GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: DETROIT (55-36) at MINNESOTA (49-44)

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - PITCHING CHANGE
MIN: PAT NESHEK (4-1, 1.55) STARTING THE 9TH
CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 3, MINNESOTA 2

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: M ORDONEZ (.359, 2-FOR-3, HR, 3 RBI)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: P Neshek relieved J Santana.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 3
MINNESOTA 2 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: M Ordonez (.359, 2-FOR-3, HR, 3 RBI)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: O Infante hit for M Thames.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, C GUILLEN ON FIRST, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 3
MINNESOTA 2 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: O Infante (.270, 1 HR, 12 RBI)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: DET - MACAY MCBRIDE
MIN - PAT NESHEK

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: M CUDDYER (.287, 3-FOR-3, BB)
J MORNEAU (.287, 0-FOR-3, HBP, RBI)
J TYNER (.280, 0 HR, 15 RBI)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">DETROIT (3) VS MINNESOTA (2) - MID 9TH - IN PROGRESS

DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Raburn cf 3 1 1 0 1 1 1 .429
C Granderson cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299
P Polanco 2b 4 1 1 0 0 1 1 .330
G Sheffield dh 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 .303
M Ordonez rf 4 1 2 3 0 2 0 .358
C Guillen ss 4 0 1 0 0 2 1 .311
I Rodriguez c 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .289
M Thames 1b-lf 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 .252
a-O Infante ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .268
C Monroe lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .219
S Casey 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296
B Inge 3b 3 0 1 0 0 1 0 .244

Totals 33 3 6 3 1 10 9

a-struck out swinging for M Thames in the 9th.

BATTING: 2B - R Raburn (1, J Santana); M Ordonez (36, J Santana). HR - M
Ordonez (15, 6th inning off J Santana 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - M Ordonez 3 (79).
2-out RBI - M Ordonez. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - I Rodriguez 1.
Team LOB - 4.

FIELDING: E - B Inge (11, throw). DP: 1 (A Miller-P Polanco-M Thames).


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
L Castillo 2b 4 0 1 1 1 0 0 .310
J Bartlett ss 5 0 2 0 0 1 3 .256
J Mauer c 5 0 1 0 0 1 5 .308
M Cuddyer rf 3 0 3 0 1 0 0 .287
J Morneau 1b 3 0 0 1 0 2 5 .287
T Hunter cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .296
J Kubel pr-lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 .240
a-M Redmond ph 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
J Tyner pr-lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
J Cirillo dh 3 1 1 0 1 0 4 .273
L Ford lf-cf 4 0 0 0 0 1 7 .237
N Punto 3b 3 1 1 0 1 0 0 .211

Totals 33 2 9 2 4 6 28

a-hit by pitch for J Kubel in the 7th.

BATTING: 2B - N Punto (12, J Grilli). RBI - J Morneau (77), L Castillo (17).
2-out RBI - J Morneau. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Morneau 1, L
Ford 3, J Kubel 2, J Bartlett 1. GIDP - L Ford. Team LOB - 13.

BASERUNNING: SB - J Bartlett 2 (19, 2nd base off A Miller/I Rodriguez 2).


----------------------------------------------------
DETROIT - 000 201 000 -- 3
MINNESOTA - 000 011 00 -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
A Miller 5 4 1 1 4 5 0 3.18
J Grilli 1 2 1 1 0 1 0 5.88
B Seay 1/3 2 0 0 0 0 0 3.37
C Durbin 1 1/3 1 0 0 0 0 0 4.05
M McBride 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.35

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
J Santana 8 5 3 3 1 7 1 2.65
P Neshek 1 1 0 0 0 3 0 1.52

HBP - J Morneau (by A Miller); M Redmond (by C Durbin). Pitches-strikes: A
Miller 97-62; J Grilli 25-19; B Seay 17-11; C Durbin 15-12; M McBride 3-3; J
Santana 118-89; P Neshek 13-11. Ground balls-fly balls: A Miller 9-1; J Grilli
1-1; B Seay 0-1; C Durbin 1-3; M McBride 0-1; J Santana 10-7; P Neshek 0-0.
Batters faced: A Miller 24; J Grilli 5; B Seay 3; C Durbin 6; M McBride 1; J
Santana 30; P Neshek 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Gary Darling. 1B--Phil Cuzzi. 2B--Tom Hallion. 3B--James Hoye.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: O Infante in left field.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 3
MINNESOTA 2 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: M Cuddyer (.287, 3-FOR-3)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - PITCHING CHANGE
DET: TODD JONES (1-4, 4.93) STARTING THE 9TH
CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 3, MINNESOTA 2

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: M CUDDYER (.287, 3-FOR-3)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: T Jones relieved M McBride.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 3
MINNESOTA 2 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: M Cuddyer (.287, 3-FOR-3)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL DETROIT AT MINNESOTA
NOTE: DETROIT'S MARCUS THAMES LEFT THE GAME IN THE TOP OF
THE NINTH INNING DUE TO A LEFT LEG INJURY.</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: G Jones hit for J Cirillo.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, M CUDDYER ON FIRST, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 3
MINNESOTA 2 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: G Jones (.200, 0 HR, 0 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 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 3 6 1
MINNESOTA 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 2 10 0 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: DET - ANDREW MILLER, JASON GRILLI (6TH), BOBBY SEAY (7TH), CHAD
DURBIN (7TH), MACAY MCBRIDE (8TH), TODD JONES (9TH) AND IVAN
RODRIGUEZ

MIN - JOHAN SANTANA, PAT NESHEK (9TH) AND JOE MAUER

HOME RUNS: DET - MAGGLIO ORDONEZ (15) OFF JOHAN SANTANA IN THE 6TH, 0 ON

MIN - NONE</div>

 

Ordonez helps Tigers edge Santana, Twins

<h3>DETROIT 3, MINNESOTA 2</h3>MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Magglio Ordonez continues to be a thornin the side of Johan Santana.


Ordonez hit a two-run double off Santana in the fourth inningand a solo home run in the sixth as the Detroit Tigers hung onto defeat the Minnesota Twins, 3-2, on Wednesday.


Ordonez, who drove in the only run of the game between the twoclubs Tuesday, improved his career batting average againstSantana to .419 to help Detroit win the three-game series inMinnesota. The Tigers will go for the sweep on Thursday.

While Tigers rookie starter Andrew Miller dodged baserunners inthe first three innings, Santana cruised until the fourth.

Detroit center fielder Ryan Rayburn started that inning with adouble to the wall in left-center field and Placido Polancosingled to put runners on the corners. After Gary Sheffieldpopped out in foul territory, Ordonez ripped a 2-2 fastball deepto left-center for a double, plating both baserunners.

Ordonez struck again in the sixth inning, hitting a two-out solohome run to once again extend Detroit's lead to two runs at3-1.


The American League batting average leader is now 18-for-43 inhis career against Santana (11-7) with four doubles, a triple,five home runs and 17 RBI. Ordonez's average, home run and RBItotals lead all players with at least 25 at-bats againstSantana.


The Twins cut the lead to 3-2 in the fifth inning when Millerloaded the bases with a pair of walks and a single, then hitJustin Morneau to score Nick Punto. It was the first runMinnesota scored in 26 innings against the Tigers after losingits last two contests to Detroit, 1-0.


But the Twins left the bases loaded as Jason Kubel struck outlooking at three straight strikes.


After giving up six runs - five earned - in five innings againstMinnesota on June 30, the lefthanded Miller (5-3) held theTwins to a run on four hits with four walks and five strikeoutsin five innings. Miller has alternated wins and losses in allseven of his starts since June 10.


After leaving Punto on third in the sixth inning, Minnesotaagain loaded the bases with one out in the seventh on a pair ofsingles and a hit batter. But reliever Chad Durbin - who hitpinch hitter Mike Redmond with his first offering after enteringthe game for Bobby Seay with a 1-2 count - got Jeff Cirillo topop out to catcher Ivan Rodriguez in foul territory and Lew Fordto fly out to center field.


The Twins stranded their 13th runner of the game in the eighthinning, when Marcus Thames made a diving catch of Joe Mauer'sfly ball to end the inning.


Thames injured his left hamstring in the process. He limped offthe field and was replaced in the lineup by Omar Infante in thetop of the ninth.


Closer Todd Jones, Detroit's sixth pitcher, worked around aleadoff single in the ninth inning, converting his 25th save in29 chances this season.


Santana pitched through the eighth inning, allowing three runson five hits with a walk and seven strikeouts. The loss was hisfirst since June 9 and snapped his five-game winning streak.Santana fell to 41-5 in post-All Star Game starts since 2003.

The Tigers have won three straight against Minnesota and nine oftheir last 11 games overall.

 

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
DETROIT 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 3 6 1
MINNESOTA 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 2 10 0 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: DET - ANDREW MILLER, JASON GRILLI (6TH), BOBBY SEAY (7TH), CHAD
DURBIN (7TH), MACAY MCBRIDE (8TH), TODD JONES (9TH) AND IVAN
RODRIGUEZ

MIN - JOHAN SANTANA, PAT NESHEK (9TH) AND JOE MAUER


WP - ANDREW MILLER (5-3)
LP - JOHAN SANTANA (11-7)
SAVE - TODD JONES (25)

HOME RUNS: DET - MAGGLIO ORDONEZ (15) OFF JOHAN SANTANA IN THE 6TH, 0 ON

MIN - NONE


TIME: 3:31 ATT: 38,070

PROBABLES: DET - JEREMY BONDERMAN (10-1, 3.50)
MIN - SCOTT BAKER (4-3, 5.43)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">DETROIT (3) VS MINNESOTA (2) - FINAL

DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Raburn cf 3 1 1 0 1 1 1 .429
C Granderson cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299
P Polanco 2b 4 1 1 0 0 1 1 .330
G Sheffield dh 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 .303
M Ordonez rf 4 1 2 3 0 2 0 .358
C Guillen ss 4 0 1 0 0 2 1 .311
I Rodriguez c 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .289
M Thames 1b-lf 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 .252
a-O Infante ph-lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .268
C Monroe lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .219
S Casey 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296
B Inge 3b 3 0 1 0 0 1 0 .244

Totals 33 3 6 3 1 10 9

a-struck out swinging for M Thames in the 9th.

BATTING: 2B - R Raburn (1, J Santana); M Ordonez (36, J Santana). HR - M
Ordonez (15, 6th inning off J Santana 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - M Ordonez 3 (79).
2-out RBI - M Ordonez. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - I Rodriguez 1.
Team LOB - 4.

FIELDING: E - B Inge (11, throw). DP: 1 (A Miller-P Polanco-M Thames).


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
L Castillo 2b 4 0 1 1 1 0 0 .310
J Bartlett ss 5 0 2 0 0 1 3 .256
J Mauer c 5 0 1 0 0 1 5 .308
M Cuddyer rf 4 0 4 0 1 0 0 .289
J Morneau 1b 4 0 0 1 0 3 6 .287
T Hunter cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .296
J Kubel pr-lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 .240
a-M Redmond ph 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
J Tyner pr-lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .278
J Cirillo dh 3 1 1 0 1 0 4 .273
b-G Jones ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .188
L Ford lf-cf 4 0 0 0 0 1 7 .237
N Punto 3b 3 1 1 0 1 0 0 .211

Totals 37 2 10 2 4 7 31

a-hit by pitch for J Kubel in the 7th; b-grounded to second for J Cirillo in
the 9th.

BATTING: 2B - N Punto (12, J Grilli). RBI - J Morneau (77), L Castillo (17).
2-out RBI - J Morneau. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Morneau 1, L
Ford 3, J Kubel 2, J Bartlett 1. GIDP - L Ford. Team LOB - 14.

BASERUNNING: SB - J Bartlett 2 (19, 2nd base off A Miller/I Rodriguez 2).


----------------------------------------------------
DETROIT - 000 201 000 -- 3
MINNESOTA - 000 011 000 -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
A Miller (W, 5-3) 5 4 1 1 4 5 0 3.18
J Grilli (H, 8) 1 2 1 1 0 1 0 5.88
B Seay (H, 7) 1/3 2 0 0 0 0 0 3.37
C Durbin (H, 2) 1 1/3 1 0 0 0 0 0 4.05
M McBride (H, 5) 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.35
T Jones (S, 25) 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.81

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
J Santana (L, 11-7) 8 5 3 3 1 7 1 2.65
P Neshek 1 1 0 0 0 3 0 1.52

HBP - J Morneau (by A Miller); M Redmond (by C Durbin). Pitches-strikes: A
Miller 97-62; J Grilli 25-19; B Seay 17-11; C Durbin 15-12; M McBride 3-3; T
Jones 21-15; J Santana 118-89; P Neshek 13-11. Ground balls-fly balls: A Miller
9-1; J Grilli 1-1; B Seay 0-1; C Durbin 1-3; M McBride 0-1; T Jones 1-1; J
Santana 10-7; P Neshek 0-0. Batters faced: A Miller 24; J Grilli 5; B Seay 3; C
Durbin 6; M McBride 1; T Jones 4; J Santana 30; P Neshek 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Gary Darling. 1B--Phil Cuzzi. 2B--Tom Hallion. 3B--James Hoye.

T--3:31. Att--38,070.
Weather: INDOORS</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
AL
DETROIT 3
MINNESOTA 2 FINAL</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DETROIT (3) AT MINNESOTA (2) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

DETROIT 4TH: R Raburn doubled to deep center. P Polanco singled to left,
R Raburn to third. G Sheffield fouled out to second. M Ordonez doubled to deep
center, R Raburn and P Polanco scored. C Guillen struck out swinging.
I Rodriguez flied out to center. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 2, MINNESOTA 0.

MINNESOTA 5TH: M Thames in left field. S Casey at first base. N Punto
walked. L Castillo grounded out to third, N Punto to second. J Bartlett
singled to left, N Punto to third. J Mauer struck out swinging, J Bartlett
stole second. M Cuddyer walked. J Morneau hit by pitch, N Punto scored,
J Bartlett to third, M Cuddyer to second. J Kubel struck out looking. (1 Run,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) DETROIT 2, MINNESOTA 1.

DETROIT 6TH: P Polanco grounded out to pitcher. G Sheffield popped out to
shortstop. M Ordonez homered to center. C Guillen struck out swinging.
(1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) DETROIT 3, MINNESOTA 1.

MINNESOTA 6TH: J Grilli relieved A Miller. J Cirillo singled to left.
L Ford struck out swinging. N Punto doubled to deep right, J Cirillo to third.
L Castillo grounded out to shortstop, J Cirillo scored, N Punto to third.
J Bartlett flied out to left. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 3, MINNESOTA 2.</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DETROIT (3) AT MINNESOTA (2) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Detroit Starting Lineups -- R Raburn CF, P Polanco 2B, G Sheffield DH,
M Ordonez RF, C Guillen SS, I Rodriguez C, M Thames 1B, C Monroe LF, B Inge 3B,
A Miller LHP.

Minnesota Starting Lineups -- L Castillo 2B, J Bartlett SS, J Mauer C,
M Cuddyer RF, J Morneau 1B, T Hunter CF, J Cirillo DH, L Ford LF, N Punto 3B,
J Santana LHP.

Umpires -- Gary Darling (HP), Phil Cuzzi (1B), Tom Hallion (2B), James Hoye (3B).

Gametime Weather: INDOORS.


DETROIT 1ST: R Raburn flied out to right. P Polanco popped out to second.
G Sheffield grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 0,
MINNESOTA 0.

MINNESOTA 1ST: L Castillo grounded out to shortstop. J Bartlett singled to
center. J Bartlett stole second. J Mauer grounded out to third. M Cuddyer
reached on infield single to pitcher, J Bartlett to third. J Morneau struck
out swinging. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 0, MINNESOTA 0.

DETROIT 2ND: M Ordonez struck out swinging. C Guillen flied out to right.
I Rodriguez grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 0,
MINNESOTA 0.

MINNESOTA 2ND: T Hunter grounded out to third. J Cirillo walked. L Ford
grounded into double play, pitcher to second to first, J Cirillo out at
second.(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 0, MINNESOTA 0.

DETROIT 3RD: M Thames struck out swinging. C Monroe grounded out to third.
B Inge struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 0, MINNESOTA 0.

MINNESOTA 3RD: N Punto grounded out to third. L Castillo walked.
J Bartlett struck out swinging. J Mauer grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) DETROIT 0, MINNESOTA 0.

DETROIT 4TH: R Raburn doubled to deep center. P Polanco singled to left,
R Raburn to third. G Sheffield fouled out to second. M Ordonez doubled to deep
center, R Raburn and P Polanco scored. C Guillen struck out swinging.
I Rodriguez flied out to center. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 2, MINNESOTA 0.

MINNESOTA 4TH: M Cuddyer singled to center. J Morneau struck out looking.
T Hunter grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, M Cuddyer out at second.
J Kubel ran for T Hunter. J Cirillo safe at first on throwing error by third
baseman B Inge, J Kubel to second. L Ford flied out to left. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
1 Error) DETROIT 2, MINNESOTA 0.

DETROIT 5TH: J Kubel in left field. L Ford in center field. M Thames flied
out to right. C Monroe grounded out to second. B Inge singled to center.
R Raburn struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) DETROIT 2, MINNESOTA 0.

MINNESOTA 5TH: M Thames in left field. S Casey at first base. N Punto
walked. L Castillo grounded out to third, N Punto to second. J Bartlett
singled to left, N Punto to third. J Mauer struck out swinging, J Bartlett
stole second. M Cuddyer walked. J Morneau hit by pitch, N Punto scored,
J Bartlett to third, M Cuddyer to second. J Kubel struck out looking. (1 Run,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) DETROIT 2, MINNESOTA 1.

DETROIT 6TH: P Polanco grounded out to pitcher. G Sheffield popped out to
shortstop. M Ordonez homered to center. C Guillen struck out swinging.
(1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) DETROIT 3, MINNESOTA 1.

MINNESOTA 6TH: J Grilli relieved A Miller. J Cirillo singled to left.
L Ford struck out swinging. N Punto doubled to deep right, J Cirillo to third.
L Castillo grounded out to shortstop, J Cirillo scored, N Punto to third.
J Bartlett flied out to left. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 3, MINNESOTA 2.

DETROIT 7TH: I Rodriguez grounded out to shortstop. M Thames grounded out
to shortstop. S Casey grounded out to pitcher. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
DETROIT 3, MINNESOTA 2.

MINNESOTA 7TH: B Seay relieved J Grilli. J Mauer reached on bunt single to
third. M Cuddyer singled to left, J Mauer to second. J Morneau popped out to
shortstop. M Redmond hit for J Kubel. C Durbin relieved B Seay, inheriting a
1-2 count. M Redmond hit by pitch, J Mauer to third, M Cuddyer to second.
J Tyner ran for M Redmond. J Cirillo fouled out to catcher. L Ford flied out
to center. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 3, MINNESOTA 2.

DETROIT 8TH: J Tyner in left field. B Inge grounded out to pitcher.
R Raburn walked. P Polanco struck out swinging. G Sheffield grounded out to
third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 3, MINNESOTA 2.

MINNESOTA 8TH: C Granderson in center field. N Punto grounded out to
second. L Castillo singled to center. J Bartlett flied out to center.
M McBride relieved C Durbin. J Mauer flied out to left. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
DETROIT 3, MINNESOTA 2.

DETROIT 9TH: P Neshek relieved J Santana. M Ordonez struck out swinging.
C Guillen singled to left. I Rodriguez struck out swinging. O Infante hit for
M Thames. O Infante struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) DETROIT 3,
MINNESOTA 2.

MINNESOTA 9TH: O Infante in left field. T Jones relieved M McBride.
M Cuddyer singled to center. J Morneau struck out swinging. J Tyner flied out
to center. G Jones hit for J Cirillo. G Jones grounded out to second. (0 Runs,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) DETROIT 3, MINNESOTA 2.</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">DETROIT (3) VS MINNESOTA (2) - FINAL

DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Raburn cf 3 1 1 0 1 1 1 .429
C Granderson cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299
P Polanco 2b 4 1 1 0 0 1 1 .330
G Sheffield dh 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 .303
M Ordonez rf 4 1 2 3 0 2 0 .358
C Guillen ss 4 0 1 0 0 2 1 .311
I Rodriguez c 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .289
M Thames 1b-lf 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 .252
a-O Infante ph-lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .268
C Monroe lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .219
S Casey 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296
B Inge 3b 3 0 1 0 0 1 0 .244

Totals 33 3 6 3 1 10 9

a-struck out swinging for M Thames in the 9th.

BATTING: 2B - R Raburn (1, J Santana); M Ordonez (36, J Santana). HR - M
Ordonez (15, 6th inning off J Santana 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - M Ordonez 3 (79).
2-out RBI - M Ordonez. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - I Rodriguez 1.
Team LOB - 4.

FIELDING: E - B Inge (11, throw). DP: 1 (A Miller-P Polanco-M Thames).


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
L Castillo 2b 4 0 1 1 1 0 0 .310
J Bartlett ss 5 0 2 0 0 1 3 .256
J Mauer c 5 0 1 0 0 1 5 .308
M Cuddyer rf 4 0 4 0 1 0 0 .289
J Morneau 1b 4 0 0 1 0 3 6 .287
T Hunter cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .296
J Kubel pr-lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 .240
a-M Redmond ph 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
J Tyner pr-lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .278
J Cirillo dh 3 1 1 0 1 0 4 .273
b-G Jones ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .188
L Ford lf-cf 4 0 0 0 0 1 7 .237
N Punto 3b 3 1 1 0 1 0 0 .211

Totals 37 2 10 2 4 7 31

a-hit by pitch for J Kubel in the 7th; b-grounded to second for J Cirillo in
the 9th.

BATTING: 2B - N Punto (12, J Grilli). RBI - J Morneau (77), L Castillo (17).
2-out RBI - J Morneau. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Morneau 1, L
Ford 3, J Kubel 2, J Bartlett 1. GIDP - L Ford. Team LOB - 14.

BASERUNNING: SB - J Bartlett 2 (19, 2nd base off A Miller/I Rodriguez 2).


----------------------------------------------------
DETROIT - 000 201 000 -- 3
MINNESOTA - 000 011 000 -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
A Miller (W, 5-3) 5 4 1 1 4 5 0 3.18
J Grilli (H, 8) 1 2 1 1 0 1 0 5.88
B Seay (H, 7) 1/3 2 0 0 0 0 0 3.37
C Durbin (H, 2) 1 1/3 1 0 0 0 0 0 4.05
M McBride (H, 5) 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.35
T Jones (S, 25) 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.81

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
J Santana (L, 11-7) 8 5 3 3 1 7 1 2.65
P Neshek 1 1 0 0 0 3 0 1.52

HBP - J Morneau (by A Miller); M Redmond (by C Durbin). Pitches-strikes: A
Miller 97-62; J Grilli 25-19; B Seay 17-11; C Durbin 15-12; M McBride 3-3; T
Jones 22-16; J Santana 118-89; P Neshek 13-11. Ground balls-fly balls: A Miller
9-1; J Grilli 1-1; B Seay 0-1; C Durbin 1-3; M McBride 0-1; T Jones 1-1; J
Santana 10-7; P Neshek 0-0. Batters faced: A Miller 24; J Grilli 5; B Seay 3; C
Durbin 6; M McBride 1; T Jones 4; J Santana 30; P Neshek 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Gary Darling. 1B--Phil Cuzzi. 2B--Tom Hallion. 3B--James Hoye.

T--3:31. Att--38,070.
Weather: INDOORS</div>

 

Ordonez helps Tigers edge Santana, Twins

<h3>DETROIT 3, MINNESOTA 2</h3>MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Magglio Ordonez continues to be a thornin the side of Johan Santana.


Ordonez hit a two-run double off Santana in the fourth inningand a solo home run in the sixth as the Detroit Tigers hung onto defeat the Minnesota Twins, 3-2, on Wednesday.


Ordonez, who drove in the only run of the game between the twoclubs Tuesday, improved his career batting average againstSantana to .419 to help Detroit win the three-game series inMinnesota. The Tigers will go for the sweep on Thursday.

"I can't figure that out," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "Forwhatever reason he's (Ordonez) had pretty good success againstJohan. I don't know what it is. I can't figure it out."

While Tigers rookie starter Andrew Miller dodged baserunners inthe first three innings, Santana cruised until the fourth.

Detroit center fielder Ryan Rayburn started that inning with adouble to the wall in left-center field and Placido Polancosingled to put runners on the corners. After Gary Sheffieldpopped out in foul territory, Ordonez ripped a 2-2 fastball deepto left-center for a double, plating both baserunners.

Ordonez struck again in the sixth inning, hitting a two-out solohome run to once again extend Detroit's lead to two runs at3-1.


"He's a pretty good hitter," Santana said. "He's been a prettygood hitter throughout his whole career. We played togetherbefore. Carlos (Guillen), we played together before, and I knowexactly how they are - they battle all the time. They're notgoing to just be an easy out. They're always going to give youa tough time.


"When you don't execute everything like it's supposed to be andyou make a mistake, those are the kind of guys who will takeadvantage of those."


The American League batting average leader is now 18-for-43 inhis career against Santana (11-7) with four doubles, a triple,five home runs and 17 RBI. Ordonez's average, home run and RBItotals lead all players with at least 25 at-bats againstSantana.


"It's sick," Tigers outfielder Marcus Thames said. "Magglio canhit. He stays with his approach. He's been hitting that wayall year. But to own a guy like that, there's got to besomething more special going on."


The Twins cut the lead to 3-2 in the fifth inning when Millerloaded the bases with a pair of walks and a single, then hitJustin Morneau to score Nick Punto. It was the first runMinnesota scored in 26 innings against the Tigers after losingits last two contests to Detroit, 1-0.


But the Twins left the bases loaded as Jason Kubel struck outlooking at three straight strikes.


After giving up six runs - five earned - in five innings againstMinnesota on June 30, the lefthanded Miller (5-3) held theTwins to a run on four hits with four walks and five strikeoutsin five innings. Miller has alternated wins and losses in allseven of his starts since June 10.


After leaving Punto on third in the sixth inning, Minnesotaagain loaded the bases with one out in the seventh on a pair ofsingles and a hit batter. But reliever Chad Durbin - who hitpinch hitter Mike Redmond with his first offering after enteringthe game for Bobby Seay with a 1-2 count - got Jeff Cirillo topop out to catcher Ivan Rodriguez in foul territory and Lew Fordto fly out to center field.


The Twins stranded their 13th runner of the game in the eighthinning, when Marcus Thames made a diving catch of Joe Mauer'sfly ball to end the inning.


Thames injured his left hamstring in the process. He limped offthe field and was replaced in the lineup by Omar Infante in thetop of the ninth.


"It might have been an inside-the-parker," Leyland said. "I'veseen that ball in my dreams in this ballpark. I had nightmareswhen I saw that go up. I can't believe he made that play."

"That was a tough one, a heck of a play by him," Twinsoutfielder Michael Cuddyer said. "He had been playing shallowthe whole night and on that one was playing deep.
Unfortunately, it didn't fall."


Closer Todd Jones, Detroit's sixth pitcher, worked around aleadoff single in the ninth inning, converting his 25th save in29 chances this season.


"We chased some pitches out of the zone," Twins manager RonGardenhire said. "They were winging it all over the place. Butthey made pitches when the had to. We had opportunities, wejust didn't take advantage of them."


Santana pitched through the eighth inning, allowing three runson five hits with a walk and seven strikeouts. The loss was hisfirst since June 9 and snapped his five-game winning streak.Santana fell to 41-5 in post-All Star Game starts since 2003.

The Tigers have won three straight against Minnesota and nine oftheir last 11 games overall. Six of the Twins' last 11 losseshave come by one run.