GDT26: 5/1/13 - DET (15-10) VS MIN (11-12) - 1:08 p.m. ET

Tigers: RHP Anibal Sanchez (3-1, 1.34 ERA)

Sanchez set a Tigers record with 17 strikeouts over eight shutout innings against the Braves on Friday night at Comerica Park. Now he gets a Twins offense he blanked for five innings at Target Field on April 3 in a no-decision.



Twins: LHP Scott Diamond (1-2, 4.32 ERA)

Diamond gave up a career-high 12 hits against the Rangers on Friday, but was able to mitigate the damage and ended up throwing a quality start. The lefty gave up three runs over 6 2/3 innings, but was saddled with his second loss.






On heels of historic start, Sanchez can deliver sweep
Righty opposes Diamond after striking out 17 batters last time out

By Adam Berry / MLB.com | 4/30/2013 11:09 PM ET

Anibal Sanchez was a "nice pitcher," as manager Jim Leyland put it, for the Tigers in the second half last season, posting a 3.74 ERA in 12 starts down the stretch. He was even better in the postseason, suffering two losses in three starts despite an impressive 1.77 ERA.

But Sanchez has been something else entirely so far this season. He showed that Friday, when he struck out a franchise-record 17 batters over eight shutout innings against the Braves. He walked only one, picked up his third win and lowered his ERA to 1.34 after five starts.

Though it would seem difficult to improve on that kind of performance, Sanchez will set out to do so Wednesday afternoon at Comerica Park, where the Tigers will go for their sixth straight win and a series sweep against Scott Diamond and the Twins.

"He's really been impressive with his stuff. I thought, from what I've seen, his stuff is much better than it was the first couple outings for us. He's really got good stuff," Leyland said. "When we first got him, he looked nice, a nice pitcher, good pitcher, but even last year, towards the end, you could see that his stuff was really good.

"But he's stronger, too. He's stronger this year. I could tell he's done some strengthening stuff. If you look at Sanchez, he doesn't look like a very big guy, but if you look at his arms, they're huge. You'd be surprised. He's bigger than you think he is. And he's got really good stuff."

He'll face Diamond, who set a career-high mark in a much less enviable category Friday, when the Rangers roughed him up for 12 hits. Yet Diamond was able to minimize the damage and recorded a quality start, allowing three runs over 6 1/3 innings. Still, the lefty took his second loss in three starts this season.

After giving up two runs on three doubles in the first inning, Diamond settled in and didn't allow another run until the sixth inning, when he served up a solo homer to Adrian Beltre.

"I feel like I battled," Diamond said Friday. "It's kinda frustrating the first inning mounted on me just a little bit, but I was able to battle from there. The defense made some nice plays behind me, and I was able to make pitches and get groundballs when I needed to."

Twins: Mauer snaps skid, may sit Wednesday
• Catcher Joe Mauer went 1-for-4 in Tuesday's 6-1 loss and snapped an 0-for-21 stretch with a third-inning single. Mauer entered the game with just two hits in his last 30 at-bats, a skid that came on the heels of a 10-game hitting streak.

But Mauer, the only Twin to play in all 23 games this season, may sit out Wednesday's series finale at Comerica Park. Minnesota has an off-day Thursday, and manager Ron Gardenhire would like to give Mauer some extra rest, though he said the catcher feels "great."

"[Wednesday's] a day game, and I look at that, because of the off-day, as a chance to maybe get through tonight and see how [Ryan] Doumit is feeling," Gardenhire said Tuesday. "[Doumit] had a flu bug yesterday. We're trying to get him through that. But my goal is to maybe give [Mauer] tomorrow and have the off-day, back-to-back days."

• Gardenhire started Wilkin Ramirez in center field for the first time this season, and Ramirez responded by going 2-for-3 with an RBI double off Justin Verlander and a walk.

Tigers: Coke dealing with sore groin
• Lefty reliever Phil Coke is still bothered by the left groin strain that's sidelined him since last weekend, and the Tigers haven't gained much certainty regarding when he'll be ready to return.

Coke didn't pitch Tuesday night and his availability to do so hinged on a pregame throwing session. Lefty Drew Smyly pitched another scoreless inning Tuesday after recording four big outs Monday night, and lefty Darin Downs could also be called upon to face left-handed hitters.

• With the lefty Diamond on the mound, Matt Tuiasosopo and Brayan Pena should be back in the Tigers' lineup Wednesday.

Worth noting
• Miguel Cabrera went 1-for-4 with a homer Tuesday night, his 997th hit since joining the Tigers before the 2008 season. He's now only three hits shy of becoming the 30th player in franchise history to record 1,000 hits in a Tigers uniform.

• Twins first baseman Justin Morneau has 206 career homers and needs one more to tie Kirby Puckett for fifth on the Twins' all-time list.


Adam Berry is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @adamdberry. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.






INJURY UPDATE:

• RF Avisail Garcia (Right heel contusion, 15-day DL retroactive to March 22, 2013).

• RHP Octavio Dotel (Right elbow inflammation, 15-day DL retroactive to April 20, 2013).





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• THU, May 2:
TIGERS: (RHP Rick Porcello (1-2, 8.84 ERA)) AT
ASTROS: (?HP ? (0-0, -.-- ERA))
8:10 p.m. ET (FS-D+ / AM 1270 )


• FRI, May 3:
TIGERS: (RHP Doug Fister (4-0, 2.38 ERA)) AT
ASTROS: (RHP Bud Norris (3-3, 4.20 ERA))
8:10 p.m. ET (FS-D / FM 97.1)


• SAT, May 4:
TIGERS: (RHP Max Scherzer (3-0, 4.02 ERA)) AT
ASTROS: (RHP Lucas Harrell (3-2, 3.60 ERA))
7:10 p.m. ET (FS-D+ / AM 1270)


• SUN, May 5:
TIGERS: (RHP Justin Verlander (3-2, 1.83 ERA)) AT
ASTROS: (RHP Philip Humber (0-6, 7.58 ERA))
4:10 p.m. ET (FS-D / FM 97.1)


• MON, May 6:
OFF DAY

STARTING LINEUPS:

TIGERS

Austin Jackson, CF
Torii Hunter, RF
Miguel Cabrera, 3B
Prince Fielder, 1B
Victor Martinez, DH
Matt Tuiasosopo, LF
Jhonny Peralta, SS
Brayan Pena, C
Ramon Santiago, 2B

P: Anibal Sanchez


TWINS

Brian Dozier, 2B
Jamey Carroll, 3B
Josh Willingham, DH
Justin Morneau, 1B
Ryan Doumit, C
Chris Parmelee, RF
Oswaldo Arcia, LF
Aaron Hicks, CF
Pedro Florimon, SS

P: Scott Diamond

MIN - Top 1st
B:3 S:3 O:1
Brian Dozier strikes out swinging.

B:3 S:3 O:2
Jamey Carroll strikes out swinging.

B:4 S:2 O:2
Josh Willingham walks.

B:3 S:2 O:2
Justin Morneau doubles (6) on a line drive to left fielder Matt Tuiasosopo. Josh Willingham scores.
MIN 1 - 0

B:4 S:2 O:2
Ryan Doumit walks.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Chris Parmelee singles on a line drive to left fielder Matt Tuiasosopo. Justin Morneau scores. Ryan Doumit to 3rd. Chris Parmelee to 2nd on the throw.
MIN 2 - 0

Coaching visit to mound.

B:2 S:1 O:3
Oswaldo Arcia grounds out to first baseman Prince Fielder.


DET - Bot 1st
B:1 S:1 O:1
Austin Jackson grounds out, shortstop Pedro Florimon to first baseman Justin Morneau.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Torii Hunter flies out to right fielder Chris Parmelee.

B:0 S:2 O:2
Miguel Cabrera hit by pitch.

B:4 S:2 O:2
Prince Fielder walks. Miguel Cabrera to 2nd.

B:0 S:1 O:3
Victor Martinez flies out to center fielder Aaron Hicks.

MIN 2 - 0 AFTER 1 INNING

MIN - Top 2nd
B:1 S:3 O:1
Aaron Hicks strikes out swinging.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Pedro Florimon singles on a ground ball to right fielder Torii Hunter.

B:1 S:3 O:2
Brian Dozier strikes out swinging.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Jamey Carroll doubles (1) on a ground ball to left fielder Matt Tuiasosopo. Pedro Florimon scores.
MIN 3 - 0

B:1 S:3 O:3
Josh Willingham called out on strikes.


DET - Bot 2nd
B:3 S:2 O:1
Matt Tuiasosopo grounds out, pitcher Scott Diamond to first baseman Justin Morneau.

Injury Delay.

B:3 S:1 O:2
Jhonny Peralta grounds out, third baseman Jamey Carroll to first baseman Justin Morneau.

B:2 S:3 O:3
Brayan Pena called out on strikes.

MIN 3 - 0 AFTER 2 INNINGS

MIN - Top 3rd
B:1 S:1 O:1
Justin Morneau flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:1 S:1 O:1
Ryan Doumit singles on a ground ball to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:3 S:3 O:2
Chris Parmelee strikes out swinging. Ryan Doumit steals (1) 2nd base.

B:0 S:2 O:3
Oswaldo Arcia grounds out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Prince Fielder.


DET - Bot 3rd
B:3 S:2 O:1
Ramon Santiago grounds out, shortstop Pedro Florimon to first baseman Justin Morneau.

B:2 S:1 O:2
Austin Jackson grounds out, third baseman Jamey Carroll to first baseman Justin Morneau.

B:1 S:1 O:3
Torii Hunter grounds out, pitcher Scott Diamond to first baseman Justin Morneau.

MIN 3 - 0 AFTER 3 INNINGS

MIN - Top 4th
B:3 S:1 O:1
Aaron Hicks flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:2 S:2 O:2
Pedro Florimon flies out to left fielder Matt Tuiasosopo.

B:2 S:2 O:3
Brian Dozier grounds out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Prince Fielder.


DET - Bot 4th
B:0 S:0 O:1
Miguel Cabrera flies out to right fielder Chris Parmelee.

B:1 S:3 O:2
Prince Fielder strikes out swinging.

B:2 S:2 O:3
Victor Martinez grounds out, second baseman Brian Dozier to first baseman Justin Morneau.

MIN 3 - 0 AFTER 4 INNINGS

MIN - Top 5th
B:1 S:2 O:1
Jamey Carroll grounds out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:2 S:3 O:2
Josh Willingham called out on strikes.

B:1 S:2 O:3
Justin Morneau grounds out, second baseman Ramon Santiago to first baseman Prince Fielder.


DET - Bot 5th
B:1 S:1 O:1
Matt Tuiasosopo grounds out, third baseman Jamey Carroll to first baseman Justin Morneau.

B:1 S:1 O:1
Jhonny Peralta singles on a line drive to right fielder Chris Parmelee.

With Brayan Pena batting, Jhonny Peralta caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Ryan Doumit to second baseman Brian Dozier.

B:3 S:3 O:3
Brayan Pena strikes out on a foul tip.

MIN 3 - 0 AFTER 5 INNINGS

MIN - Top 6th
B:0 S:3 O:1
Ryan Doumit strikes out swinging.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Chris Parmelee lines out to shortstop Jhonny Peralta.

B:0 S:3 O:3
Oswaldo Arcia strikes out swinging.


DET - Bot 6th
B:0 S:0 O:1
Ramon Santiago grounds out, shortstop Pedro Florimon to first baseman Justin Morneau.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Austin Jackson doubles (5) on a ground ball to left fielder Oswaldo Arcia.

B:2 S:1 O:1
Torii Hunter singles on a ground ball to right fielder Chris Parmelee. Austin Jackson scores. Torii Hunter to 2nd on the throw.
MIN 3 - 1

B:0 S:1 O:1
Miguel Cabrera doubles (7) on a line drive to left fielder Oswaldo Arcia. Torii Hunter scores.
MIN 3 - 2

Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Prince Fielder grounds out, first baseman Justin Morneau to pitcher Scott Diamond. Miguel Cabrera to 3rd.

B:2 S:2 O:3
Victor Martinez grounds out, second baseman Brian Dozier to first baseman Justin Morneau.

MIN 3 - 2 AFTER 6 INNINGS

MIN - Top 7th
Pitching Change: Bruce Rondon replaces Anibal Sanchez.

B:2 S:1 O:0
Aaron Hicks triples (1) on a line drive to right fielder Torii Hunter.

B:0 S:0 O:0
Pedro Florimon singles on a ground ball to center fielder Austin Jackson. Aaron Hicks scores.
MIN 4 - 2

With Brian Dozier batting, Pedro Florimon steals (2) 2nd base.

B:2 S:0 O:1
Brian Dozier flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:4 S:0 O:1
Jamey Carroll walks.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:4 S:1 O:1
Josh Willingham walks. Pedro Florimon to 3rd. Jamey Carroll to 2nd.

Coaching visit to mound.

Pitching Change: Darin Downs replaces Bruce Rondon.

B:2 S:2 O:1
Justin Morneau singles on a ground ball to center fielder Austin Jackson. Pedro Florimon scores. Jamey Carroll to 3rd. Josh Willingham to 2nd.
MIN 5 - 2

B:0 S:0 O:3
Ryan Doumit grounds into a double play, third baseman Miguel Cabrera to second baseman Ramon Santiago to first baseman Prince Fielder. Justin Morneau out at 2nd.


DET - Bot 7th
Pitching Change: Casey Fien replaces Scott Diamond.

Offensive Substitution: Pinch-hitter Andy Dirks replaces Matt Tuiasosopo.

B:2 S:2 O:1
Andy Dirks flies out to left fielder Oswaldo Arcia.

B:2 S:3 O:2
Jhonny Peralta strikes out swinging.

B:2 S:2 O:3
Brayan Pena grounds out, shortstop Pedro Florimon to first baseman Justin Morneau.

MIN 5 - 2 AFTER 7 INNINGS

MIN - Top 8th
Andy Dirks remains in the game as the left fielder.

B:3 S:1 O:0
Chris Parmelee homers (2) on a fly ball to right field.
MIN 6 - 2

B:3 S:2 O:0
Oswaldo Arcia singles on a ground ball to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:0 S:0 O:1
Aaron Hicks grounds into a force out, third baseman Miguel Cabrera to second baseman Ramon Santiago. Oswaldo Arcia out at 2nd. Aaron Hicks to 1st.

B:3 S:1 O:2
Pedro Florimon flies out to right fielder Torii Hunter.

B:2 S:2 O:3
Brian Dozier grounds out, third baseman Miguel Cabrera to first baseman Prince Fielder.


DET - Bot 8th
Pitching Change: Jared Burton replaces Casey Fien.

B:3 S:2 O:1
Ramon Santiago flies out to right fielder Chris Parmelee.

B:3 S:1 O:2
Austin Jackson flies out to center fielder Aaron Hicks.

B:1 S:1 O:3
Torii Hunter pops out to first baseman Justin Morneau in foul territory.

MIN 6 - 2 AFTER 8 INNINGS

MIN - Top 9th
Pitching Change: Jose Ortega replaces Darin Downs.

B:0 S:2 O:1
Jamey Carroll grounds out, pitcher Jose Ortega to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:2 S:3 O:2
Josh Willingham called out on strikes.

B:0 S:3 O:3
Justin Morneau strikes out swinging.


DET - Bot 9th
Pitching Change: Glen Perkins replaces Jared Burton.

B:1 S:2 O:0
Miguel Cabrera singles on a line drive to left fielder Oswaldo Arcia.

B:0 S:0 O:0
Prince Fielder singles on a ground ball to right fielder Chris Parmelee. Miguel Cabrera to 2nd.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Victor Martinez grounds into a double play, third baseman Jamey Carroll to second baseman Brian Dozier to first baseman Justin Morneau. Miguel Cabrera to 3rd. Prince Fielder out at 2nd.

B:1 S:3 O:3
Andy Dirks strikes out swinging.


TIGERS LOSE 2-6

CLICK HERE FOR BOX SCORE


W: Diamond
L: Sanchez, An


Game Info

HBP: Cabrera, M (by Diamond).
Pitches-strikes: Diamond 88-56, Fien 17-11, Burton 15-8, Perkins 13-11, Sanchez, An 115-75, Rondon, B 17-5, Downs, D 29-16, Ortega, J 12-10.
Groundouts-flyouts: Diamond 11-3, Fien 1-1, Burton 0-2, Perkins 1-0, Sanchez, An 5-3, Rondon, B 0-1, Downs, D 3-1, Ortega, J 1-0.
Batters faced: Diamond 23, Fien 3, Burton 3, Perkins 4, Sanchez, An 25, Rondon, B 5, Downs, D 7, Ortega, J 3.
Inherited runners-scored: Downs, D 3-1.
Umpires: HP: Jeff Kellogg. 1B: Eric Cooper. 2B: Paul Schrieber. 3B: Chad Fairchild.
Weather: 73 degrees, sunny.
Wind: 8 mph, In from CF.
T: 2:54.
Att: 36,028.