GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: MINNESOTA (76-79) at DETROIT (85-71)

AL: MINNESOTA at DETROIT

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MINNESOTA (2) AT DETROIT (0) - HOW THEY SCORED
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MINNESOTA 2ND: M Cuddyer walked. M LeCroy grounded out to third, M Cuddyer
to second. R White grounded out to third. N Punto singled to left, M Cuddyer
scored, N Punto to second advancing on throw. A Casilla grounded out to third.
(1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 1, DETROIT 0.

MINNESOTA 9TH: R Raburn in center field. C Guillen at first base.
R Santiago at shortstop. R White singled to center. J Tyner ran for R White.
N Punto sacrificed to pitcher, J Tyner to second. B Buscher hit for A Casilla.
B Buscher struck out swinging. J Bartlett reached on infield single to pitcher,
J Tyner to third. J Kubel singled to center, J Tyner scored, J Bartlett to
third. T Hunter struck out looking. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 2,
DETROIT 0.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at DETROIT

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MINNESOTA (2) AT DETROIT (0) - EVENT LOG
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Minnesota Starting Lineups -- J Bartlett SS, J Kubel LF, T Hunter CF, J Morneau 1B,
M Cuddyer RF, M LeCroy C, R White DH, N Punto 3B, A Casilla 2B, C Silva RHP.

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.

Umpires -- Mike Winters (HP), Bruce Froemming (1B), Mark Wegner (2B),
Brian Runge (3B).

Gametime Weather: 79 degrees, Clear, wind in from center at 10 mph.


MINNESOTA 1ST: J Bartlett grounded out to shortstop. J Kubel walked.
T Hunter flied out to center. J Morneau struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) MINNESOTA 0, DETROIT 0.

DETROIT 1ST: C Granderson popped out to third. P Polanco grounded out to
shortstop. G Sheffield grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
MINNESOTA 0, DETROIT 0.

MINNESOTA 2ND: M Cuddyer walked. M LeCroy grounded out to third, M Cuddyer
to second. R White grounded out to third. N Punto singled to left, M Cuddyer
scored, N Punto to second advancing on throw. A Casilla grounded out to third.
(1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 1, DETROIT 0.

DETROIT 2ND: M Ordonez grounded out to shortstop. C Guillen flied out to
center. I Rodriguez singled to center. I Rodriguez stole second. T Perez
lined out to first. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 1, DETROIT 0.

MINNESOTA 3RD: J Bartlett fouled out to catcher. J Kubel struck out
swinging. T Hunter singled to left. J Morneau reached on infield single to
shortstop, T Hunter to second. M Cuddyer walked, T Hunter to third, J Morneau
to second. M LeCroy popped out to second. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
MINNESOTA 1, DETROIT 0.

DETROIT 3RD: S Casey singled to center. B Inge grounded into double play,
shortstop to second to first, S Casey out at second. C Granderson grounded out
to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 1, DETROIT 0.

MINNESOTA 4TH: R White grounded out to pitcher. N Punto struck out
swinging. A Casilla struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 1,
DETROIT 0.

DETROIT 4TH: P Polanco grounded out to second. G Sheffield struck out
swinging. M Ordonez doubled to deep center. C Guillen flied out to left.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 1, DETROIT 0.

MINNESOTA 5TH: J Bartlett struck out looking. J Kubel popped out to
shortstop. T Hunter grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
MINNESOTA 1, DETROIT 0.

DETROIT 5TH: I Rodriguez grounded out to second. T Perez grounded out to
third. S Casey grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 1,
DETROIT 0.

MINNESOTA 6TH: J Morneau flied out to right. M Cuddyer grounded out to
third. M LeCroy safe at first on error by shortstop C Guillen. R White flied
out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Error) MINNESOTA 1, DETROIT 0.

DETROIT 6TH: B Inge singled to right. C Granderson singled to right,
B Inge to second. P Polanco grounded into double play, second to shortstop to
first, C Granderson out at second, B Inge to third. G Sheffield popped out to
shortstop. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 1, DETROIT 0.

MINNESOTA 7TH: N Punto flied out to right. A Casilla grounded out to
third. J Bartlett walked. J Kubel struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) MINNESOTA 1, DETROIT 0.

DETROIT 7TH: M Ordonez grounded out to shortstop. C Guillen flied out to
center. I Rodriguez grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
MINNESOTA 1, DETROIT 0.

MINNESOTA 8TH: F Rodney relieved N Robertson. T Hunter flied out to center.
J Morneau walked. M Cuddyer flied out to center. M LeCroy grounded out to
pitcher. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 1, DETROIT 0.

DETROIT 8TH: T Perez grounded out to pitcher. S Casey singled to right.
C Maybin ran for S Casey. C Maybin stole second. B Inge lined out to first.
G Perkins relieved C Silva. R Raburn hit for C Granderson. R Raburn grounded out
to shortstop. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 1, DETROIT 0.

MINNESOTA 9TH: R Raburn in center field. C Guillen at first base.
R Santiago at shortstop. R White singled to center. J Tyner ran for R White.
N Punto sacrificed to pitcher, J Tyner to second. B Buscher hit for A Casilla.
B Buscher struck out swinging. J Bartlett reached on infield single to pitcher,
J Tyner to third. J Kubel singled to center, J Tyner scored, J Bartlett to
third. T Hunter struck out looking. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 2,
DETROIT 0.

DETROIT 9TH: N Punto at second base. L Rodriguez at third base. J Nathan
relieved G Perkins. P Polanco struck out swinging. G Sheffield flied out to
center. M Ordonez walked. C Guillen singled to right, M Ordonez to third.
C Guillen stole second. I Rodriguez grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) MINNESOTA 2, DETROIT 0.</div>

 

Silva outpitches Robertson as Twins blank Tigers

<h3>MINNESOTA 2, DETROIT 0</h3>DETROIT (Ticker) -- Jim Leyland and the Detroit Tigers failedto take advantage.


Carlos Silva outdueled Nate Robertson as the Minnesota Twins puta damper on the Tigers playoff hopes with Monday's 2-0 victoryin the series opener.


Detroit (85-72) still remain 5 1/2 ga,es behind the New YorkYankees (90-66) in the American League wild card chase with fivegames remaining.


The Tigers will be eliminated from postseason contention withone more loss or a win by the New York Yankees.


Silva (13-14) was outstanding, yielding six hits with onestrikeout through 7 2/3 innings to remain perfect in two startsagainst Detroit. On April 28 here, the righthander allowedthree runs in six frames for the win.


It was Silva's longest outing since grinding out eight stronginnings in a win against the Kansas City Royals on July 31.

Robertson also impressed, limiting the Twins to just one run onthree hits with six strikeouts and four walks over seven frames.

In the second inning, Michael Cuddyer drew a leadoff walk andtook second on a groundout before coming home on Nick Punto'sRBI single to left off Robertson (8-12) for a 1-0 advantage.

Minnesota added some insurance in the top of the ninth againstreliever Fernando Rodney, who surrendered a two-out RBI singleto Jason Kubel.


Detroit had an opportunity to make things interesting in thebottom half of the inning against closer Joe Nathan.

After getting the first two outs, Nathan walked Magglio Ordonezand gave up a single to Carlos Guillen, who stole second to putrunners on third and second. However, Nathan regrouped and shutthe door by inducing All-Star Ivan Rodriguez to ground out forhis 35th save.

 

Silva outpitches Robertson as Twins blank Tigers

<h3>MINNESOTA 2, DETROIT 0</h3>DETROIT (Ticker) -- Jim Leyland and the Detroit Tigers failedto take advantage.


Carlos Silva outdueled Nate Robertson as the Minnesota Twins puta damper on the Tigers playoff hopes with Monday's 2-0 victoryin the series opener.


Detroit (85-72) still remain 5 1/2 games behind the New YorkYankees (90-66) in the American League wild card chase with fivegames remaining.


The Tigers will be eliminated from postseason contention withone more loss or a win by the New York Yankees. New York lostearlier in the day to Toronto, 4-1.


"There's five games to go and we're still in it," Robertsonsaid. "I know it would take a miracle to win it but for allwe've been through this year we're still around. The guys arestill playing hard and that's a testament to this team."

Silva (13-14) was outstanding, yielding six hits with onestrikeout through 7 2/3 innings to remain perfect in two startsagainst Detroit. On April 28 here, the righthander allowedthree runs in six frames for the win.


"Silva's a sinkerball pitcher with a good changeup that he keepsdown," Tigers first baseman Sean Casey said. "I think that wasthe big thing. He was really using that sinker and was gettingguys out front with his changeup, and that's what he was doingall night long."


It was Silva's longest outing since grinding out eight stronginnings in a win against the Kansas City Royals on July 31.

"I was really excited for this game," Silva said. "To face alineup like this with so many good hitters like this is achallenge. Everything worked for us. All you want to do ispitch your game, you don't want to be perfect - just win."

Robertson also impressed, limiting the Twins to just one run onthree hits with six strikeouts and four walks over seven frames.

"I felt good out there," Robertson said. "I had good command andall of my pitches were working. That's baseball, you take thegood with the bad."


In the second inning, Michael Cuddyer drew a leadoff walk andtook second on a groundout before coming home on Nick Punto'sRBI single to left off Robertson (8-12) for a 1-0 advantage.

"(Punto) plays, man, he just plays," Twins manager RonGardenhire said. "It hasn't been a good year for him, but youlike to keep those guys on the field."


Minnesota added some insurance in the top of the ninth againstreliever Fernando Rodney, who surrendered a two-out RBI singleto Jason Kubel.


Detroit had an opportunity to make things interesting in thebottom half of the inning against closer Joe Nathan.

After getting the first two outs, Nathan walked Magglio Ordonezand gave up a single to Carlos Guillen, who stole second to putrunners on third and second. However, Nathan regrouped and shutthe door by inducing All-Star Ivan Rodriguez to ground out forhis 35th save.


"We had a couple of shots at them," Leyland said. "We hit acouple of balls hard but they didn't fall in. We just didn'tmuster enough offensive to give ourselves a chance to win."