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

AL: MINNESOTA at DETROIT

<div class="pre">AL AT DETROIT - PITCHING CHANGE
MIN: RAMON ORTIZ (3-4, 5.47) STARTING THE 9TH
CURRENT SCORE: MINNESOTA 11, DETROIT 1

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: C GUILLEN (.321, 0-FOR-3)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at DETROIT

<div class="pre">AL AT DETROIT - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: R Ortiz relieved M Guerrier.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: MINNESOTA 11
DETROIT 1 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: C Guillen (.321, 0-FOR-3)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at DETROIT

<div class="pre">AL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
MINNESOTA 2 0 0 0 4 0 0 1 4 11 9 0
DETROIT 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 6 1 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: MIN - JOHAN SANTANA, MATT GUERRIER (7TH), RAMON ORTIZ (9TH) AND JOE
MAUER

DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER, MACAY MCBRIDE (6TH), EULOGIO DE
LA CRUZ (8TH) AND IVAN RODRIGUEZ

HOME RUNS: MIN - JOE MAUER (4) OFF JUSTIN VERLANDER IN THE 5TH, 3 ON

DET - PLACIDO POLANCO (2) OFF JOHAN SANTANA IN THE 6TH, 0 ON</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at DETROIT

<div class="pre">AL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
MINNESOTA 2 0 0 0 4 0 0 1 4 11 9 0
DETROIT 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 6 1 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: MIN - JOHAN SANTANA, MATT GUERRIER (7TH), RAMON ORTIZ (9TH) AND JOE
MAUER

DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER, MACAY MCBRIDE (6TH), EULOGIO DE
LA CRUZ (8TH) AND IVAN RODRIGUEZ


WP - JOHAN SANTANA (9-6)
LP - JUSTIN VERLANDER (9-3)
SAVE - NONE

HOME RUNS: MIN - JOE MAUER (4) OFF JUSTIN VERLANDER IN THE 5TH, 3 ON

DET - PLACIDO POLANCO (2) OFF JOHAN SANTANA IN THE 6TH, 0 ON


TIME: 2:42 ATT: 42,361

PROBABLES: MIN - KEVIN SLOWEY (2-0, 4.94)
DET - ANDREW MILLER (3-1, 2.70)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at DETROIT

<div class="pre">MINNESOTA (11) VS DETROIT (1) - FINAL

MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
L Castillo 2b 4 2 1 0 1 1 1 .303
J Bartlett ss 3 3 1 0 2 0 0 .259
J Mauer c 3 2 1 4 2 0 0 .304
M Cuddyer 1b 5 1 0 1 0 0 3 .285
J Morneau dh 5 0 3 2 0 1 0 .281
L Ford pr-dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
T Hunter cf 5 1 2 1 0 1 3 .308
J Kubel lf 5 0 1 1 0 1 4 .247
J Tyner rf 3 1 0 0 1 1 0 .285
N Punto 3b 3 1 0 0 1 2 1 .212

Totals 36 11 9 9 7 7 12

BATTING: 2B - J Kubel (16, E De La Cruz); J Bartlett (9, E De La Cruz). HR - J
Mauer (4, 5th inning off J Verlander 3 on, 1 Out). RBI - M Cuddyer (47), J
Morneau 2 (60), J Mauer 4 (30), J Kubel (27), T Hunter (63). 2-out RBI - J
Kubel, J Morneau, T Hunter. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Kubel
2. Team LOB - 5.


DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Granderson cf 4 0 0 0 0 2 0 .287
P Polanco 2b 4 1 3 1 0 0 0 .332
O Infante pr-2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .316
G Sheffield dh 3 0 1 0 1 0 1 .290
M Ordonez rf 4 0 1 0 0 2 3 .375
C Guillen ss 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 .320
I Rodriguez c 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 .280
C Monroe lf 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 .225
M Thames 1b 3 0 0 0 0 2 1 .231
N Perez 3b 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 .175

Totals 33 1 6 1 1 8 12

BATTING: 2B - P Polanco (18, M Guerrier). HR - P Polanco (2, 6th inning off J
Santana 0 on, 1 Out). RBI - P Polanco (36). Runners left in scoring position, 2
out - I Rodriguez 1, N Perez 1, M Ordonez 1, C Guillen 2. Team LOB - 6.

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

FIELDING: E - N Perez (3, ground ball). Outfield assists - C Monroe (J Kubel
at 3rd base).


----------------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA - 200 040 014 -- 11
DETROIT - 000 001 000 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
J Santana (W, 9-6) 6 5 1 1 1 6 1 2.76
M Guerrier 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 1.85
R Ortiz 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 5.40

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
J Verlander (L, 9-3) 5 4 6 6 5 5 1 3.18
M McBride 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.00
E De La Cruz 2 5 5 2 2 1 0 6.75

WP - J Verlander, E De La Cruz. IBB - J Mauer (by E De La Cruz).
Pitches-strikes: J Santana 94-62; M Guerrier 29-19; R Ortiz 16-13; J Verlander
99-57; M McBride 19-12; E De La Cruz 43-27. Ground balls-fly balls: J Santana
4-8; M Guerrier 1-4; R Ortiz 0-2; J Verlander 7-3; M McBride 4-1; E De La Cruz
2-2. Batters faced: J Santana 24; M Guerrier 7; R Ortiz 3; J Verlander 24; M
McBride 6; E De La Cruz 13.

UMPIRES: HP--Marty Foster. 1B--Fieldin Culbreth. 2B--Tim Mcclelland. 3B--Paul
Schrieber.
EJECTIONS: DETROIT's Mcclendon by Foster (1st).
T--2:42. Att--42,361.
Weather: 71 degrees, clear. Wind: 10 mph, in from
left.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at DETROIT

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
AL
MINNESOTA 11
DETROIT 1 FINAL</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at DETROIT

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MINNESOTA (11) AT DETROIT (1) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MINNESOTA 1ST: L Castillo singled to center. L Castillo to second on wild
pitch by J Verlander. J Bartlett walked. J Mauer walked, L Castillo to third,
J Bartlett to second. M Cuddyer grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop,
L Castillo scored, J Mauer out at second, J Bartlett to third. J Morneau reached
on infield single to shortstop, J Bartlett scored, M Cuddyer to second.
T Hunter struck out swinging. J Kubel grounded out to catcher. (2 Runs, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) MINNESOTA 2, DETROIT 0.

MINNESOTA 5TH: J Tyner walked. N Punto struck out swinging. L Castillo
walked, J Tyner to second. J Bartlett walked, J Tyner to third, L Castillo to
second. J Mauer homered to left, J Tyner, L Castillo and J Bartlett scored.
M Cuddyer grounded out to third. J Morneau singled to center. T Hunter grounded
into fielder's choice to third, J Morneau out at second. (4 Runs, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) MINNESOTA 6, DETROIT 0.

DETROIT 6TH: C Granderson struck out swinging. P Polanco homered to left.
G Sheffield walked. M Ordonez singled to left, G Sheffield to second.
C Guillen lined out to right. I Rodriguez grounded out to pitcher. (1 Run,
2 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 6, DETROIT 1.

MINNESOTA 8TH: E De La Cruz relieved M McBride. M Cuddyer popped out to
third. J Morneau grounded out to third. T Hunter singled to center. J Kubel
doubled to deep left, T Hunter scored, J Kubel out at third. (1 Run, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) MINNESOTA 7, DETROIT 1.

MINNESOTA 9TH: O Infante at second base. J Tyner grounded out to second.
N Punto walked. L Castillo struck out swinging. J Bartlett doubled to left,
N Punto to third. J Mauer intentionally walked. N Punto scored, J Bartlett to
third, J Mauer to second on wild pitch by E De La Cruz. M Cuddyer safe at first
on error by third baseman N Perez, J Bartlett scored, J Mauer to third.
J Morneau singled to center, J Mauer scored, M Cuddyer to third. L Ford ran for
J Morneau. T Hunter reached on infield single to shortstop, M Cuddyer scored,
L Ford to second. J Kubel flied out to center. (4 Runs, 3 Hits, 1 Error)
MINNESOTA 11, DETROIT 1.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at DETROIT

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MINNESOTA (11) AT DETROIT (1) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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

Detroit Starting Lineups -- C Granderson CF, P Polanco 2B, G Sheffield DH,
M Ordonez RF, C Guillen SS, I Rodriguez C, C Monroe LF, M Thames 1B, N Perez 3B,
J Verlander RHP.

Umpires -- Marty Foster (HP), Fieldin Culbreth (1B), Tim Mcclelland (2B),
Paul Schrieber (3B).

Gametime Weather: 71 degrees, Clear, wind in from left at 10 mph.


MINNESOTA 1ST: L Castillo singled to center. L Castillo to second on wild
pitch by J Verlander. J Bartlett walked. J Mauer walked, L Castillo to third,
J Bartlett to second. M Cuddyer grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop,
L Castillo scored, J Mauer out at second, J Bartlett to third. J Morneau reached
on infield single to shortstop, J Bartlett scored, M Cuddyer to second.
T Hunter struck out swinging. J Kubel grounded out to catcher. (2 Runs, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) MINNESOTA 2, DETROIT 0.

DETROIT 1ST: C Granderson struck out swinging. P Polanco singled to right.
G Sheffield singled to right, P Polanco to second. M Ordonez struck out
looking, P Polanco stole third, G Sheffield stole second. Detroit's Coach
L Mcclendon ejected by M Foster in the 1st. C Guillen flied out to right.
(0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 2, DETROIT 0.

MINNESOTA 2ND: J Tyner flied out to left. N Punto struck out swinging.
L Castillo grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 2,
DETROIT 0.

DETROIT 2ND: I Rodriguez grounded out to first. C Monroe flied out to
right. M Thames flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 2,
DETROIT 0.

MINNESOTA 3RD: J Bartlett flied out to left. J Mauer popped out to
shortstop. M Cuddyer grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
MINNESOTA 2, DETROIT 0.

DETROIT 3RD: N Perez popped out to second. C Granderson grounded out to
first. P Polanco grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 2,
DETROIT 0.

MINNESOTA 4TH: J Morneau struck out looking. T Hunter grounded out to
second. J Kubel struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 2,
DETROIT 0.

DETROIT 4TH: G Sheffield popped out to second. M Ordonez struck out
looking. C Guillen popped out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 2,
DETROIT 0.

MINNESOTA 5TH: J Tyner walked. N Punto struck out swinging. L Castillo
walked, J Tyner to second. J Bartlett walked, J Tyner to third, L Castillo to
second. J Mauer homered to left, J Tyner, L Castillo and J Bartlett scored.
M Cuddyer grounded out to third. J Morneau singled to center. T Hunter grounded
into fielder's choice to third, J Morneau out at second. (4 Runs, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) MINNESOTA 6, DETROIT 0.

DETROIT 5TH: I Rodriguez singled to right. C Monroe flied out to center,
I Rodriguez to second. M Thames struck out swinging. N Perez struck out
swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 6, DETROIT 0.

MINNESOTA 6TH: M McBride relieved J Verlander. J Kubel grounded out to
shortstop. J Tyner struck out looking. N Punto grounded out to third.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 6, DETROIT 0.

DETROIT 6TH: C Granderson struck out swinging. P Polanco homered to left.
G Sheffield walked. M Ordonez singled to left, G Sheffield to second.
C Guillen lined out to right. I Rodriguez grounded out to pitcher. (1 Run,
2 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 6, DETROIT 1.

MINNESOTA 7TH: L Castillo grounded out to third. J Bartlett popped out to
first. J Mauer grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
MINNESOTA 6, DETROIT 1.

DETROIT 7TH: M Guerrier relieved J Santana. C Monroe flied out to center.
M Thames struck out swinging. N Perez flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) MINNESOTA 6, DETROIT 1.

MINNESOTA 8TH: E De La Cruz relieved M McBride. M Cuddyer popped out to
third. J Morneau grounded out to third. T Hunter singled to center. J Kubel
doubled to deep left, T Hunter scored, J Kubel out at third. (1 Run, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) MINNESOTA 7, DETROIT 1.

DETROIT 8TH: C Granderson flied out to center. P Polanco doubled to deep
left. O Infante ran for P Polanco. G Sheffield flied out to right. M Ordonez
grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 7, DETROIT 1.

MINNESOTA 9TH: O Infante at second base. J Tyner grounded out to second.
N Punto walked. L Castillo struck out swinging. J Bartlett doubled to left,
N Punto to third. J Mauer intentionally walked. N Punto scored, J Bartlett to
third, J Mauer to second on wild pitch by E De La Cruz. M Cuddyer safe at first
on error by third baseman N Perez, J Bartlett scored, J Mauer to third.
J Morneau singled to center, J Mauer scored, M Cuddyer to third. L Ford ran for
J Morneau. T Hunter reached on infield single to shortstop, M Cuddyer scored,
L Ford to second. J Kubel flied out to center. (4 Runs, 3 Hits, 1 Error)
MINNESOTA 11, DETROIT 1.

DETROIT 9TH: R Ortiz relieved M Guerrier. C Guillen flied out to center.
I Rodriguez lined out to right. C Monroe struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) MINNESOTA 11, DETROIT 1.</div>

 

Santana outduels Verlander; Mauer hits slam as Twins triumph

<h3>MINNESOTA 11, DETROIT 1</h3>DETROIT (Ticker) -- Johan Santana is not ready to hand over hisCy Young trophy just yet to Justin Verlander.

Santana pitched six strong innings and Verlander left after fiveinnings and a grand slam by Joe Mauer as the Minnesota Twinsopened a crucial three-game series against the Detroit Tigers onFriday with an 11-1 victory.

Luis Castillo and Jason Bartlett scored for Minnesota, whichbegan the set six games behind the American League Centralleaders.

Santana, a two-time Cy Young winner and reigning trophy holder,entered with a rather pedestrian 8-6 record but still had aspectacular 2.83 ERA, while Verlander (9-3) entered 9-2 with a2.78 ERA and wins in his last four starts.

However, the 2006 Rookie of the Year labored as the Twins scoredtwice in the first inning, but appeared to settle in until hewalked the bases loaded in the fifth before leaving a 96miles-per-hour fastball out over the plate to Mauer, who took itthe opposite way over the left field fence for his fourth homerand first career grand slam.

Verlander exited after that frame, being charged with six runs -his second most this season - and four hits with five walks andfive strikeouts.

While Verlander was shaky, Santana was cruising, retiring 15 of16 batters before Placido Polanco lined his second homer of theseason and first since April 17 over the left field fence withone out in the sixth.

Santana left after that inning, yielding a run and five hitswith a walk and six strikeouts to win his third straight startand improve to 11-3 all-time against the Tigers.

Verlander struggled through a 31-pitch opening frame,surrendering two runs with only one ball leaving the infield.Luis Castillo opened the game with base hit to center and, afteradvancing to second on a wild pitch, Minnesota loaded the baseswith walks to Jason Bartlett and Mauer.

Michael Cuddyer plated the first run with a groundout toshortstop, and Justin Morneau plated the second with an infieldsingle to short.

The Twins capped the scoring with an eighth-inning RBI double byJason Tyner and four more runs in the ninth.

 

Santana outduels Verlander; Mauer hits slam as Twins triumph

<h3>MINNESOTA 11, DETROIT 1</h3>DETROIT (Ticker) -- Johan Santana is not ready to hand over hisCy Young trophy just yet to Justin Verlander.

Santana pitched six strong innings and Verlander left after fiveframes and a grand slam by Joe Mauer as the Minnesota Twinsopened a crucial three-game series against the Detroit Tigers onFriday with an 11-1 victory.

Luis Castillo and Jason Bartlett scored for Minnesota, whichbegan the set six games behind the American League Centralleaders.

Santana, a two-time Cy Young winner and reigning trophy holder,entered with a rather pedestrian 8-6 record but still had aspectacular 2.83 ERA, while Verlander (9-3) entered 9-2 with a2.78 ERA and wins in his last four starts.

"I tried to stay very aggresive," Santana said. "We were able toscore a couple of runs and I tried to protect the lead. I feltpretty good. I didn't know I had that many pitches (94) ... Ijust tried to take it easy. The bullpen was rested and coulduse the work."

However, the 2006 Rookie of the Year labored as the Twins scoredtwice in the first inning, but appeared to settle in until hewalked the bases loaded in the fifth before leaving a 96miles-per-hour fastball out over the plate to Mauer, who took itthe opposite way over the left field fence for his fourth homerand first career grand slam.

"I got ahead of him in the count, 3-1," Mauer said. "I wanted tosee if he threw one over, he did. 3-2, he threw it in the samespot, I was just trying to hit something hard to the outfield."

Verlander exited after that frame, being charged with six runs -his second most this season - and four hits with five walks andfive strikeouts.

"I beat myself tonight," Verlander said. "I gave them to manyopportunities to score with the walks. I was able to throwbetter after the first, but then I hit a wall again. I wassearching for my rhythm and started working too fast, sometimesthat will get me into trouble."

While Verlander was shaky, Santana was cruising, retiring 15 of16 batters before Placido Polanco lined his second homer of theseason and first since April 17 over the left field fence withone out in the sixth.

"I'm always looking for a fast ball when I'm at the plate,"Polanco said. "He threw it and I was able to get the bat on theball good."

Santana left after that inning, yielding a run and five hitswith a walk and six strikeouts to win his third straight startand improve to 11-3 all-time against the Tigers.

"Santana was very good against a very good lineup over there,"Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "He made pitches when he hadto."

Verlander struggled through a 31-pitch opening frame,surrendering two runs with only one ball leaving the infield.Luis Castillo opened the game with base hit to center and, afteradvancing to second on a wild pitch, Minnesota loaded the baseswith walks to Jason Bartlett and Mauer.

Michael Cuddyer plated the first run with a groundout toshortstop, and Justin Morneau plated the second with an infieldsingle to short.

The Twins capped the scoring with an eighth-inning RBI double byJason Tyner and four more runs in the ninth.