GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: MINNESOTA (40-37) at DETROIT (46-31)

AL: MINNESOTA (40-37) at DETROIT (46-31)

<h3>Santana, Verlander to face off in duel of top AL aces</h3>

<div class="pre">Minnesota (40-37) at Detroit (46-31) 7:05 pm EDT</div>

DETROIT (Ticker) - Runs figure to be hard to come by on Fridaywhen the Minnesota Twins head to Comerica Park to kick off athree-game series with the Detroit Tigers.

Johan Santana (8-6, 2.83 ERA), who has a history of being morestingy as June rolls around, takes the mound for the Twins. In237 1/3 June innings, he is allowing a .198 batting average tohis opponents, leading to 18-6 record and a 2.65 ERA during thatmonth over his eight-year career.

The two-time American League Cy Young Award winner is 2-0 with a1.23 ERA in his last three starts after beginning June withconsecutive losses. One of those two wins came in a 7-4 winover the Florida Marlins on Sunday, when he allowed two runs andfive hits with eight strikeouts over six innings.

The lefthander has been merely average against the Tigers thisseason, though, going 0-1 with a 3.75 ERA. However, he is 10-3with a 2.70 ERA and one save in 22 lifetime appearances -including 17 starts - against Detroit.

Justin Verlander (9-2, 2.78) has been even more impressive thanSantana this month, going 4-0 with a 1.24 ERA in June, withopponents hitting just .160 against the 2006 AL Rookie of theYear. He yielded one run and four hits on Saturday - strikingout 11 over seven innings - to beat Atlanta 2-1.

The righthander is 3-2 with a 2.90 ERA against the Twins in hisfive lifetime starts. One of those starts - the only time hehas faced Minnesota this season - was on April 28, as he allowedfive runs - three earned - and eight hits over a season-lowthree innings as Detroit endured an 11-3 loss.

 

AL: MINNESOTA at DETROIT

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

MINNESOTA DETROIT
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Luis Castillo 2B .304 0 12 Curtis Granderson CF .291 10 40
Jason Bartlett SS .258 2 20 Placido Polanco 2B .327 1 35
Joe Mauer C .303 3 26 Gary Sheffield DH .289 18 52
Michael Cuddyer 1B .290 8 46 Magglio Ordonez RF .377 13 68
Justin Morneau DH .275 20 58 Carlos Guillen SS .325 12 58
Torii Hunter CF .306 17 62 Ivan Rodriguez C .280 7 42
Jason Kubel LF .248 5 26 Craig Monroe LF .229 9 41
Jason Tyner RF .291 0 14 Marcus Thames 1B .238 6 19
Nick Punto 3B .215 1 14 Brandon Inge 3B .255 11 38

Johan Santana LHP (8-6, 2.83) Justin Verlander RHP (9-2, 2.78)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at DETROIT

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

MINNESOTA DETROIT
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Luis Castillo 2B .304 0 12 Curtis Granderson CF .291 10 40
Jason Bartlett SS .258 2 20 Placido Polanco 2B .327 1 35
Joe Mauer C .303 3 26 Gary Sheffield DH .289 18 52
Michael Cuddyer 1B .290 8 46 Magglio Ordonez RF .377 13 68
Justin Morneau DH .275 20 58 Carlos Guillen SS .325 12 58
Torii Hunter CF .306 17 62 Ivan Rodriguez C .280 7 42
Jason Kubel LF .248 5 26 Craig Monroe LF .229 9 41
Jason Tyner RF .291 0 14 Marcus Thames 1B .238 6 19
Nick Punto 3B .215 1 14 Neifi Perez 3B .183 1 6

Johan Santana LHP (8-6, 2.83) Justin Verlander RHP (9-2, 2.78)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at DETROIT

<div class="pre">AL AT DETROIT
WARMUPS: MIN - JOHAN SANTANA (8-6, 2.83)
DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER (9-2, 2.78)

UMPIRES: HP - MARTY FOSTER
1B - FIELDIN CULBRETH
2B - TIM MCCLELLAND
3B - PAUL SCHRIEBER

WEATHER: 75 Degrees, clear
WIND: 10 mph, in from left</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at DETROIT

<div class="pre">AL AT DETROIT
STARTING BATS: MIN - JOHAN SANTANA AND JOE MAUER
DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER AND IVAN RODRIGUEZ

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: L CASTILLO (.304, 0 HR, 12 RBI)
J BARTLETT (.258, 2 HR, 20 RBI)
J MAUER (.303, 3 HR, 26 RBI)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at DETROIT

<div class="pre">AL AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE
FIELDER'S CHOICE BY MICHAEL CUDDYER SCORED LUIS CASTILLO.

SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, M CUDDYER ON FIRST, J BARTLETT ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: MINNESOTA 1
DETROIT 0 TOP, 1ST

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J MORNEAU (.275, 20 HR, 58 RBI)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at DETROIT

<div class="pre">AL AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JUSTIN MORNEAU SCORED JASON BARTLETT.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, J MORNEAU ON FIRST, M CUDDYER ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: MINNESOTA 2
DETROIT 0 TOP, 1ST

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: T HUNTER (.306, 17 HR, 62 RBI)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at DETROIT

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - JOHAN SANTANA
DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: C GRANDERSON (.291, 10 HR, 40 RBI)
P POLANCO (.327, 1 HR, 35 RBI)
G SHEFFIELD (.289, 18 HR, 52 RBI)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at DETROIT

<div class="pre">MINNESOTA (2) VS DETROIT (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
L Castillo 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .307
J Bartlett ss 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .258
J Mauer c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .303
M Cuddyer 1b 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 .289
J Morneau dh 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .278
T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .305
J Kubel lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .246
J Tyner rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
N Punto 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .215

Totals 5 2 2 2 2 1 5

BATTING: RBI - M Cuddyer (47), J Morneau (59). Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - J Kubel 1. Team LOB - 2.


DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Granderson cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
P Polanco 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .327
G Sheffield dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
M Ordonez rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .377
C Guillen ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .325
I Rodriguez c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
C Monroe lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .229
M Thames 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238
N Perez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .183

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA - 2 -- 2
DETROIT - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
J Santana 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.83

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
J Verlander 1 2 2 2 2 1 0 2.94

WP - J Verlander. Pitches-strikes: J Verlander 31-16. Ground balls-fly balls:
J Verlander 2-0. Batters faced: J Verlander 7.

UMPIRES: HP--Marty Foster. 1B--Fieldin Culbreth. 2B--Tim Mcclelland. 3B--Paul
Schrieber.

Weather: 75 degrees, clear. Wind: 10 mph, in from left.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at DETROIT

<div class="pre">AL AT DETROIT
CONFIRMED STARTERS: MIN - JOHAN SANTANA
DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at DETROIT

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - JOHAN SANTANA
DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J TYNER (.291, 0 HR, 14 RBI)
N PUNTO (.215, 1 HR, 14 RBI)
L CASTILLO (.307, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at DETROIT

<div class="pre">MINNESOTA (2) VS DETROIT (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
L Castillo 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .307
J Bartlett ss 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .258
J Mauer c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .303
M Cuddyer 1b 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 .289
J Morneau dh 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .278
T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .305
J Kubel lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .246
J Tyner rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
N Punto 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .215

Totals 5 2 2 2 2 1 5

BATTING: RBI - M Cuddyer (47), J Morneau (59). Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - J Kubel 1. Team LOB - 2.


DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Granderson cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .290
P Polanco 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .329
G Sheffield dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .292
M Ordonez rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .375
C Guillen ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .324
I Rodriguez c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
C Monroe lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .229
M Thames 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238
N Perez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .183

Totals 5 0 2 0 0 2 4

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Guillen 2. Team LOB - 2.


BASERUNNING: SB - P Polanco (3, 3rd base off J Santana/J Mauer), G Sheffield
(11, 2nd base off J Santana/J Mauer).


----------------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA - 2 -- 2
DETROIT - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
J Santana 1 2 0 0 0 2 0 2.81

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
J Verlander 1 2 2 2 2 1 0 2.94

WP - J Verlander. Pitches-strikes: J Santana 25-18; J Verlander 31-16. Ground
balls-fly balls: J Santana 0-1; J Verlander 2-0. Batters faced: J Santana 5; J
Verlander 7.

UMPIRES: HP--Marty Foster. 1B--Fieldin Culbreth. 2B--Tim Mcclelland. 3B--Paul
Schrieber.
EJECTIONS: DETROIT's Mcclendon by Foster (1st).
Weather: 75 degrees, clear. Wind: 10 mph, in from left.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at DETROIT

<div class="pre">AL MINNESOTA AT DETROIT
NOTE: DETROIT HITTING COACH LLOYD MCCLENDON WAS EJECETD BY
HOME PLATE UMPIRE MARTY FOSTER FOR ARGUING BALLS AND STRIKES IN THE
BOTTOM OF THE FIRST INING.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at DETROIT

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - JOHAN SANTANA
DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: I RODRIGUEZ (.280, 7 HR, 42 RBI)
C MONROE (.229, 9 HR, 41 RBI)
M THAMES (.238, 6 HR, 19 RBI)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at DETROIT

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

MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
L Castillo 2b 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .305
J Bartlett ss 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .258
J Mauer c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .303
M Cuddyer 1b 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 .289
J Morneau dh 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .278
T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .305
J Kubel lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .246
J Tyner rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
N Punto 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .214

Totals 8 2 2 2 2 2 5

BATTING: RBI - M Cuddyer (47), J Morneau (59). Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - J Kubel 1. Team LOB - 2.


DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Granderson cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .290
P Polanco 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .329
G Sheffield dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .292
M Ordonez rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .375
C Guillen ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .324
I Rodriguez c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
C Monroe lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .229
M Thames 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238
N Perez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .183

Totals 5 0 2 0 0 2 4

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Guillen 2. Team LOB - 2.


BASERUNNING: SB - P Polanco (3, 3rd base off J Santana/J Mauer), G Sheffield
(11, 2nd base off J Santana/J Mauer).


----------------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA - 20 -- 2
DETROIT - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
J Santana 1 2 0 0 0 2 0 2.81

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
J Verlander 2 2 2 2 2 2 0 2.91

WP - J Verlander. Pitches-strikes: J Santana 25-18; J Verlander 41-24. Ground
balls-fly balls: J Santana 0-1; J Verlander 3-1. Batters faced: J Santana 5; J
Verlander 10.

UMPIRES: HP--Marty Foster. 1B--Fieldin Culbreth. 2B--Tim Mcclelland. 3B--Paul
Schrieber.
EJECTIONS: DETROIT's Mcclendon by Foster (1st).
Weather: 75 degrees, clear. Wind: 10 mph, in from left.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at DETROIT

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - JOHAN SANTANA
DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J BARTLETT (.258, 0-FOR-0, BB)
J MAUER (.303, 0-FOR-0, BB)
M CUDDYER (.289, 0-FOR-1, RBI)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at DETROIT

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

MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
L Castillo 2b 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .305
J Bartlett ss 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .258
J Mauer c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .303
M Cuddyer 1b 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 .289
J Morneau dh 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .278
T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .305
J Kubel lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .246
J Tyner rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
N Punto 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .214

Totals 8 2 2 2 2 2 5

BATTING: RBI - M Cuddyer (47), J Morneau (59). Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - J Kubel 1. Team LOB - 2.


DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Granderson cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .290
P Polanco 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .329
G Sheffield dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .292
M Ordonez rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .375
C Guillen ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .324
I Rodriguez c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
C Monroe lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .228
M Thames 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .236
N Perez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .183

Totals 8 0 2 0 0 2 4

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Guillen 2. Team LOB - 2.


BASERUNNING: SB - P Polanco (3, 3rd base off J Santana/J Mauer), G Sheffield
(11, 2nd base off J Santana/J Mauer).


----------------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA - 20 -- 2
DETROIT - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
J Santana 2 2 0 0 0 2 0 2.78

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
J Verlander 2 2 2 2 2 2 0 2.91

WP - J Verlander. Pitches-strikes: J Santana 33-24; J Verlander 41-24. Ground
balls-fly balls: J Santana 1-3; J Verlander 3-1. Batters faced: J Santana 8; J
Verlander 10.

UMPIRES: HP--Marty Foster. 1B--Fieldin Culbreth. 2B--Tim Mcclelland. 3B--Paul
Schrieber.
EJECTIONS: DETROIT's Mcclendon by Foster (1st).
Weather: 75 degrees, clear. Wind: 10 mph, in from left.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at DETROIT

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - JOHAN SANTANA
DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: N PEREZ (.183, 1 HR, 6 RBI)
C GRANDERSON (.290, 0-FOR-1)
P POLANCO (.329, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at DETROIT

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

MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
L Castillo 2b 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .305
J Bartlett ss 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 .257
J Mauer c 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .302
M Cuddyer 1b 2 0 0 1 0 0 1 .288
J Morneau dh 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .278
T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .305
J Kubel lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .246
J Tyner rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
N Punto 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .214

Totals 11 2 2 2 2 2 5

BATTING: RBI - M Cuddyer (47), J Morneau (59). Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - J Kubel 1. Team LOB - 2.


DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Granderson cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .290
P Polanco 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .329
G Sheffield dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .292
M Ordonez rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .375
C Guillen ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .324
I Rodriguez c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
C Monroe lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .228
M Thames 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .236
N Perez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .183

Totals 8 0 2 0 0 2 4

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Guillen 2. Team LOB - 2.


BASERUNNING: SB - P Polanco (3, 3rd base off J Santana/J Mauer), G Sheffield
(11, 2nd base off J Santana/J Mauer).


----------------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA - 200 -- 2
DETROIT - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
J Santana 2 2 0 0 0 2 0 2.78

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
J Verlander 3 2 2 2 2 2 0 2.88

WP - J Verlander. Pitches-strikes: J Santana 33-24; J Verlander 52-31. Ground
balls-fly balls: J Santana 1-3; J Verlander 4-3. Batters faced: J Santana 8; J
Verlander 13.

UMPIRES: HP--Marty Foster. 1B--Fieldin Culbreth. 2B--Tim Mcclelland. 3B--Paul
Schrieber.
EJECTIONS: DETROIT's Mcclendon by Foster (1st).
Weather: 75 degrees, clear. Wind: 10 mph, in from left.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at DETROIT

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - JOHAN SANTANA
DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J MORNEAU (.278, 1-FOR-1, RBI)
T HUNTER (.305, 0-FOR-1)
J KUBEL (.246, 0-FOR-1)</div>