GDT: 5/4/09 - DET (13-11) VS MIN (12-13) - 7:05 p.m. ET

DETROIT -- How green is Ryan Perry? Monday is '80s Night at Comerica Park, with the first 10,000 fans receiving a Jack Morris replica jersey T-shirt. Morris' no-hitter in 1984 came three years before Perry was born.

If the Tigers have any hope of recreating some of that '80s-style glory this season, Perry is probably going to play a big role.

"He's a big key for us," manager Jim Leyland said. "He's a huge key."

Joel Zumaya's last couple outings have shown what the hard-throwing setup man means to Detroit's bullpen. Now it's time to determine the meaning for similarly fireballing rookie Perry. This week's three-city, seven-game stretch against the American League Central should prove a good test, starting with Monday's meeting with the Minnesota Twins.

When Zumaya was on the disabled list in April, those tight situations over the weekend might have fallen to Perry. Other than closer Fernando Rodney, Perry was the reliever with arguably the best stuff on that relief staff, certainly good enough to get big outs.

Gaining the experience to know how to get those outs is another matter. And as Perry enters his second month in the big leagues, it's part of the work in progress with him.

"Can we do that on-the-job training? We all believe we can," manager Jim Leyland said. "We believe we can get that done."

That was tougher with Zumaya out. It's a little easier now.

The most pressing issue with Perry is the strike-ball ratio. He has thrown just over half of his pitches (85 out of 161) for strikes, leading to 10 walks over 8 2/3 innings and three in his scoreless inning last Wednesday against the Yankees. Perry was much better Friday against the Indians but still has gotten through just one full inning in less than 18 pitches so far this year.

The other point of emphasis is to hone Perry's slider, something pitching coach Rick Knapp and bullpen coach Jeff Jones have tried to do with him in side sessions. Those, however, can be tricky for a reliever in demand.

"You need him available for the game," Leyland said, "but you also want to work him a little bit. If you just throw him five minutes to a catcher, which we do, they both believe he's getting better."

In that sense, it's a different scenario than what the Tigers faced with Zumaya three years ago. Though Zumaya was a rookie in 2006, he had much more Minor League experience than the handful of outings Perry got last year.

Compared with Zumaya, Perry is truly learning on the job. But the potential reward is the same.

Zumaya's emergence in 2006 gave the Tigers an effective late-inning trio with Fernando Rodney and veteran closer Todd Jones. With Jones retired, Rodney is now closing, with Zumaya in setup.

Bobby Seay leads the team in holds, taking up a much bigger role than a mere lefty specialist. But Perry remains a potentially huge addition if he can slot in behind them.

"[Perry's] got plenty of stuff to get these hitters out, if he can locate it consistently," Leyland said. "He's got all the equipment. That's why he's here. He's going to be a big key for us, but I'm trying not to put pressure on him. I'm trying to break him in slowly.

"I think if Perry gets good and consistent, I think we'll really have a good bullpen."



Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Edwin Jackson (1-1, 2.25 ERA)
Usually, the new guy gets a little better welcome than this. Jackson has taken a scoreless performance into the seventh inning in three of his first five starts with the Tigers but has only one win to show for it. Jackson threw 117 pitches over six innings in his last start to keep Detroit in a scoreless game against the Yankees before New York erupted for 10 runs in the seventh. Jackson's 1-2 with a 9.42 ERA in six career appearances, including three starts, against the Twins, but his lone meeting with Minnesota last year featured 7 2/3 innings of one-run ball for a much-needed victory at Tropicana Field.

MIN: LHP Francisco Liriano (0-4, 6.04 ERA)
The lefty looked to be in his line for his first win of the season after allowing just two runs over 6 2/3 innings to the Rays in his last start. But the Twins were unable to hold on to the lead, winning on a walk-off fielder's choice in the ninth inning. For Liriano, it was a positive outing in that he started to show better command of his fastball while also mixing in his breaking. He will ll try to avoid becoming the second Twins Opening Day starter to begin a season at 0-5, with the only other being Frank Viola back in 1989. Liriano is 2-1 with a 4.93 ERA in seven career appearances (five starts) against the Tigers.


Tidbits

... Brandon Inge has reached base safely in each of Detroit's 24 games, tying him for the fourth-longest streak by a Tiger to start a season since records date back to 1954. It's the longest such streak since Ron LeFlore did it in the Tigers' first 30 games of '76.
... Magglio Ordonez is 6-for-14 (.429) lifetime against Liriano with two doubles, a home run and five RBIs.
... The Tigers are 8-0 on Saturdays and Sundays, compared with 5-11 on weekdays.
... The Tigers announced that Dontrelle Willis will continue his Minor League rehab start with a second outing for Triple-A Toledo on Wednesday at Pawtucket. Willis, who began the year on the 15-day DL with anxiety disorder, allowed three runs on seven hits in five innings last Friday against Lehigh Valley.

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 game notes

On television
• FS-D HD

On radio
• WXYT 1270

Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Tuesday: Tigers (Rick Porcello, 1-3, 6.23 ERA) vs. Twins (Nick Blackburn, 2-1, 4.02 ERA), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Wednesday: Tigers (Armando Galarraga, 3-1, 3.07 ERA) AT. White Sox (Mark Buehrle, 4-0, 3.30 ERA), 8:11 p.m. ET
• Thursday: Tigers (Zach Miner, 2-1, 6.75 ERA) at White Sox (Jose Contreras, 0-4, 8.31 ERA), 8:11 p.m. ET

Starting Lineups:

Minnesota AVG
Span, CF .298
Casilla, 2B .160
Mauer, C .700
Morneau, 1B .327
Kubel, DH .294
Crede, 3B .225
Cuddyer, RF .253
Young, LF .274
Punto, SS .224


Detroit AVG
Granderson, CF .270
Polanco, 2B .265
Ordonez, RF .253
Cabrera, M, 1B .393
Guillen, LF .198
Laird, C .270
Inge, 3B .316
Raburn, DH .091
Everett, SS .269

Inning 1
Top Half

B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Denard Span singles on a ground ball to second baseman Placido Polanco.

B:0 S:0 O:2 - Alexi Casilla ground bunts into double
play, pitcher Edwin Jackson to first baseman Miguel Cabrera to
shortstop Adam Everett. Denard Span out at 2nd.

B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Joe Mauer swinging.

Bottom Half

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson swinging.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Placido Polanco flies out to right fielder Michael Cuddyer.

B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Magglio Ordonez grounds out, third baseman Joe Crede to first baseman Justin Morneau.

0-0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Justin Morneau flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Jason Kubel doubles (8) on a fly ball to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Joe Crede flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Michael Cuddyer singles on a ground ball to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Jason Kubel scores.

B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Delmon Young swinging.

Twins 1-0

Bottom Half

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Miguel Cabrera walks.

B:0 S:1 O:0 -
Carlos Guillen singles on a line drive to right fielder Michael Cuddyer. Miguel Cabrera to 2nd.

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Gerald Laird swinging.

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Brandon Inge swinging.

B:4 S:0 O:2 -
Ryan Raburn walks. Miguel Cabrera to 3rd. Carlos Guillen to 2nd.

B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Adam Everett swinging.

Twins 1-0 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Nick Punto swinging.

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Denard Span singles on a ground ball to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Alexi Casilla swinging.

B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Joe Mauer flies out to left fielder Carlos Guillen.

Twins 1-0

Bottom Half

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Curtis Granderson walks.

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Placido Polanco pops out to third baseman Joe Crede.

B:0 S:0 O:2 - Magglio Ordonez grounds into a force
out, third baseman Joe Crede to second baseman Alexi Casilla. Curtis
Granderson out at 2nd. Magglio Ordonez to 1st.

B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Miguel Cabrera pops out to second baseman Alexi Casilla.


Twins 1-0 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Justin Morneau swinging.

B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Jason Kubel swinging.

B:0 S:2 O:3 -
Joe Crede grounds out, first baseman Miguel Cabrera to pitcher Edwin Jackson.

6 for

Twins 1-0

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Carlos Guillen lines out to center fielder Denard Span.

B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Gerald Laird grounds out, third baseman Joe Crede to first baseman Justin Morneau.

B:0 S:2 O:3 -
Brandon Inge flies out to right fielder Michael Cuddyer.

Twins 1-0 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

B:4 S:1 O:0 -
Michael Cuddyer walks.

B:4 S:1 O:0 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:1 S:2 O:2 - Delmon Young grounds into double play,
third baseman Brandon Inge to second baseman Placido Polanco to first
baseman Miguel Cabrera. Michael Cuddyer out at 2nd.

B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Nick Punto swinging, catcher Gerald Laird to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

7 for

Twins 1-0

Bottom Half

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Ryan Raburn pops out to second baseman Alexi Casilla.

B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Adam Everett swinging.

B:3 S:3 O:3 -
Curtis Granderson swinging.


Twins 1-0 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Denard Span flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Alexi Casilla flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Joe Mauer grounds out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

Twins 1-0

Bottom Half

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Placido Polanco swinging.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Magglio Ordonez grounds out, pitcher Francisco Liriano to first baseman Justin Morneau.

B:2 S:0 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera homers (6) on a fly ball to left center field.

B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Carlos Guillen swinging.

tied 1-1 after 6 innings

Inning 7
Top Half

B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Justin Morneau singles on a ground ball to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Jason Kubel walks. Justin Morneau to 2nd.

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Joe Crede doubles (5) on a fly ball to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Justin Morneau scores. Jason Kubel to 3rd.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Michael Cuddyer triples (2) on a fly ball to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Jason Kubel scores. Joe Crede scores.

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

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Brandon Lyon replaces Edwin Jackson.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Delmon Young hit by pitch.

B:0 S:0 O:1 - Nick Punto reaches on a fielder's choice
out, first baseman Miguel Cabrera to catcher Gerald Laird. Michael
Cuddyer out at home. Delmon Young to 2nd.

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

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Pitcher Change: Clay Rapada replaces Brandon Lyon.

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Denard Span singles on a ground ball to left fielder Carlos Guillen. Delmon Young to 3rd. Nick Punto to 2nd.

B:0 S:2 O:1 - Alexi Casilla singles on a fly ball to
left fielder Carlos Guillen. Delmon Young scores. Nick Punto scores.
Denard Span to 2nd.

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Joe Mauer swinging.

B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Justin Morneau grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

Twins 6-1

Bottom Half

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Gerald Laird pops out to first baseman Justin Morneau in foul territory.

B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Brandon Inge pops out to shortstop Nick Punto.

B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Ryan Raburn swinging.

Twins 6-1 after 7 innings

Inning 8
Top Half

B:3 S:3 O:1 -
Jason Kubel called out on .

B:3 S:3 O:1 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Pitcher Change: Ryan Perry replaces Clay Rapada.

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Injury Delay. Joe Crede's batted Ball Hits Jerry White, the 1st base coach, on his foot, he can not put weight on his foot.

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Joe Crede flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Michael Cuddyer called out on .

Twins lead 6-1

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive switch from center field to left field for Denard Span.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Carlos Gomez replaces left fielder Delmon Young, batting 8th, playing center field.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Adam Everett singles on a line drive to left fielder Denard Span.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson flies out to left fielder Denard Span.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Placido Polanco doubles (11) on a ground ball to left fielder Denard Span. Adam Everett to 3rd.

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

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Pitcher Change: Matt Guerrier replaces Francisco Liriano.

B:0 S:1 O:2 - Magglio Ordonez grounds out, third
baseman Joe Crede to first baseman Justin Morneau. Adam Everett scores.
Placido Polanco to 3rd.

B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, shortstop Nick Punto to first baseman Justin Morneau.

Twins 6-2 after 8 innings

Inning 9
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Carlos Gomez doubles (4) on a fly ball to left fielder Carlos Guillen.

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Nick Punto flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Carlos Gomez to 3rd.

B:3 S:1 O:1 -
Denard Span singles on a ground ball to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Carlos Gomez scores.

B:0 S:2 O:2 - Alexi Casilla grounds into a force out,
first baseman Miguel Cabrera to shortstop Adam Everett. Denard Span out
at 2nd. Alexi Casilla to 1st.

B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Joe Mauer grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

Twins 7-2

Bottom Half

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Carlos Guillen swinging.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Gerald Laird flies out to right fielder Michael Cuddyer.

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

Tigers lose 2-7

May 4, 2009

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Minnesota	0	1	0	0	0	0	5	0	1		7	11	0
Detroit	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0		2	4	0

Minnesota AB- R-- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB -AVG- Span, CF-LF 5 0 4 1 0 0 0 .323 Casilla, 2B 5 0 1 2 0 1 3 .163 Mauer, C 5 0 0 0 0 2 4 .467 Morneau, 1B 4 1 1 0 0 1 2 .324 Kubel, DH 3 2 1 0 1 2 0 .295 Crede, 3B 4 1 1 1 0 0 1 .227 Cuddyer, RF 3 0 2 3 1 1 0 .267 Young, LF 2 1 0 0 0 1 2 .266 --Gomez, CF 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .213 Punto, SS 4 1 0 0 0 2 3 .211 Totals 36 7 11 7 2 10 15 BATTING 2B: Kubel (8, Jackson), Crede (5, Jackson), Gomez (4, Perry). 3B: Cuddyer (2, Jackson). TB: Span 4; Casilla; Morneau; Kubel 2; Crede 2; Cuddyer 4; Gomez 2. RBI: Cuddyer 3 (13), Crede (7), Casilla 2 (4), Span (14). 2-out RBI: Cuddyer. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Morneau. GIDP: Casilla; Young. Team RISP: 6-for-11. Team LOB: 5.		Detroit AB- R- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB- AVG Granderson, CF 3 0 0 0 1 2 1 .262 Polanco, 2B 4 0 1 0 0 1 1 .265 Ordonez, RF 4 0 0 1 0 0 2 .242 Cabrera, M, 1B 3 1 1 1 1 0 2 .391 Guillen, LF 4 0 1 0 0 2 0 .200 Laird, C 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .254 Inge, 3B 4 0 0 0 0 2 2 .301 Raburn, DH 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 .077 Everett, SS 3 1 1 0 0 2 3 .273 Totals 31 2 4 2 3 11 13 BATTING 2B: Polanco (11, Liriano). HR: Cabrera, M (6, 6th inning off Liriano, 0 on, 2 out). TB: Polanco 2; Cabrera, M 4; Guillen; Everett. RBI: Cabrera, M (18), Ordonez (12). 2-out RBI: Cabrera, M. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Everett 2; Cabrera, M. Team RISP: 0-for-5. Team LOB: 5. FIELDING DP: 2 (Jackson-Cabrera, M-Everett, Inge-Polanco-Cabrera, M).
Minnesota IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Liriano (W, 1-4) 7.1 4 2 2 3 9 1 5.30 Guerrier 1.2 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.68		Detroit IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Jackson (L, 1-2) 6.0 7 5 5 2 7 0 3.08 Lyon 0.1 0 1 1 0 0 0 5.11 Rapada 1.0 2 0 0 0 2 0 7.71 Perry 1.2 2 1 1 0 1 0 3.48
Jackson pitched to 4 batters in the 7th. HBP: Young (by Lyon). Pitches-strikes: Liriano 103-68, Guerrier 14-11, Jackson 105-71, Lyon 2-1, Rapada 22-15, Perry 27-17. Groundouts-flyouts: Liriano 4-9, Guerrier 2-1, Jackson 6-5, Lyon 1-0, Rapada 1-0, Perry 2-2. Batters faced: Liriano 29, Guerrier 5, Jackson 25, Lyon 2, Rapada 5, Perry 7. Inherited runners-scored: Guerrier 2-1, Lyon 1-0, Rapada 2-2. Umpires: HP: Brian Gorman. 1B: CB Bucknor. 2B: Mike Everitt. 3B: Gerry Davis. Weather: 67 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 12 mph, L to R. T: 2:41. Att: 21,298. May 4, 2009 Box score official statistics approved by Major League Baseball Office of the Commissioner