GDT: 4/28/10 - DET (11-10) vs MIN (14-6) - 7:05 p.m. ET

Tigers ready for payback against Twins

By Tom Singer / MLB.com

Minnesota's victory in Tuesday's series opener might have been a wake-up call for Detroit.

And the Tigers could definitely use one, after their "late" arrival off the road for the start of a week-long homestand.

The Twins' re-energized Francisco Liriano was too much to handle on little sleep, but Scott Baker will have the full attention of the Tigers on Wednesday.

Baker will also have their IOUs. He is the one who started, and pitched very well for six innings, in the finale of last year's regular season that pulled the rug out from under Detroit.

Despite the outcome of the homestand-opening game, manager Jim Leyland's Tigers tucked in for a good night's sleep feeling good -- and the Twins were the ones sleeping uneasily.

Minnesota is hoping bed rest will also be good for first baseman Justin Morneau, who had to withdraw midway through the game with a stiff back. That sounded a haunting note for Twins fans -- Morneau had missed the last two weeks of 2009 and the postseason with a stress fracture in the back.

However, Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire quickly dismissed any correlation between that and this.

"He had a little stiffness in his upper back, but it isn't anything serious or related to last year," Gardenhire said. "It was a cold night and [Justin] Verlander had him swinging and missing a lot, so he stiffened up a bit."

Morneau had reached base in the first 19 games of the season until striking out in all three at-bats against Justin Verlander.

And that was part of the Tigers' encouragement. Their struggling ace -- who had returned from Texas in advance of the rest of the team -- tendered his best start of the season, not allowing an earned run in 5 2/3 innings.

Detroit now comes back behind its most consistent starter to date, Max Scherzer, who has averaged six innings in his four turns.

Leyland had had a bad premonition about the season's first meeting between his gang and the well-rested Twins, who enjoyed an off-day in Motown.

"The Twins are playing golf in Detroit and we're playing," Leyland had said the night before. "We'll be there to serve them breakfast."

But Liriano was the one saying, "You've been served." The Tigers are ready to return service.

Twins: Liriano finds form
Liriano has a scoreless streak of 23 innings. And talk about confirming that he is all the way back: Tuesday's 10 strikeouts were his most since he nailed a dozen on July 28, 2006 -- against the Tigers.

Tigers: Jackson ends strikeout streak
Rookie outfielder Austin Jackson had a most unusual game Tuesday night: He did not strike out, nor did he get a hit. Both were rarities. Jackson had fanned at least once in each of his first 19 Major League games -- but also hit safely in 17 of them. That explains his .314 average with 32 Ks, tops in the bigs.

... Leyland is a big fan, saying of Jackson: "He does way, way more better things than bad things. I'm tickled with him. It's gonna take some time, but he's gonna be fine."



Pitching matchup
DET: RHP Max Scherzer (1-1, 2.63 ERA)
Scherzer gave the Tigers exactly what they needed in his last start Friday against Texas, even if Detroit lost, 5-4. He went seven innings, helping provide a break for a bullpen that is pitching more than three innings per game. Scherzer has 17 strikeouts and seven walks in 24 innings. He has given up three home runs. He has been the Tigers' most consistent starter so far this season.


MIN: RHP Scott Baker (2-2, 4.81 ERA)
Baker called his last start one of the "best-worst" outings of his career. In other words, the right-hander felt like he had really good stuff against the Indians but it didn't deliver the results he wanted. Baker allowed six runs on 10 hits over 5 2/3 innings. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire felt that Baker left a few too many pitches up against an aggressive swinging Indians ballclub and that it was something he could improve upon his next time out. Baker will get that chance when he faces the Tigers in Detroit. He is 3-1 with a 3.76 ERA in six career games at Comerica Park.




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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Thursday, April 29:
Tigers (LHP Dontrelle Willis (0-1, 5.00 ERA)) vs Twins (RHP Carl Pavano (2-1, 4.96 ERA)), 1:05 PM ET (FS-D HD / 1270 & 97.1)

• Friday, April 30:
Tigers (RHP Rick Porcello (1-2, 7.91 ERA)) vs Angels (RHP Joel Pineiro (2-2, 3.42 ERA)), 7:05 PM ET (FS-D HD / 1270 & 97.1)

• Saturday, May 1:
Tigers (RHP Jeremy Bonderman (1-1, 6.97 ERA)) vs Angels (LHP Scott Kazmir (2-1, 7.20 ERA)), 1:05 PM ET(FS-D HD / 1270 & 97.1)

• Sunday, May 2:
Tigers (RHP Justin Verlander (1-2, 5.53 ERA)) vs Angels (RHP Jered Weaver (3-0, 2.53 ERA)), 1:05 PM ET (FS-D HD / 1270 & 97.1)

STARTING LINEUPS:

Minnesota AVG
Span, CF .231
Hudson, O, 2B .272
Mauer, C .356
Thome, DH .257
Cuddyer, 1B .305
Kubel, RF .177
Young, D, LF .245
Hardy, SS .216
Hughes, L, 3B .000
Totals .264

Detroit AVG
Jackson, A, CF .314
Damon, DH .329
Ordonez, RF .278
Cabrera, M, 1B .357
Boesch, LF .250
Inge, 3B .256
Raburn, 2B .212
Avila, C .107
Santiago, SS .310
Totals .275

Inning 1
Top Half

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Denard Span swinging.


B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Orlando Hudson singles on a line drive to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.


B:0 S:2 O:2 -
Joe Mauer flies out to left fielder Brennan Boesch.


B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Jim Thome homers (4) on a fly ball to left center field. Orlando Hudson scores.

MIN 2, DET 0

B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Michael Cuddyer grounds out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

MIN 2, DET 0 after .5 inning

Bottom Half

B:1 S:0 O:0 -
Austin Jackson doubles (6) on a line drive to right fielder Jason Kubel.


B:3 S:1 O:0 -
Johnny Damon singles on a ground ball to second baseman Orlando Hudson. Austin Jackson to 3rd.


B:1 S:0 O:0 -
Magglio Ordonez singles on a ground ball to center fielder Denard Span. Austin Jackson scores. Johnny Damon to 2nd.
MIN 2, DET 1




B:0 S:0 O:2 - Miguel Cabrera grounds into double play,
third baseman Luke Hughes to second baseman Orlando Hudson to first
baseman Michael Cuddyer. Johnny Damon to 3rd. Magglio Ordonez out at
2nd.


B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Brennan Boesch grounds out, first baseman Michael Cuddyer to pitcher Scott Baker.

MIN 2, DET 1 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:1 S:1 O:0 -
Jason Kubel singles on a ground ball to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.


B:2 S:2 O:1 - Delmon Young grounds into a force out,
third baseman Brandon Inge to second baseman Ryan Raburn. Jason Kubel
out at 2nd. Delmon Young to 1st.


B:1 S:0 O:2 -
J. Hardy grounds out, pitcher Max Scherzer to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Delmon Young to 2nd.

B:3 S:1 O:3 -
With Luke Hughes batting, Delmon Young caught stealing 3rd base, catcher Alex Avila to third baseman Brandon Inge.

MIN 2, DET 1 after 1.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Brandon Inge swinging.


B:3 S:3 O:2 -
Ryan Raburn on foul tip.


B:4 S:1 O:2 -
Alex Avila walks.


B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Ramon Santiago singles on a line drive to left fielder Delmon Young. Alex Avila to 2nd.


B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Austin Jackson grounds into a force out, shortstop J. Hardy to second baseman Orlando Hudson. Ramon Santiago out at 2nd.

MIN 2, DET 1 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:2 S:2 O:0 -
Luke Hughes homers (1) on a fly ball to right field.

MIN 3, DET 1


B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Denard Span grounds out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Orlando Hudson lines out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

(great diving catch by Jackson)


B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Joe Mauer singles on a line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson.


B:3 S:3 O:3 -
Jim Thome swinging.


MIN 3, DET 1 after 2.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Johnny Damon swinging.


B:2 S:0 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez doubles (5) on a line drive to right fielder Jason Kubel.


B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, third baseman Luke Hughes to first baseman Michael Cuddyer.


B:1 S:2 O:2 -
With Brennan Boesch batting, wild pitch by Scott Baker, Magglio Ordonez to 3rd.

B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Brennan Boesch grounds out, shortstop J. Hardy to first baseman Michael Cuddyer.

MIN 3, DET 1 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 - Michael Cuddyer doubles (5) on a fly ball to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:0 S:1 O:0 - Jason Kubel singles on a line drive to
left fielder Brennan Boesch. Michael Cuddyer scores. Jason Kubel to 2nd
on the throw.

MIN 4, DET 1


B:2 S:1 O:0 - Delmon Young singles on a line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson. Jason Kubel to 3rd.

B:0 S:0 O:0 - Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:3 O:1 - J. Hardy called out on .

B:0 S:1 O:2 - Luke Hughes pops out to catcher Alex Avila in foul territory.

B:1 S:2 O:2 - Denard Span singles on a ground ball to left fielder Brennan Boesch. Jason Kubel scores. Delmon Young to 2nd.

MIN 5, DET 1

B:1 S:1 O:2 - Orlando Hudson singles on a ground ball to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Delmon Young scores. Denard Span to 3rd.

MIN 6, DET 1

B:0 S:0 O:2 - Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:0 O:2 - Pitcher Change: Brad Thomas replaces Max Scherzer.

B:1 S:1 O:3 - Joe Mauer flies out to left fielder Brennan Boesch.

MIN 6, DET 1 after 3.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:0 O:0 - Brandon Inge homers (3) on a fly ball to left field.

MIN 6, DET 2

B:4 S:0 O:0 - Ryan Raburn walks.

B:1 S:3 O:1 - Alex Avila swinging.

B:0 S:1 O:1 - Ramon Santiago singles on a ground ball to center fielder Denard Span. Ryan Raburn to 2nd.

B:4 S:2 O:1 - Austin Jackson walks. Ryan Raburn to 3rd. Ramon Santiago to 2nd.

B:0 S:0 O:1 - Coaching visit to mound.

B:1 S:2 O:2 - Johnny Damon grounds out, second baseman Orlando Hudson to first baseman Michael Cuddyer. Ryan Raburn scores. Ramon Santiago to 3rd. Austin Jackson to 2nd.

MIN 6, DET 3


B:0 S:1 O:2 - Magglio Ordonez singles on a line drive to right fielder Jason Kubel. Ramon Santiago scores. Austin Jackson scores.

MIN 6, DET 5

B:1 S:3 O:3 - Miguel Cabrera called out on .

MIN 6, DET 5 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Jim Thome singles on a line drive to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.


B:2 S:0 O:1 -
Michael Cuddyer flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.


B:0 S:2 O:2 - Jason Kubel grounds into a force out,
second baseman Ryan Raburn to shortstop Ramon Santiago. Jim Thome out
at 2nd. Jason Kubel to 1st.


B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Delmon Young called out on .

MIN 6, DET 5 after 4.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Brennan Boesch doubles (2) on a line drive to right fielder Jason Kubel.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Coaching visit to mound.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Alex Burnett replaces Scott Baker.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Brandon Inge grounds out, shortstop J. Hardy to first baseman Michael Cuddyer. Brennan Boesch to 3rd.


B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Ryan Raburn on foul tip.

B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Alex Avila grounds out, shortstop J. Hardy to first baseman Michael Cuddyer.

MIN 6, DET 5 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

B:0 S:1 O:0 -
J. Hardy doubles (3) on a line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson.


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Luke Hughes grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Denard Span grounds out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. J. Hardy to 3rd.

B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Orlando Hudson on foul tip.

MIN 6, DET 5 after 5.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:2 O:1 - Ramon Santiago pops out to shortstop J. Hardy.

B:2 S:2 O:1 - Austin Jackson singles on a ground ball to shortstop J. Hardy.

B:0 S:0 O:1 - Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:0 O:1 - Pitcher Change: Ron Mahay replaces Alex Burnett.

B:2 S:2 O:1 - Johnny Damon reaches on fielding error by center fielder Denard Span. Austin Jackson to 3rd. Johnny Damon to 2nd.

B:0 S:0 O:1 - On-field Delay.

B:0 S:0 O:1 - Minnesota Twins Manager Ron Gardenhire ejected by HP umpire Gary Darling.

B:0 S:0 O:1 - Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:0 O:1 - Pitcher Change: Pat Neshek replaces Ron Mahay.

B:4 S:0 O:1 - Magglio Ordonez walks. (bases loaded)

B:2 S:1 O:1 - Miguel Cabrera hit by pitch. Austin Jackson scores. Johnny Damon to 3rd. Magglio Ordonez to 2nd.

MIN 6, DET 6


B:0 S:0 O:1 - Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:0 O:1 - Pitcher Change: Jesse Crain replaces Pat Neshek.

B:0 S:0 O:1 - Brennan Boesch doubles (3) on a line drive to right fielder Jason Kubel. Johnny Damon scores. Magglio Ordonez scores. Miguel Cabrera to 3rd.

DET 8, MIN 6


B:0 S:0 O:1 - Brandon Inge doubles (10) on a line drive to left fielder Delmon Young. Miguel Cabrera scores. Brennan Boesch scores.

DET 10, MIN 6


B:0 S:1 O:1 - Ryan Raburn doubles (4) on a line drive to left fielder Delmon Young. Brandon Inge scores.

DET 11, MIN 6


B:2 S:0 O:2 - Alex Avila flies out to center fielder Denard Span. Ryan Raburn to 3rd.

B:1 S:1 O:3 - Ramon Santiago grounds out, second baseman Orlando Hudson to first baseman Michael Cuddyer.

DET 11, MIN 6 after 6 innings

Inning 7
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 - Defensive Substitution: Don Kelly replaces left fielder Brennan Boesch, batting 5th, playing left field.

B:0 S:0 O:0 - Pitcher Change: Phil Coke replaces Brad Thomas.

B:2 S:0 O:1 - Joe Mauer flies out to left fielder Don Kelly.

B:1 S:3 O:2 - Jim Thome swinging.

B:1 S:3 O:3 - Michael Cuddyer swinging.

DET 11, MIN 6 after 6.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 - Austin Jackson lines out to right fielder Jason Kubel.

B:0 S:3 O:2 - Johnny Damon called out on .

B:1 S:0 O:3 - Magglio Ordonez lines out to left fielder Delmon Young.

DET 11, MIN 6 after 7 innings

Inning 8
Top Half

B:3 S:2 O:0 - Jason Kubel singles on a line drive to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:0 S:1 O:1 - Delmon Young grounds out, second baseman Ryan Raburn to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Jason Kubel to 2nd.

B:1 S:1 O:2 - J. Hardy flies out to left fielder Don Kelly.

B:0 S:3 O:3 - Luke Hughes swinging.

DET 11, MIN 6 after 7.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:1 O:1 - Miguel Cabrera flies out to center fielder Denard Span.

B:1 S:0 O:2 - Don Kelly lines out to center fielder Denard Span.

B:1 S:3 O:3 - Brandon Inge swinging.

DET 11, MIN 6 after 8 innings

Inning 9
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 - Pitcher Change: Jose Valverde replaces Phil Coke.

B:4 S:2 O:0 - Denard Span walks.

B:3 S:1 O:1 - Orlando Hudson flies out to left fielder Don Kelly.

B:0 S:2 O:3 - Joe Mauer lines into double play, pitcher Jose Valverde to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Denard Span out at 1st.

DET 11, MIN 6 final score

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