GDT: 8/17/11 - DET (65-57) VS MIN (53-68) - 7:05 p.m. ET ---
VS ---
Detroit Tigers VS Minnesota TwinsWednesday, August 17, 2011
Comerica Park, Detroit, MI
Game Time - 7:05 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 Pavano, Penny set for series finaleBy Cash Kruth / MLB.com | 8/16/2011 10:47 PM ET
You can't have it all.
With so many important aspects in the game of baseball, it's nearly impossible to field a perfect team. The Tigers -- who on Wednesday complete a three-game series with Minnesota -- concede their prerogative is on offense, which might at times hinder their defense.
"We've been there since April. That's the way it is. I always repeat myself, there's no perfect team," Leyland said of Detroit being near the bottom of the league in defensive categories. "Sometimes you have to give something to get something, that's just the way it goes."
While the Tigers have decided to concede a bit on defense, all the Twins want is to be healthy, which they hope can happen Wednesday.
Denard Span (concussion symptoms) and Michael Cuddyer (strained neck) have been out since Aug. 9 and Aug. 10, respectively, and could return to the lineup in the series finale. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said he expected Span to be back in the lineup, while Cuddyer took batting practice Tuesday for the first time since his injury.
"It feels better," Cuddyer said. "I'm going to see what I can do, and see how much stuff I can get done. But it's getting better."
Twins: Pavano putting it togetherRight-hander Carl Pavano will take the hill for the Twins on Wednesday, coming off two stellar outings. On Aug. 6, Pavano allowed one unearned run in eight innings against the White Sox, while his last time out against the Indians the right-hander also gave up one unearned run in 7 1/3 innings.
"Carl pitched about as good as you can pitch," Gardenhire said. "He pitched through a lot of bad plays defensively. He did everything he could possibly do and we couldn't finish it off for him."
• It didn't take long for the player to be named in the Delmon Young trade to be announced. Along with left-hander Cole Nelson, right-hander Lester Oliveros was dealt from Detroit to Minnesota. Oliveros will be sent to Triple-A Rochester.
Tigers: Coke in a grooveAfter going 1-7 with a 4.82 ERA as a starter during the first part of the season, Coke has been solid in the bullpen, especially as of late. Since allowing five runs in two games in the end of July, Coke has made eight shutout appearances while allowing only three hits in 5 2/3 innings.
"In fairness to him, we had him starting and then going back, and I'm sure there was some confusion there for him," Leyland said. "But he's settled back in right now and pitching very well."
• Right-hander Brad Penny will take the mound for Detroit. He beat the Twins on July 23, giving up four runs in seven innings.
Worth noting• Miguel Cabrera is on a 14-game hitting streak in which he is batting .414 with seven doubles and eight RBIs. He also has nine multi-hit games during the streak.
• Jim Thome, the newest member of the 600-homer club, is expected to return to the Twins' lineup Wednesday.
Tigers: RHP Brad Penny (8-9, 4.99 ERA)Penny has gained nearly half a run on his ERA over the past three outings with 15 earned runs on 27 hits over 15 1/3 innings, including two home runs over 5 1/3 innings Friday in Baltimore -- despite ending a three-game skid.
Twins: RHP Carl Pavano (6-9, 4.55 ERA)Pavano was failed by his infield defense against the Indians on Friday, as he allowed just one earned run over 7 1/3 strong innings. But the Twins made several mistakes on routine groundballs and Pavano was stuck with a no-decision.
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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: •
INF Carlos Guillen (sore left wrist,
15-day disabled list on August 13),
•
RHP Al Alburquerque (concussion,
7-day disabled list on August 12).
•
RHP Joel Zumaya (right elbow olecranon fracture surgery,
60-day disabled list on March 30).
•
LHP Brad Thomas (left elbow inflammation,
60-day DL on May 11)
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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 •
•
Direct TV Extra Innings ScheduleOn radio•
,
•
XM Channel Schedule______________________________________
Up next (Probable Pitchers) • Thursday, August 18: OFF DAY• Friday, August 19: Tigers (RHP
Max Scherzer (12-7, 4.37 ERA))
VS Indians (RHP
Josh Tomlin (12-5, 3.97 ERA)),
7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)• Saturday, August 20: (
Fiesta Tigres)
Tigers (RHP
Doug Fister (4-13, 3.59 ERA))
VS Indians (LHP
David Huff (1-1, 0.51 ERA)),
7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)• Sunday, August 21: Tigers (RHP
Rick Porcello (11-8, 4.98 ERA))
VS Indians (RHP
Ubaldo Jimenez (7-9, 4.48 ERA)),
1:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)• Monday, August 22: Tigers (RHP
Justin Verlander (18-5, 2.31 ERA))
AT Rays (RHP
Jeff Niemann (8-4, 3.29 ERA)),
7:10 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)