GDT: 7/24/11 - DET (53-47) AT MIN (47-53) - 4:10 p.m. ET ---
AT ---
Detroit Tigers AT Minnesota TwinsSunday, July 24, 2011
Target Field, Minneapolis, MN
Game Time - 4:10 p.m. EDT REMEMBERING SPARKYThe Tigers are wearing a patch on their right
sleeves this season in the shape of a home
plate emblazoned with the name SPARKY, to
honor Hall of Fame manager Sparky
Anderson who passed away on November 4,
2010. Anderson’s number 11 was retired
in a pre-game ceremony on June 26.
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Preview Twins aim to break even against TigersBy Cash Kruth / MLB.com | 7/23/2011 5:50 PM ET
It took a while, but the Twins finally beat the Tigers. After snapping an 11-game losing streak against the Tigers on Saturday, Minnesota goes for two in a row against its division rival behind left-hander Francisco Liriano on Sunday.
The Twins could use a solid outing from Liriano, as they are coming off two consecutive games in which their pitchers didn't make it past the fifth inning. Liriano was effectively wild in his most recent start, walking four but holding the Indians to just one run through six innings in an eventual Twins win.
"I was throwing the ball down and wasn't missing up," Liriano said afterward. "It's a good thing when you're missing down and not up. So I walked a couple guys trying to overthrow and trying to be too perfect. That's one thing I've been doing wrong."
Liriano will face a stiff test against a Tigers squad that has given the left-hander problems throughout his career. He is 4-5 with a 5.06 ERA against Detroit, his highest ERA against any team he's faced at least five times.
While Liriano has struggled against the Tigers, Detroit sends out a pitcher who has fared well against the Twins throughout his short career. Right-hander Rick Porcello comes in with a 4-3 record and 2.67 ERA in nine career starts against the Twins. He's beaten Minnesota twice this year, most recently on June 1, when he held them to two runs over 6 2/3 innings.
Porcello is riding a three-game winning streak, including a solid six-inning victory against Oakland in his most recent start.
"I think we're just using a better mix of off-speed stuff," Porcello said afterward of his recent success. "I think that's keeping guys off balance."
Tigers: Peralta enjoys Target Field• Tigers shortstop Jhonny Peralta has thrived at Target Field since its debut, hitting .438 with three doubles, five homers and 15 RBIs in 13 career games at the ballpark. Peralta hasn't always enjoyed coming to Minnesota, however. He hit only .225 with three home runs and 17 RBIs in 51 career games at the Metrodome.
"The thing that is different here is the field; before, they had a dome," Peralta said. "This field here, I feel really comfortable. I see the ball really well and make contact. I just feel different here."
• Jose Valverde has converted 25 straight saves to begin the season, the third-longest such streak in team history.
• Reliever Joaquin Benoit is 1-0 with a 1.69 ERA and 22 strikeouts in his last 25 appearances.
Twins: Blyleven to be inducted• Former Twins pitcher Bert Blyleven will be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., on Sunday. The ceremony begins at 12:30 p.m. CT and can be seen on MLB Network and live via stream on MLB.com. Blyleven's speech is scheduled to begin at 1:50 p.m. and will be shown on video boards at Target Field prior to Minnesota's game against the Tigers. Blyleven will join Harmon Killebrew, Rod Carew and Kirby Puckett as Twins Hall of Famers.
• Catcher Joe Mauer, tied with Tony Oliva for eighth on the club's all-time walks list with 148, is now two free passes away from tying Puckett for seventh.
Worth noting• Minnesota's victory on Saturday was their first over Detroit since Sept. 1, 2010.
• Minnesota's Jason Kubel is hitting .346 with 14 doubles, four home runs and 28 RBIs against the Tigers since 2009. He is 11-for-22 with three doubles and a home run against Porcello.
• Twins reliever Glen Perkins has allowed only one earned run in his past 15 appearances, spanning 13 innings.
Tigers: RHP Rick Porcello (9-6, 4.76 ERA)After a rough June, Porcello has pitched three quality starts and picked up three wins in July. He gave up three runs over six innings in his last outing, against the Athletics. He has a 2.67 ERA in nine starts against the Twins.
Twins: LHP Francisco Liriano (6-7, 4.56 ERA)Walking four and plunking another, Liriano was effectively wild as he struck out five and allowed just four hits and a run over six frames in his last outing against the Indians. Liriano has a 1.50 ERA in two starts since the All-Star break.
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Tiger's MLB Game Notes
Game InformationRESCHEDULED GAMES: The following is the information on the rescheduled Tigers games postponed at Comerica Park this season:
-
Thursday, September 1 versus Kansas City at 1:05 p.m. (rescheduled from May 15)
INJURY UPDATE: •
RHP Joel Zumaya (right elbow olecranon fracture surgery,
60-day disabled list on March 30).
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To track MLB play-by-play, to help post GDT outcomes: http://m.mlb.com/scores/On the Internet MLB.TV Gameday Audio•
Gameday•
Official Press Pass game notesOn television •
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Direct TV Extra Innings ScheduleOn radio•
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XM Channel Schedule______________________________________
Up next (Probable Pitchers) • Monday, July 25: Tigers (LHP
Duane Below (0-0, 1.80 ERA))
AT White Sox (RHP
Philip Humber (8-6, 3.27 ERA)),
8:10 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)• Tuesday, July 26: Tigers (RHP
Justin Verlander (13-5, 2.24 ERA))
AT White Sox (LHP
Mark Buehrle (7-5, 3.38 ERA)),
8:10 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)• Wednesday, July 27: Tigers (RHP
Max Scherzer (11-5, 4.35 ERA))
AT White Sox (RHP
Jake Peavy (4-4, 5.19 ERA)),
2:10 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)