied out to right. G Sheffield grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 4, MINNESOTA 1. MINNESOTA 5TH: L Rodriguez doubled to deep right. N Punto flied out to left, L Rodriguez to third. J Bartlett grounded out to second, L Rodriguez scored. J Kubel walked. B Seay relieved Y Bazardo. J Mauer grounded into fielder's choice to second, J Kubel out at second. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) DETROIT 4, MINNESOTA 2. DETROIT 6TH: M Ordonez walked. C Guillen struck out looking. I Rodriguez grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, M Ordonez out at second.(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 4, MINNESOTA 2. MINNESOTA 6TH: T Hunter struck out swinging. J Morneau struck out swinging. M Cuddyer doubled to right. M LeCroy hit for G Jones. Z Miner relieved B Seay. M LeCroy grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) DETROIT 4, MINNESOTA 2. DETROIT 7TH: M Thames struck out looking. B Inge doubled to left. B Clevlen struck out swinging. R Raburn popped out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) DETROIT 4, MINNESOTA 2. MINNESOTA 7TH: R Santiago at shortstop. C Guillen at first base. C Granderson in center field. B Clevlen in left field. L Rodriguez grounded out to second. N Punto singled to center. N Punto stole second. J Bartlett walked. J Kubel grounded into fielder's choice to pitcher, N Punto scored on throwing error by pitcher Z Miner, J Bartlett safe at second on throwing error by pitcher Z Miner. J Zumaya relieved Z Miner. J Mauer grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, J Kubel out at second.(1 Run, 1 Hit, 1 Error) DETROIT 4, MINNESOTA 3. DETROIT 8TH: P Polanco flied out to center. G Sheffield grounded out to third. M Ordonez grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 4, MINNESOTA 3. MINNESOTA 8TH: T Hunter grounded out to third. J Morneau flied out to left. M Cuddyer struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 4, MINNESOTA 3. DETROIT 9TH: M Guerrier relieved J Santana. C Guillen hit by pitch. I Rodriguez grounded out to shortstop, C Guillen to second. C Granderson intentionally walked. B Inge struck out swinging. B Clevlen struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 4, MINNESOTA 3. MINNESOTA 9TH: T Jones relieved J Zumaya. J Tyner hit for M LeCroy. J Tyner flied out to left. L Rodriguez flied out to right. B Buscher hit for N Punto. B Buscher walked. A Casilla ran for B Buscher. J Bartlett grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 4, MINNESOTA 3.</div>
Four-run first fuels Tigers past Twins <h3>DETROIT 4, MINNESOTA 3</h3>By Brian Hall PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) - If opposing teams are going to get toMinnesota Twins lefthander Johan Santana, they typically need todo it early. On Saturday, the Detroit Tigers did it early. Detroit scored four runs in the first inning off the two-time CyYoung Award winner and the Tigers held on to beat the Twins,4-3, at the Metrodome. With the victory, Detroit (82-67) pulled a game closer to theNew York Yankees (84-64) in the American League wild-card raceafter the Yankees lost, 10-1, at Boston. The Tigers trail NewYork by 2 1/2 games. "(Santana) is a tremendous pitcher, one of the best in the game,and when you can do things like that in the game, it is alwaysgood for the team," Tigers catcher Ivan Rodriguez said. "Youcould see after the first, he just dominated us, 1-2-3, 1-2-3,and in a situation like that we have to take advantage and wedid in the first." Santana entered the game with a 5.40 ERA and a .292 opponents'batting average in the first inning, allowing 18 runs in 30innings. From there, the numbers drop to a 2.68 ERA and .212average. It would be much of the same in this one. Five of the Tigers' first six batters reached base againstSantana as the team put up four runs. Carlos Guillen had an RBIsingle and Rodriguez added a three-run double off the wall inright field. "A lot of great pitchers have trouble early, but I have neverseen any signs of that with him before with us," Tigers' managerJim Leyland said. "You just try to cover one pitch, ratherthan try to cover everything. Because if you do, he will justtear you apart. We were just fortunate we jumped on the boardquick and held on." From there, Detroit wouldn't get much against the Twins starter.Santana (15-12) retired 12 straight after a lead-off single byBrent Clevlen opened the second. He allowed four runs on sixhits in eight innings. "Johan was just up in the first inning," Twins manager RonGardenhire said. "He got some pitches up and they did what theyhad to. He settled down and had everything working for him.After that, he shut them down." In his first career start, Tigers starter Yorman Bazardo wasable to hold down Minnesota's struggling offense early. Therighthander made nine appearances coming out of the bullpen inthree separate stints with the Tigers this season. Bazardo scattered four hits and allowed just two runs. But, hewalked two, hit a batter, had one wild pitch which led to a run,and was unable to get out of the fifth. "We score four runs in the first inning and that helped me alot. I was more comfortable," Bazardo said. "In the fifth, Iwas trying to put too much on the ball and started flying open alittle bit." The Twins scratched across single runs in the third and thefifth. The wild pitch allowed Nick Punto to score in the third,and Jason Bartlett had an RBI groundout to score Luis Rodriguezin the fifth. However, following a walk to Jason Kubel, Bazardo was relievedby lefthander Bobby Seay, who got Joe Mauer to ground into aninning-ending fielder's choice. Seay went one inning, strikingout two. "You need a starting pitcher to give you a shot and that is whatBazardo did today," Leyland said. "That is the key. Itdoesn't matter how good your bullpen is if the starting pitcherdoesn't give you a chance. It is a combination of a lot ofthings if you are going to win." The Twins added an unearned run in the seventh inning off ofZach Miner. Kubel hit a ball back to the pitcher who turned andthrew high to Ramon Santiago at second base trying for thedouble play. Santiago's throw was late to first, and Punto camehome from second on the play. Joel Zumaya (2-3) came on to end the threat, getting Mauer tobounce into a double play. Mauer went 0-for-4, grounded intotwo double plays and left five runners on base. "It makes a difference when you get behind early, facing apitcher we really didn't know much about," Gardenhire said."You get behind and it kind of takes away from being able to dotoo much running and all those things." Zumaya pitched a scoreless eighth and Todd Jones finished thegame for his 36th save in 41 chances. "That is what we have to do, we have to make the bullpen come inand throw strikes," Rodriguez said. "Today Zumaya, Miner cameover here, and Jones finished it. That is what we need to do.Every game for us is important."
