GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: DETROIT (82-67) at MINNESOTA (72-76)

AL: DETROIT (82-67) at MINNESOTA (72-76)

<h3>Tigers try to narrow playoff gap against Twins</h3>

<div class="pre">Detroit (82-67) at Minnesota (72-76) 2:10 pm EDT</div>

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) - The Detroit Tigers will try to narrowtheir playoff deficit when they go for the three-game seriessweep of the Minnesota Twins on Sunday.


The Tigers trail the New York Yankees (84-64) by just 2 1/2games in the American League wild card race. Detroit is insecond place in the AL Central Division, 5 1/2 games behind theCleveland Indians (87-61), who have won six of their last sevengames.


After taking the first two games of the series, the Tigers willturn to rookie Jair Jurrjens (2-1, 3.15 ERA) to complete thesweep.


Jurrjens pitched well in his last start, allowing just one runand three hits over five innings as Detroit posted a 4-1 triumphover the Texas Rangers on Tuesday. It was the 21-year-oldrighthander's third straight start in which he allowed only onerun.


Scott Baker (9-7, 4.17) will look to snap the Twins' three-gameslide when he takes the mound.


Baker allowed just three runs, but surrendered 10 hits over 52/3 innings during his last outing against the Kansas CityRoyals, a 6-3 victory. The 25-year-old righthander struck outfour and walked one, notching his third win in his last fourstarts.

 

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">DETROIT AT MINNESOTA -- LINEUPS

DETROIT MINNESOTA
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Curtis Granderson CF .301 21 71 Jason Tyner LF .292 1 21
Placido Polanco 2B .341 8 64 Jason Kubel DH .267 11 60
Gary Sheffield DH .269 25 74 Torii Hunter CF .290 28 101
Magglio Ordonez RF .356 27 132 Justin Morneau 1B .278 30 107
Carlos Guillen 1B .295 19 95 Michael Cuddyer RF .273 13 73
Ivan Rodriguez C .284 11 61 Brian Buscher 3B .294 2 5
Timo Perez LF .429 0 9 Chris Heintz C .227 0 7
Ramon Santiago SS .227 0 3 Luis Rodriguez 2B .217 2 11
Brandon Inge 3B .242 14 65 Nick Punto SS .202 1 22

Jair Jurrjens RHP (2-1, 3.15) Scott Baker RHP (9-7, 4.17)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA
WARMUPS: DET - JAIR JURRJENS (2-1, 3.15)
MIN - SCOTT BAKER (9-7, 4.17)

UMPIRES: HP - TONY RANDAZZO
1B - GREG GIBSON
2B - LARRY VANOVER
3B - CHAD FAIRCHILD

WEATHER: INDOORS</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA
STARTING BATS: DET - JAIR JURRJENS AND IVAN RODRIGUEZ
MIN - SCOTT BAKER AND CHRIS HEINTZ

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: C GRANDERSO (.301, 21 HR, 71 RBI)
P POLANCO (.341, 8 HR, 64 RBI)
G SHEFFIELD (.269, 25 HR, 74 RBI)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY CURTIS GRANDERSON (22) TO RIGHT CENTER
WITH 0 OUT IN THE 1ST OFF SCOTT BAKER.
CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 1, MINNESOTA 0

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: P POLANCO (.341, 8 HR, 64 RBI)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL DETROIT AT MINNESOTA
NOTE: THE HOME RUN BY DETROIT'S CURTIS GRANDERSON LED OFF
THE GAME.</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: DET - JAIR JURRJENS
MIN - SCOTT BAKER

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J TYNER (.292, 1 HR, 21 RBI)
J KUBEL (.267, 11 HR, 60 RBI)
T HUNTER (.290, 28 HR, 101 RBI)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">DETROIT (1) VS MINNESOTA (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Granderson cf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .302
P Polanco 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .340
G Sheffield dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .268
M Ordonez rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .357
C Guillen 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .294
I Rodriguez c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284
T Perez lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .429
R Santiago ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .227
B Inge 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242

Totals 5 1 2 1 0 1 1

BATTING: 2B - M Ordonez (49, S Baker). HR - C Granderson (22, 1st inning off S
Baker 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - C Granderson (72). Runners left in scoring position,
2 out - C Guillen 1. Team LOB - 1.


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Tyner lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
J Kubel dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267
T Hunter cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
J Morneau 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
M Cuddyer rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
B Buscher 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
C Heintz c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .227
L Rodriguez 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .217
N Punto ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .202

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
DETROIT - 1 -- 1
MINNESOTA - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
J Jurrjens 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.15

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
S Baker 1 2 1 1 0 1 1 4.21

Pitches-strikes: S Baker 25-17. Ground balls-fly balls: S Baker 0-2. Batters
faced: S Baker 5.

UMPIRES: HP--Tony Randazzo. 1B--Greg Gibson. 2B--Larry Vanover. 3B--Chad
Fairchild.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA
CONFIRMED STARTERS: DET - JAIR JURRJENS
MIN - SCOTT BAKER</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: DET - JAIR JURRJENS
MIN - SCOTT BAKER

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: I RODRIGUEZ (.284, 11 HR, 61 RBI)
T PEREZ (.429, 0 HR, 9 RBI)
R SANTIAGO (.227, 0 HR, 3 RBI)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">DETROIT (1) VS MINNESOTA (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Granderson cf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .302
P Polanco 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .340
G Sheffield dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .268
M Ordonez rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .357
C Guillen 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .294
I Rodriguez c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284
T Perez lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .429
R Santiago ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .227
B Inge 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242

Totals 5 1 2 1 0 1 1

BATTING: 2B - M Ordonez (49, S Baker). HR - C Granderson (22, 1st inning off S
Baker 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - C Granderson (72). Runners left in scoring position,
2 out - C Guillen 1. Team LOB - 1.


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Tyner lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
J Kubel dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266
T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .290
J Morneau 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
M Cuddyer rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
B Buscher 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
C Heintz c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .227
L Rodriguez 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .217
N Punto ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .202

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
DETROIT - 1 -- 1
MINNESOTA - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
J Jurrjens 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.00

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
S Baker 1 2 1 1 0 1 1 4.21

Pitches-strikes: J Jurrjens 10-7; S Baker 25-17. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Jurrjens 0-2; S Baker 0-2. Batters faced: J Jurrjens 3; S Baker 5.

UMPIRES: HP--Tony Randazzo. 1B--Greg Gibson. 2B--Larry Vanover. 3B--Chad
Fairchild.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY RAMON SANTIAGO SCORED TIMO PEREZ.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, R SANTIAGO ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 2
MINNESOTA 0 TOP, 2ND

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: B INGE (.242, 14 HR, 65 RBI)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
SACRIFICE BY BRANDON INGE SCORED RAMON SANTIAGO.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 3
MINNESOTA 0 TOP, 2ND

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: C GRANDERSON (.302, 1-FOR-1, HR, RBI)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: DET - JAIR JURRJENS
MIN - SCOTT BAKER

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J MORNEAU (.278, 30 HR, 107 RBI)
M CUDDYER (.273, 13 HR, 73 RBI)
B BUSCHER (.294, 2 HR, 5 RBI)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">DETROIT (3) VS MINNESOTA (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Granderson cf 2 1 2 1 0 0 0 .303
P Polanco 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .340
G Sheffield dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .268
M Ordonez rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .357
C Guillen 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .294
I Rodriguez c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
T Perez lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .438
R Santiago ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .244
B Inge 3b 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 .242

Totals 10 3 5 2 0 1 2

BATTING: 2B - M Ordonez (49, S Baker). HR - C Granderson (22, 1st inning off S
Baker 0 on, 0 Out). S - B Inge. RBI - C Granderson (72), B Inge (66). Runners
left in scoring position, 2 out - C Guillen 1, P Polanco 1. Team LOB - 2.

BASERUNNING: SB - C Granderson (23, 2nd base off S Baker/C Heintz).


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Tyner lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
J Kubel dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266
T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .290
J Morneau 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
M Cuddyer rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
B Buscher 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
C Heintz c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .227
L Rodriguez 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .217
N Punto ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .202

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: E - S Baker (2, throw).


----------------------------------------------------
DETROIT - 12 -- 3
MINNESOTA - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
J Jurrjens 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.00

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
S Baker 2 5 3 3 0 1 1 4.31

Pitches-strikes: J Jurrjens 10-7; S Baker 43-29. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Jurrjens 0-2; S Baker 2-3. Batters faced: J Jurrjens 3; S Baker 11.

UMPIRES: HP--Tony Randazzo. 1B--Greg Gibson. 2B--Larry Vanover. 3B--Chad
Fairchild.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: DET - JAIR JURRJENS
MIN - SCOTT BAKER

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: G SHEFFIELD (.268, 0-FOR-1)
M ORDONEZ (.357, 1-FOR-1)
C GUILLEN (.294, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">DETROIT (3) VS MINNESOTA (0) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Granderson cf 2 1 2 1 0 0 0 .303
P Polanco 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .340
G Sheffield dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .268
M Ordonez rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .357
C Guillen 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .294
I Rodriguez c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
T Perez lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .438
R Santiago ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .244
B Inge 3b 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 .242

Totals 10 3 5 2 0 1 2

BATTING: 2B - M Ordonez (49, S Baker). HR - C Granderson (22, 1st inning off S
Baker 0 on, 0 Out). S - B Inge. RBI - C Granderson (72), B Inge (66). Runners
left in scoring position, 2 out - C Guillen 1, P Polanco 1. Team LOB - 2.

BASERUNNING: SB - C Granderson (23, 2nd base off S Baker/C Heintz).


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Tyner lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
J Kubel dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266
T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .290
J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .273
B Buscher 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .294
C Heintz c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .222
L Rodriguez 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .217
N Punto ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .202

Totals 6 0 0 0 1 2 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: E - S Baker (2, throw).


----------------------------------------------------
DETROIT - 12 -- 3
MINNESOTA - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
J Jurrjens 2 0 0 0 1 2 0 2.86

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
S Baker 2 5 3 3 0 1 1 4.31

Pitches-strikes: J Jurrjens 28-16; S Baker 43-29. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Jurrjens 0-4; S Baker 2-3. Batters faced: J Jurrjens 7; S Baker 11.

UMPIRES: HP--Tony Randazzo. 1B--Greg Gibson. 2B--Larry Vanover. 3B--Chad
Fairchild.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
CARLOS GUILLEN HIT INTO DOUBLE PLAY SCORING GARY SHEFFIELD.

SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, NONE ON, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 4
MINNESOTA 0 TOP, 3RD

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: I RODRIGUEZ (.283, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: DET - JAIR JURRJENS
MIN - SCOTT BAKER

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: L RODRIGUEZ (.217, 2 HR, 11 RBI)
N PUNTO (.202, 1 HR, 22 RBI)
J TYNER (.291, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">DETROIT (4) VS MINNESOTA (0) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Granderson cf 2 1 2 1 0 0 0 .303
P Polanco 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .340
G Sheffield dh 2 1 1 0 0 1 0 .270
M Ordonez rf 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 .358
C Guillen 1b 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .294
I Rodriguez c 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .283
T Perez lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .438
R Santiago ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .244
B Inge 3b 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 .242

Totals 14 4 7 2 0 2 3

BATTING: 2B - M Ordonez (49, S Baker); G Sheffield (20, S Baker). HR - C
Granderson (22, 1st inning off S Baker 0 on, 0 Out). S - B Inge. RBI - C
Granderson (72), B Inge (66). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C
Guillen 1, P Polanco 1. GIDP - C Guillen. Team LOB - 2.

BASERUNNING: SB - C Granderson (23, 2nd base off S Baker/C Heintz).


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Tyner lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
J Kubel dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266
T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .290
J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .273
B Buscher 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .294
C Heintz c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .222
L Rodriguez 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .217
N Punto ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .202

Totals 6 0 0 0 1 2 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: E - S Baker (2, throw). DP: 1 (N Punto-J Morneau).


----------------------------------------------------
DETROIT - 121 -- 4
MINNESOTA - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
J Jurrjens 2 0 0 0 1 2 0 2.86

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
S Baker 3 7 4 3 0 2 1 4.28

Pitches-strikes: J Jurrjens 28-16; S Baker 53-36. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Jurrjens 0-4; S Baker 4-3. Batters faced: J Jurrjens 7; S Baker 15.

UMPIRES: HP--Tony Randazzo. 1B--Greg Gibson. 2B--Larry Vanover. 3B--Chad
Fairchild.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>