GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: DETROIT (54-36) at MINNESOTA (49-43)

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: L Ford hit for J Tyner.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 1
MINNESOTA 0 BOTTOM, 8TH

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: L Ford (.247, 2 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 0 0 1 0 0 1 4 0
MINNESOTA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 (TOP 9)

CURRENT PITCHERS: DET - MACAY MCBRIDE
MIN - MATT GUERRIER

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: C GUILLEN (.313, 0-FOR-3)
I RODRIGUEZ (.294, 0-FOR-3)
S CASEY (.297, 0-FOR-3)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">DETROIT (1) VS MINNESOTA (0) - END 8TH - IN PROGRESS

DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Granderson cf 3 0 3 0 1 0 0 .299
P Polanco 2b 4 0 0 0 0 0 5 .331
G Sheffield dh 4 0 0 0 0 1 5 .307
M Ordonez rf 4 0 1 1 0 1 3 .356
C Guillen ss 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 .313
I Rodriguez c 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 .294
S Casey 1b 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .297
M Thames lf 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252
B Inge 3b 2 1 0 0 1 1 0 .244

Totals 29 1 4 1 2 5 15

BATTING: 2B - C Granderson (27, M Garza). RBI - M Ordonez (76). 2-out RBI - M
Ordonez. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Ordonez 2, C Guillen 1, P
Polanco 1. Team LOB - 6.

FIELDING: DP: 2 (I Rodriguez-P Polanco, C Guillen-P Polanco-S Casey).


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
L Castillo 2b 4 0 2 0 0 0 1 .311
J Bartlett ss 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 .254
J Mauer c 3 0 1 0 0 1 2 .312
M Cuddyer rf 3 0 0 0 0 2 3 .282
J Morneau 1b 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 .290
T Hunter cf 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 .298
J Cirillo dh 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .272
J Tyner lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
a-L Ford ph 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .247
N Punto 3b 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .209

Totals 25 0 3 0 3 5 9

a-walked for J Tyner in the 8th.

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Cuddyer 1. GIDP - L
Castillo. Team LOB - 4.

BASERUNNING: CS - J Mauer (1, 2nd base by N Robertson/I Rodriguez).

FIELDING: E - J Bartlett (16, ground ball).


----------------------------------------------------
DETROIT - 000 001 00 -- 1
MINNESOTA - 000 000 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
N Robertson 7 3 0 0 2 5 0 4.53
M McBride 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 2.45

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
M Garza 7 3 1 0 1 3 0 0.00
M Guerrier 1 1 0 0 1 2 0 1.60

WP - M Garza. Pitches-strikes: N Robertson 102-62; M McBride 13-6; M Garza
97-62; M Guerrier 22-13. Ground balls-fly balls: N Robertson 8-7; M McBride
2-1; M Garza 6-12; M Guerrier 1-0. Batters faced: N Robertson 25; M McBride 3;
M Garza 26; M Guerrier 5.

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

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: L Ford in left field.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 1
MINNESOTA 0 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: C Guillen (.313, 0-FOR-3)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - PITCHING CHANGE
MIN: PAT NESHEK (4-1, 1.59) STARTING THE 9TH
CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 1, MINNESOTA 0

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: C GUILLEN (.313, 0-FOR-3)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: P Neshek relieved M Guerrier.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 1
MINNESOTA 0 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: C Guillen (.313, 0-FOR-3)</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 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 5 0
MINNESOTA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 (BOT 9)

CURRENT PITCHERS: DET - MACAY MCBRIDE
MIN - PAT NESHEK

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J BARTLETT (.254, 0-FOR-2, BB)
J MAUER (.312, 1-FOR-3)
M CUDDYER (.282, 0-FOR-3)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">DETROIT (1) VS MINNESOTA (0) - MID 9TH - IN PROGRESS

DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Granderson cf 3 0 3 0 1 0 0 .299
P Polanco 2b 4 0 0 0 0 0 5 .331
G Sheffield dh 4 0 0 0 0 1 5 .307
M Ordonez rf 4 0 1 1 0 1 3 .356
C Guillen ss 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .312
I Rodriguez c 4 0 0 0 0 3 0 .293
S Casey 1b 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 .297
M Thames lf 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 .257
B Inge 3b 3 1 0 0 1 1 2 .243

Totals 33 1 5 1 3 6 17

BATTING: 2B - C Granderson (27, M Garza). RBI - M Ordonez (76). 2-out RBI - M
Ordonez. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Ordonez 2, C Guillen 1, P
Polanco 1, B Inge 1. Team LOB - 8.

FIELDING: DP: 2 (I Rodriguez-P Polanco, C Guillen-P Polanco-S Casey).


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
L Castillo 2b 4 0 2 0 0 0 1 .311
J Bartlett ss 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 .254
J Mauer c 3 0 1 0 0 1 2 .312
M Cuddyer rf 3 0 0 0 0 2 3 .282
J Morneau 1b 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 .290
T Hunter cf 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 .298
J Cirillo dh 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .272
J Tyner lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
a-L Ford ph-lf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .247
N Punto 3b 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .209

Totals 25 0 3 0 3 5 9

a-walked for J Tyner in the 8th.

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Cuddyer 1. GIDP - L
Castillo. Team LOB - 4.

BASERUNNING: CS - J Mauer (1, 2nd base by N Robertson/I Rodriguez).

FIELDING: E - J Bartlett (16, ground ball).


----------------------------------------------------
DETROIT - 000 001 000 -- 1
MINNESOTA - 000 000 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
N Robertson 7 3 0 0 2 5 0 4.53
M McBride 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 2.45

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
M Garza 7 3 1 0 1 3 0 0.00
M Guerrier 1 1 0 0 1 2 0 1.60
P Neshek 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 1.55

WP - M Garza. Pitches-strikes: N Robertson 102-62; M McBride 13-6; M Garza
97-62; M Guerrier 22-13; P Neshek 18-11. Ground balls-fly balls: N Robertson
8-7; M McBride 2-1; M Garza 6-12; M Guerrier 1-0; P Neshek 1-1. Batters faced:
N Robertson 25; M McBride 3; M Garza 26; M Guerrier 5; P Neshek 5.

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

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: C Monroe in left field.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 1
MINNESOTA 0 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J Bartlett (.254, 0-FOR-2)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - PITCHING CHANGE
DET: TODD JONES (1-4, 5.06) STARTING THE 9TH
CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 1, MINNESOTA 0

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J BARTLETT (.254, 0-FOR-2)</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 1
MINNESOTA 0 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J Bartlett (.254, 0-FOR-2)</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 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 5 0
MINNESOTA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: DET - NATE ROBERTSON, MACAY MCBRIDE (8TH), TODD JONES (9TH) AND IVAN
RODRIGUEZ

MIN - MATT GARZA, MATT GUERRIER (8TH), PAT NESHEK (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 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 5 0
MINNESOTA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: DET - NATE ROBERTSON, MACAY MCBRIDE (8TH), TODD JONES (9TH) AND IVAN
RODRIGUEZ

MIN - MATT GARZA, MATT GUERRIER (8TH), PAT NESHEK (9TH)
AND JOE MAUER


WP - NATE ROBERTSON (6-6)
LP - MATT GARZA (1-1)
SAVE - TODD JONES (24)

HOME RUNS: DET - NONE

MIN - NONE


TIME: 2:39 ATT: 30,939

PROBABLES: DET - ANDREW MILLER (4-3, 3.35)
MIN - JOHAN SANTANA (11-6, 2.60)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">DETROIT (1) VS MINNESOTA (0) - FINAL

DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Granderson cf 3 0 3 0 1 0 0 .299
P Polanco 2b 4 0 0 0 0 0 5 .331
G Sheffield dh 4 0 0 0 0 1 5 .307
M Ordonez rf 4 0 1 1 0 1 3 .356
C Guillen ss 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .312
I Rodriguez c 4 0 0 0 0 3 0 .293
S Casey 1b 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 .297
M Thames lf 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 .257
C Monroe lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .220
B Inge 3b 3 1 0 0 1 1 2 .243

Totals 33 1 5 1 3 6 17

BATTING: 2B - C Granderson (27, M Garza). RBI - M Ordonez (76). 2-out RBI - M
Ordonez. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Ordonez 2, C Guillen 1, P
Polanco 1, B Inge 1. Team LOB - 8.

FIELDING: DP: 2 (I Rodriguez-P Polanco, C Guillen-P Polanco-S Casey).


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
L Castillo 2b 4 0 2 0 0 0 1 .311
J Bartlett ss 3 0 0 0 1 0 1 .253
J Mauer c 4 0 1 0 0 1 2 .311
M Cuddyer rf 4 0 0 0 0 2 3 .281
J Morneau 1b 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 .290
T Hunter cf 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 .298
J Cirillo dh 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .272
J Tyner lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
a-L Ford ph-lf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .247
N Punto 3b 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .209

Totals 28 0 3 0 3 5 9

a-walked for J Tyner in the 8th.

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Cuddyer 1. GIDP - L
Castillo. Team LOB - 4.

BASERUNNING: CS - J Mauer (1, 2nd base by N Robertson/I Rodriguez).

FIELDING: E - J Bartlett (16, ground ball).


----------------------------------------------------
DETROIT - 000 001 000 -- 1
MINNESOTA - 000 000 000 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
N Robertson (W, 6-6) 7 3 0 0 2 5 0 4.53
M McBride (H, 4) 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 2.45
T Jones (S, 24) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.93

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
M Garza (L, 1-1) 7 3 1 0 1 3 0 0.00
M Guerrier 1 1 0 0 1 2 0 1.60
P Neshek 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 1.55

WP - M Garza. Pitches-strikes: N Robertson 102-62; M McBride 13-6; T Jones
7-5; M Garza 97-62; M Guerrier 22-13; P Neshek 18-11. Ground balls-fly balls: N
Robertson 8-7; M McBride 2-1; T Jones 3-0; M Garza 6-12; M Guerrier 1-0; P
Neshek 1-1. Batters faced: N Robertson 25; M McBride 3; T Jones 3; M Garza 26;
M Guerrier 5; P Neshek 5.

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

T--2:39. Att--30,939.
Weather: INDOORS</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
AL
DETROIT 1
MINNESOTA 0 FINAL</div>

 

Robertson outduels Garza in Tigers' win

<h3>DETROIT 1, MINNESOTA 0</h3>MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Magglio Ordonez took advantage of JasonBartlett's error and Nate Robertson outdueled Matt Garza as theDetroit Tigers edged the Minnesota Twins, 1-0, on Tuesday.

Ordonez's RBI single with two outs in the sixth inning platedBrandon Inge, who reached to start the frame when Bartlett couldnot handle his ground ball.


One run was enough for Robertson (6-6), who pitched sevenscoreless innings as Detroit took the first of a three-gameseries from the Twins, increasing their American League Centrallead to seven games over last season's division champions.

After five innings of scoreless, two-hit ball from both sides,Garza (1-1) looked to retire his eighth straight Tiger for thesecond time in the game when he started off the sixth frameagainst Inge.


Garza induced a ground ball right at Bartlett, but the Twinsshortstop failed to play it cleanly and Inge reached on theerror - Bartlett's 16th of the season, tying him for third mostin the majors.


After walking Curtis Granderson, Garza got Placido Polanco topop up a sacrifice bunt attempt and Gary Sheffield flied out toleft for the second out. Garza then got ahead of Ordonez 0-2,but the major league batting average leader hit Garza's nextpitch past a diving Nick Punto at third, allowing Inge to scorefrom second.


The run was unearned, keeping Garza's ERA at 0.00 this season.

Despite his recent struggles, Robertson matched Garza'seffectiveness. After holding Minnesota to three runs and fivehits in seven innings on April 27 in Detroit, Robertson turnedin his longest outing since that performance - a span of 11starts. He held the Twins to just three hits while leaving agame without giving up an earned run for just the second timethis season.


Entering Tuesday's contest, Robertson had made it through sixinnings just once in his last nine starts and had a 5.47 ERAwith opponents batting .340 against him on the road. The Tigershad won just once in Robertson's previous six outings, and heallowed less than three runs once during that stretch.

But the Detroit lefthander allowed just two hits and a walkthrough five innings on Tuesday, and erased Joe Mauer's leadoffsingle in the fourth, striking out Michael Cuddyer as Mauer wasthrown out stealing. Justin Morneau followed with a deep flyball to center field, but Granderson made the catch against thewall.


The Twins threatened again in the sixth inning, when LuisCastillo hit a one-out single and Bartlett followed with a walk.But Robertson struck out Mauer - all three strikes looking -and Cuddyer to end the threat.


Detroit failed to capitalize on two baserunners with no outs inthe eighth inning off Twins reliever Matt Guerrier. But Tigerslefthander Macay McBride worked around a leadoff walk in theeighth inning, and Todd Jones tossed a scoreless ninth for his24th save in 28 chances to seal the victory.


The loss prevented Minnesota from tying its season-high winningstreak at five games, while the Tigers won for the eighth timein their last 10 contests.

 

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DETROIT (1) AT MINNESOTA (0) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

DETROIT 6TH: B Inge safe at first on error by shortstop J Bartlett. B Inge
to second on wild pitch by M Garza. C Granderson walked. P Polanco bunt popped
out foul to catcher. G Sheffield flied out to left. M Ordonez singled to
left, B Inge scored, C Granderson to second. C Guillen flied out to center. (1
Run, 1 Hit, 1 Error) DETROIT 1, MINNESOTA 0.</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DETROIT (1) AT MINNESOTA (0) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Detroit Starting Lineups -- C Granderson CF, P Polanco 2B, G Sheffield DH,
M Ordonez RF, C Guillen SS, I Rodriguez C, S Casey 1B, M Thames LF, B Inge 3B,
N Robertson 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, J Tyner LF, N Punto 3B,
M Garza RHP.

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

Gametime Weather: INDOORS.


DETROIT 1ST: C Granderson singled to center. P Polanco grounded out to
third, C Granderson to second. G Sheffield flied out to right. M Ordonez
flied out to right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) DETROIT 0, MINNESOTA 0.

MINNESOTA 1ST: L Castillo flied out to right. J Bartlett flied out to
center. J Mauer grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 0,
MINNESOTA 0.

DETROIT 2ND: C Guillen flied out to left. I Rodriguez struck out swinging.
S Casey lined out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 0, MINNESOTA 0.

MINNESOTA 2ND: M Cuddyer flied out to center. J Morneau struck out
swinging. T Hunter walked. J Cirillo popped out to shortstop. (0 Runs,
0 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 0, MINNESOTA 0.

DETROIT 3RD: M Thames grounded out to third. B Inge struck out swinging.
C Granderson doubled to left. P Polanco popped out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) DETROIT 0, MINNESOTA 0.

MINNESOTA 3RD: J Tyner grounded out to first. N Punto grounded out to
second. L Castillo singled to left. J Bartlett grounded into fielder's choice
to third, L Castillo out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) DETROIT 0,
MINNESOTA 0.

DETROIT 4TH: G Sheffield grounded out to shortstop. M Ordonez flied out to
right. C Guillen grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 0,
MINNESOTA 0.

MINNESOTA 4TH: J Mauer singled to center. M Cuddyer struck out swinging.
J Mauer caught stealing second, catcher to second. J Morneau flied out to center.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) DETROIT 0, MINNESOTA 0.

DETROIT 5TH: I Rodriguez struck out swinging. S Casey grounded out to
shortstop. M Thames popped out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
DETROIT 0, MINNESOTA 0.

MINNESOTA 5TH: T Hunter grounded out to shortstop. J Cirillo grounded out
to shortstop. J Tyner grounded out to pitcher. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
DETROIT 0, MINNESOTA 0.

DETROIT 6TH: B Inge safe at first on error by shortstop J Bartlett. B Inge
to second on wild pitch by M Garza. C Granderson walked. P Polanco bunt popped
out foul to catcher. G Sheffield flied out to left. M Ordonez singled to
left, B Inge scored, C Granderson to second. C Guillen flied out to center.
(1 Run, 1 Hit, 1 Error) DETROIT 1, MINNESOTA 0.

MINNESOTA 6TH: N Punto flied out to center. L Castillo singled to right.
J Bartlett walked, L Castillo to second. J Mauer struck out looking.
M Cuddyer struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) DETROIT 1,
MINNESOTA 0.

DETROIT 7TH: I Rodriguez fouled out to catcher. S Casey flied out to
right. M Thames grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 1,
MINNESOTA 0.

MINNESOTA 7TH: J Morneau struck out swinging. T Hunter flied out to
center. J Cirillo grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 1,
MINNESOTA 0.

DETROIT 8TH: M Guerrier relieved M Garza. B Inge walked. C Granderson
singled to center, B Inge to second. P Polanco bunted into fielder's choice to
pitcher, B Inge out at third, C Granderson to second. G Sheffield struck out
swinging. M Ordonez struck out looking. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) DETROIT 1,
MINNESOTA 0.

MINNESOTA 8TH: M McBride relieved N Robertson. L Ford hit for J Tyner.
L Ford walked. N Punto flied out to right. L Castillo grounded into double
play, shortstop to second to first, L Ford out at second.(0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) DETROIT 1, MINNESOTA 0.

DETROIT 9TH: L Ford in left field. P Neshek relieved M Guerrier. C Guillen
flied out to left. I Rodriguez struck out swinging. S Casey walked. M Thames
reached on infield single to second, S Casey to second. B Inge grounded into
fielder's choice to third, M Thames out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
DETROIT 1, MINNESOTA 0.

MINNESOTA 9TH: C Monroe in left field. T Jones relieved M McBride.
J Bartlett grounded out to third. J Mauer grounded out to third. M Cuddyer
grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 1, MINNESOTA 0.</div>

 

Robertson outduels Garza in Tigers' win

<h3>DETROIT 1, MINNESOTA 0</h3>MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Magglio Ordonez took advantage of JasonBartlett's error and Nate Robertson outdueled Matt Garza as theDetroit Tigers edged the Minnesota Twins, 1-0, on Tuesday.

Ordonez's single with two outs in the sixth inning platedBrandon Inge, who reached to start the frame when Minnesotashortstop Bartlett could not handle his ground ball.

One run was enough for Robertson (6-6), who pitched sevenscoreless innings as Detroit took the first of a three-gameseries from Minnesota, increasing its lead in the AmericanLeague Central to seven games over last season's divisionchampion.


"I don't put much stock in it," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said."We won one ballgame. It was 1-0, a great ballgame. At theend (of the season), we know they will be right there.Hopefully, we'll be there, too."


After five innings of scoreless, two-hit ball from bothstarters, Garza (1-1) looked to retire his eighth straight Tigerfor the second time in the game when he started off the sixthagainst Inge.


Garza induced a ground ball right at Bartlett, who failed toplay it cleanly, allowing Inge to reach. It was Bartlett's 16therror of the season, tying him for the third-highest total inthe major leagues.


"(Bartlett) plays great defense," Garza said. "The ball got onhim. Inge hit the ball hard. You can't tell Barty anything, hepicked me up all night.


"You can't tell a guy like that anything. He's playing hard andstuff happens. I could have given up a home run on a mistakepitch, and is someone going to tell me something? No. Everyoneis out there playing their butt off."


After walking Curtis Granderson, Garza got Placido Polanco topop up a sacrifice attempt and Gary Sheffield flied out to leftfor the second out. Garza then got ahead of Ordonez 0-2, butthe major league batting leader hit Garza's next pitch past adiving Nick Punto at third, allowing Inge to score from second.

The run was unearned, keeping Garza's ERA at 0.00 in 15 inningsthis season.


"He gave up one hit, one unearned run," Twins manager RonGardenhire said. "We just missed a play, and that ends upkilling you. It always does - it comes back to get you."

Despite his recent struggles, Robertson matched Garza'seffectiveness. After holding Minnesota to three runs and fivehits in seven innings on April 27 in Detroit, Robertson turnedin his longest outing since that performance - a span of 11starts.


He held the Twins to just three hits while leaving a gamewithout giving up an earned run for just the second time thisseason.


Entering Tuesday's contest, Robertson had made it through sixinnings just once in his previous nine starts and had a 5.47 ERAwith opponents batting .340 against him on the road. TheTigers had won just once in Robertson's previous six outings,and he allowed less than three runs just once during thatstretch.


"I pride myself on going deep into ballgames. That's our job,"Robertson said. "I want to go out there and be effective deepinto the ballgame and be efficient, too. I feel like I'm on theright track."


The Detroit lefthander allowed just two hits and a walk throughfive innings on Tuesday and erased Joe Mauer's leadoff single inthe fourth, striking out Michael Cuddyer as Mauer was thrownout stealing. Justin Morneau followed with a deep fly ball tocenter field, but Granderson made the catch against the wall.

The Twins threatened again in the sixth inning, when LuisCastillo hit a one-out single and Bartlett followed with a walk.But Robertson struck out Mauer - all three strikes looking -and Cuddyer to end the threat.


"You can't strike out any tougher tandem right there," Robertsonsaid. "To get out of that situation with Mauer and Cuddyer,that was big."


Detroit failed to capitalize with two on and none out in theeighth inning against reliever Matt Guerrier. But Tigerslefthander Macay McBride worked around a leadoff walk in theeighth inning and Todd Jones tossed a scoreless ninth for his24th save in 28 chances to seal the victory.


The loss prevented Minnesota from tying its season-high winningstreak at five games, while Detroit won for the eighth time inits last 10 contests.