GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: CLEVELAND (62-47) at MINNESOTA (55-53)

AL: CLEVELAND (62-47) at MINNESOTA (55-53)

<h3>Laffey to make major league debut vs. Twins</h3>

<div class="pre">Cleveland (62-47) at Minnesota (55-53) 3:55 pm EDT</div>

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) - A night after two of the AmericanLeague's top veteran starters faced off, a pair of youngsterswill be on the hill when the Minnesota Twins host the ClevelandIndians on Saturday.


On Friday, Grady Sizemore homered and drove in four runs as C.C.Sabathia outdueled Johan Santana to give the Indians a 5-2victory in the series opener.


Aaron Laffey will make his major league debut for Cleveland onSaturday. The 23-year-old is 7-3 with a 3.28 ERA in 14 games -13 starts - for Class AAA Buffalo of the International League.He has 19 walks and 62 strikeouts in 82 1/3 innings, winning sixconsecutive starts from June 7-July 6.


A 16th-round draft pick in 2003, Laffey started the season atClass AA Akron, going 4-1 with a 2.31 ERA in six starts. He wasa combined 12-4 at two Class A stops last season.


The Twins will counter with Matt Garza (1-2, 1.37). The23-year-old righthander has allowed just four earned runs in 261/3 innings since being recalled from the minors on July 2.

The contest will once again be an emotional one for Minnesota,which had its Thursday game against Kansas City postponedbecause of the tragic Interstate 35W bridge collapse inMinneapolis on Wednesday night. The bridge stood mere blocksfrom the Metrodome and cut off the city's major North/Souththoroughfare while killing at least five people and injuringnearly 100 with many still missing.

 

AL: CLEVELAND at MINNESOTA

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

CLEVELAND MINNESOTA
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Grady Sizemore CF .284 19 62 Jason Tyner LF .276 1 16
Kenny Lofton LF .300 7 25 Jason Bartlett SS .259 3 27
Casey Blake 3B .268 15 53 Joe Mauer DH .299 5 46
Victor Martinez C .305 18 79 Michael Cuddyer RF .292 10 56
Travis Hafner DH .253 17 69 Justin Morneau 1B .294 28 89
Ryan Garko 1B .312 14 44 Torii Hunter CF .290 22 75
Trot Nixon RF .254 3 31 Mike Redmond C .279 1 24
Jhonny Peralta SS .275 16 55 Brian Buscher 3B .286 0 1
Josh Barfield 2B .252 2 48 Alexi Casilla 2B .264 0 4

Aaron Laffey LHP (NO RECORD) Matt Garza RHP (1-2, 1.37)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA
WARMUPS: CLE - AARON LAFFEY (NO RECORD)
MIN - MATT GARZA (1-2, 1.37)

UMPIRES: HP - RON KULPA
1B - PAUL EMMEL
2B - DAN IASSOGNA
3B - DALE SCOTT

WEATHER: INDOORS</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA
STARTING BATS: CLE - AARON LAFFEY AND VICTOR MARTINEZ
MIN - MATT GARZA AND MIKE REDMOND

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: G SIZEMORE (.284, 19 HR, 62 RBI)
K LOFTON (.300, 7 HR, 25 RBI)
C BLAKE (.268, 15 HR, 53 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at MINNESOTA

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - AARON LAFFEY
MIN - MATT GARZA

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J TYNER (.276, 1 HR, 16 RBI)
J BARTLETT (.259, 3 HR, 27 RBI)
J MAUER (.299, 5 HR, 46 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at MINNESOTA

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

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .283
K Lofton lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299
C Blake 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .269
V Martinez c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .304
T Hafner dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253
R Garko 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .312
T Nixon rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254
J Peralta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275
J Barfield 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 1 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Tyner lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
J Bartlett ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259
J Mauer dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299
M Cuddyer rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
J Morneau 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
T Hunter cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
M Redmond c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
B Buscher 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
A Casilla 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 0 -- 0
MINNESOTA - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
A Laffey 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ###

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
M Garza 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1.32

Pitches-strikes: M Garza 13-8. Ground balls-fly balls: M Garza 0-2. Batters
faced: M Garza 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Ron Kulpa. 1B--Paul Emmel. 2B--Dan Iassogna. 3B--Dale Scott.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA
CONFIRMED STARTERS: CLE - AARON LAFFEY
MIN - MATT GARZA</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at MINNESOTA

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - AARON LAFFEY
MIN - MATT GARZA

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: T HAFNER (.253, 17 HR, 69 RBI)
R GARKO (.312, 14 HR, 44 RBI)
T NIXON (.254, 3 HR, 31 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at MINNESOTA

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

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .283
K Lofton lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299
C Blake 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .269
V Martinez c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .304
T Hafner dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253
R Garko 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .312
T Nixon rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254
J Peralta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275
J Barfield 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 1 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (J Peralta-R Garko).


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Tyner lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .280
J Bartlett ss 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .259
J Mauer dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .298
M Cuddyer rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
J Morneau 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
T Hunter cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
M Redmond c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
B Buscher 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
A Casilla 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264

Totals 2 0 1 0 1 0 1

BATTING: GIDP - J Mauer. Team LOB - 0.

BASERUNNING: CS - J Tyner (3, 2nd base by A Laffey/V Martinez).


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 0 -- 0
MINNESOTA - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
A Laffey 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0.00

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
M Garza 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1.32

Pitches-strikes: A Laffey 12-7; M Garza 13-8. Ground balls-fly balls: A
Laffey 2-0; M Garza 0-2. Batters faced: A Laffey 3; M Garza 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Ron Kulpa. 1B--Paul Emmel. 2B--Dan Iassogna. 3B--Dale Scott.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at MINNESOTA

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - AARON LAFFEY
MIN - MATT GARZA

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: M CUDDYER (.292, 10 HR, 56 RBI)
J MORNEAU (.294, 28 HR, 89 RBI)
T HUNTER (.290, 22 HR, 75 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at MINNESOTA

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

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .283
K Lofton lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299
C Blake 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .269
V Martinez c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .304
T Hafner dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253
R Garko 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .311
T Nixon rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .253
J Peralta ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .277
J Barfield 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .251

Totals 8 0 2 0 0 2 5

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Barfield 1. Team LOB - 3.


FIELDING: DP: 1 (J Peralta-R Garko).


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Tyner lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .280
J Bartlett ss 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .259
J Mauer dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .298
M Cuddyer rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
J Morneau 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
T Hunter cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
M Redmond c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
B Buscher 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
A Casilla 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264

Totals 2 0 1 0 1 0 1

BATTING: GIDP - J Mauer. Team LOB - 0.

BASERUNNING: CS - J Tyner (3, 2nd base by A Laffey/V Martinez).


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 00 -- 0
MINNESOTA - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
A Laffey 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0.00

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
M Garza 2 2 0 0 0 2 0 1.27

HBP - T Hafner (by M Garza). Pitches-strikes: A Laffey 12-7; M Garza 31-18.
Ground balls-fly balls: A Laffey 2-0; M Garza 1-3. Batters faced: A Laffey 3; M
Garza 9.

UMPIRES: HP--Ron Kulpa. 1B--Paul Emmel. 2B--Dan Iassogna. 3B--Dale Scott.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at MINNESOTA

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - AARON LAFFEY
MIN - MATT GARZA

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: G SIZEMORE (.283, 0-FOR-1)
K LOFTON (.299, 0-FOR-1)
C BLAKE (.269, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at MINNESOTA

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

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .283
K Lofton lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299
C Blake 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .269
V Martinez c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .304
T Hafner dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253
R Garko 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .311
T Nixon rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .253
J Peralta ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .277
J Barfield 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .251

Totals 8 0 2 0 0 2 5

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Barfield 1. Team LOB - 3.


FIELDING: DP: 1 (J Peralta-R Garko).


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Tyner lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .280
J Bartlett ss 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .259
J Mauer dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .298
M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
M Redmond c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
B Buscher 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
A Casilla 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264

Totals 5 0 1 0 1 0 1

BATTING: GIDP - J Mauer. Team LOB - 0.

BASERUNNING: CS - J Tyner (3, 2nd base by A Laffey/V Martinez).


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 00 -- 0
MINNESOTA - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
A Laffey 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 0.00

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
M Garza 2 2 0 0 0 2 0 1.27

HBP - T Hafner (by M Garza). Pitches-strikes: A Laffey 21-14; M Garza 31-18.
Ground balls-fly balls: A Laffey 5-0; M Garza 1-3. Batters faced: A Laffey 6; M
Garza 9.

UMPIRES: HP--Ron Kulpa. 1B--Paul Emmel. 2B--Dan Iassogna. 3B--Dale Scott.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY VICTOR MARTINEZ SCORED KENNY LOFTON.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, V MARTINEZ ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 1
MINNESOTA 0 TOP, 3RD

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: T HAFNER (.253, 0-FOR-0, HBP)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at MINNESOTA

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - AARON LAFFEY
MIN - MATT GARZA

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: M REDMOND (.279, 1 HR, 24 RBI)
B BUSCHER (.286, 0 HR, 1 RBI)
A CASILLA (.264, 0 HR, 4 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND (1) VS MINNESOTA (0) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 .282
K Lofton lf 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .301
C Blake 3b 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 .269
V Martinez c 2 0 1 1 0 0 1 .306
T Hafner dh 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .253
R Garko 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .311
T Nixon rf 2 0 0 0 0 2 4 .252
J Peralta ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .277
J Barfield 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .251

Totals 13 1 4 1 1 4 9

BATTING: 2B - V Martinez (29, M Garza). RBI - V Martinez (80). 2-out RBI - V
Martinez. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T Nixon 2, J Barfield 1.
Team LOB - 6.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (J Peralta-R Garko).


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Tyner lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .280
J Bartlett ss 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .259
J Mauer dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .298
M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
M Redmond c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
B Buscher 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
A Casilla 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264

Totals 5 0 1 0 1 0 1

BATTING: GIDP - J Mauer. Team LOB - 0.

BASERUNNING: CS - J Tyner (3, 2nd base by A Laffey/V Martinez).


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 001 -- 1
MINNESOTA - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
A Laffey 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 0.00

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
M Garza 3 4 1 1 1 4 0 1.53

IBB - T Hafner (by M Garza). HBP - T Hafner (by M Garza); R Garko (by M
Garza). Pitches-strikes: A Laffey 21-14; M Garza 70-41. Ground balls-fly balls:
A Laffey 5-0; M Garza 1-4. Batters faced: A Laffey 6; M Garza 16.

UMPIRES: HP--Ron Kulpa. 1B--Paul Emmel. 2B--Dan Iassogna. 3B--Dale Scott.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at MINNESOTA

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - AARON LAFFEY
MIN - MATT GARZA

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: J PERALTA (.277, 1-FOR-1)
J BARFIELD (.251, 0-FOR-1)
G SIZEMORE (.282, 0-FOR-2)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND (1) VS MINNESOTA (0) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 .282
K Lofton lf 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .301
C Blake 3b 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 .269
V Martinez c 2 0 1 1 0 0 1 .306
T Hafner dh 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .253
R Garko 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .311
T Nixon rf 2 0 0 0 0 2 4 .252
J Peralta ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .277
J Barfield 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .251

Totals 13 1 4 1 1 4 9

BATTING: 2B - V Martinez (29, M Garza). RBI - V Martinez (80). 2-out RBI - V
Martinez. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T Nixon 2, J Barfield 1.
Team LOB - 6.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (J Peralta-R Garko).


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Tyner lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .280
J Bartlett ss 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .259
J Mauer dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .298
M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
M Redmond c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
B Buscher 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .267
A Casilla 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259

Totals 8 0 1 0 1 1 1

BATTING: GIDP - J Mauer. Team LOB - 0.

BASERUNNING: CS - J Tyner (3, 2nd base by A Laffey/V Martinez).


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 001 -- 1
MINNESOTA - 000 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
A Laffey 3 1 0 0 1 1 0 0.00

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
M Garza 3 4 1 1 1 4 0 1.53

IBB - T Hafner (by M Garza). HBP - T Hafner (by M Garza); R Garko (by M
Garza). Pitches-strikes: A Laffey 33-22; M Garza 70-41. Ground balls-fly balls:
A Laffey 7-0; M Garza 1-4. Batters faced: A Laffey 9; M Garza 16.

UMPIRES: HP--Ron Kulpa. 1B--Paul Emmel. 2B--Dan Iassogna. 3B--Dale Scott.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
SACRIFICE FLY BY CASEY BLAKE SCORED JHONNY PERALTA.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, K LOFTON ON FIRST, G SIZEMORE ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 2
MINNESOTA 0 TOP, 4TH

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: V MARTINEZ (.306, 1-FOR-2, RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at MINNESOTA

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - AARON LAFFEY
MIN - MATT GARZA

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J TYNER (.280, 1-FOR-1)
J BARTLETT (.259, 0-FOR-0, BB)
J MAUER (.298, 0-FOR-1)</div>