GDT: 7/3/09 - DET (43-35) at MIN (41-39) - 8:10 p.m. ET

OAKLAND -- It's only July, but this weekend's series could have a late-season feel to it.

The Tigers finish their final road trip before the All-Star break with a three-day stay in Minnesota. They'll then host Kansas City and Cleveland to put the wraps on the first half.

Detroit first has a day off on Thursday, and it couldn't come at a better time.

"We look a little sluggish," manager Jim Leyland said following the Tigers' 5-1 loss to the A's on Wednesday. "We look a little tired, to be honest with you. Maybe we are. ... We didn't get it done."

Detroit holds a three-game lead on Minnesota in the American League Central race heading into Friday's series opener. The Tigers are 1-4 against the Twins this year, and were swept in their last visit to Minnesota (May 12-14).

Miguel Cabrera will try to help the Tigers reverse their fortune. The slugging first baseman has hit safely in 11 of his past 14 games through Tuesday, batting .382 with five home runs and 12 runs scored over that stretch.

He's improved his average to .332, good for second in the American League.

The rest of the lineup, Leyland said, has been pretty inconsistent. The Tigers will need to turn things around quickly if they want to get past the Twins.

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Pitching matchup

DET: LHP Lucas French (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
The Tigers called up the 23-year-old French from Triple-A Toledo Sunday to work out of the bullpen before he makes his first Major League start on Friday at Minnesota, replacing fellow Tigers prospect Alfredo Figaro. There's more than a little bit of strategy involved in putting French up against a Twins lineup centered around left-handed hitters Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau, but there's also a very good case to be made that he's been the best pitcher in the Tigers' farm system over the last month. He has given up four earned runs on 16 hits with 26 strikeouts over 23 innings in his last three starts, though he hasn't won any of them. Further back he has lasted at least 6 2/3 innings with two earned runs or fewer in five of his past six starts.

MIN: RHP Kevin Slowey (10-3, 4.41 ERA)
The heat and humidity in St. Louis seemed to take a toll on Slowey as he lasted just three innings and allowed five runs on six hits in a start against the Cardinals. The right-hander struggled to find a way to get Albert Pujols out and that was what cost him a chance at picking up a Major League leading 11th win in the contest. The right-hander will get another chance at that number when he faces the Tigers at home in the series opener. Slowey is 3-0 with a 4.57 ERA in four career starts vs. Detroit.

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Tidbits

... Ramon Santiago, who was away from the Tigers attending to a family matter while the club was in Oakland, will rejoin the team in Minnesota.
... Leyland thinks designated hitters should be used in the All-Star Game, even though it'll be played in a National League park. "Why would you not use the DH?" Leyland asked. "Overall, the fans ... would rather see another hitter than see the pitcher have to hit in an All-Star Game."
... Detroit has won seven consecutive games and has a 24-2 record when collecting 10 or more hits.

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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Thursday: Off-day
• Friday: Tigers (Lucas French, LHP (0-0, 0.00 ERA)) at Twins (Kevin Slowey, RHP (10-3, 4.41 ERA)), 8:10 p.m. ET
• Saturday: Tigers (Edwin Jackson, 6-4, 2.49 ERA) at Twins (Francisco Liriano, 4-8, 5.62 ERA), 4:10 p.m. ET
• Sunday: Tigers (Rick Porcello, 8-5, 3.90 ERA) at Twins (Nick Blackburn, 6-4, 3.10 ERA), 2:10 p.m. ET
• Monday: Tigers (Armando Galarraga, RHP (5-7, 5.34 ERA)) vs. Royals (TBD), 7:05 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS:

Detroit AVG
Granderson, CF .257
Polanco, 2B .255
Cabrera, M, 1B .331
Thames, DH .247
Kelly, LF .289
Inge, 3B .275
Anderson, J, RF .255
Laird, C .236
Santiago, SS .291

Minnesota AVG
Span, LF .282
Harris, B, SS .285
Mauer, C .392
Morneau, 1B .309
Cuddyer, RF .277
Crede, 3B .233
Young, D, DH .256
Gomez, C, CF .229
Punto, 2B .212

Inning 1
Top Half

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

B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Placido Polanco called out on .

B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Miguel Cabrera swinging.

0-0

Bottom Half

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Denard Span lines out to pitcher Lucas French.

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Brendan Harris swinging.

B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Joe Mauer flies out to left fielder Don Kelly.

0-0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Marcus Thames pops out to first baseman Justin Morneau in foul territory.

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Don Kelly singles on a ground ball to shortstop Brendan Harris.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Brandon Inge hit by pitch. Don Kelly to 2nd.


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Josh Anderson triples (4) on a line drive to right fielder Michael Cuddyer. Don Kelly scores. Brandon Inge scores.
DET 2, MIN 0


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Gerald Laird out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Carlos Gomez. Josh Anderson scores.
DET 3, MIN 0

B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Ramon Santiago grounds out, shortstop Brendan Harris to first baseman Justin Morneau.

DET 3, MIN 0 after 1.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Justin Morneau strikes out swinging.


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Michael Cuddyer doubles (18) on a line drive to right fielder Josh Anderson.

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

B:4 S:1 O:2 -
Delmon Young walks.

B:0 S:2 O:3 -
Carlos Gomez lines out to third baseman Brandon Inge.

DET 3, MIN 0 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:1 S:1 O:0 -
Curtis Granderson singles on a soft line drive to center fielder Carlos Gomez.


B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Placido Polanco doubles (19) on a line drive to right fielder Michael Cuddyer. Curtis Granderson scores.
DET 4, MIN 0

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


B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Marcus Thames homers (6) on a fly ball to left field. Placido Polanco scores.
DET 6, MIN 0

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Don Kelly pops out to catcher Joe Mauer in foul territory.

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

DET 6, MIN 0 after 2.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Nick Punto walks.


B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Denard Span singles on a soft fly ball to left fielder Don Kelly. Nick Punto to 2nd.


B:2 S:0 O:1 -
Brendan Harris pops out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera in foul territory.

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

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Justin Morneau singles on a ground ball to right fielder Josh Anderson. Nick Punto scores. Denard Span to 3rd.

DET 6, MIN 1

B:0 S:0 O:3 - Michael Cuddyer grounds into a force
out, third baseman Brandon Inge to second baseman Placido Polanco.
Justin Morneau out at 2nd.

DET 6, MIN 1 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Brian Duensing replaces Kevin Slowey.


B:0 S:3 O:1 -
Josh Anderson swinging.


B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Gerald Laird homers (4) on a fly ball to left field.
DET 7, MIN 1




B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Ramon Santiago flies out to right fielder Michael Cuddyer.

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

B:1 S:0 O:3 -
Placido Polanco flies out to right fielder Michael Cuddyer.

DET 7, MIN 1 after 3.5 innings

Bottom Half

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


B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Delmon Young homers (3) on a fly ball to right field.
DET 7, MIN 2




B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Carlos Gomez pops out to second baseman Placido Polanco.


B:0 S:2 O:3 -
Nick Punto pops out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET 7, MIN 2 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera flies out to center fielder Carlos Gomez.


B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Marcus Thames flies out to right fielder Michael Cuddyer.


B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Don Kelly grounds out, second baseman Nick Punto to first baseman Justin Morneau.

DET 7, MIN 2 after 4.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:1 O:0 -
Denard Span singles on a line drive to right fielder Josh Anderson.


B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Brendan Harris flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Joe Mauer singles on a line drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Denard Span to 2nd.

B:3 S:3 O:2 -
Justin Morneau on foul tip.


B:3 S:3 O:2 -
Coaching visit to mound.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Pitcher Change: Zach Miner replaces Lucas French.

Great job French!

B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Michael Cuddyer grounds out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET 7, MIN 2 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Brandon Inge flies out to right fielder Michael Cuddyer.

B:3 S:3 O:2 -
Josh Anderson on foul tip.

B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Gerald Laird grounds out, shortstop Brendan Harris to first baseman Justin Morneau.

DET 7, MIN 2 after 5.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:1 O:0 -
Joe Crede homers (12) on a fly ball to left field.
DET 7, MIN 3

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Delmon Young singles on a ground ball to left fielder Don Kelly.

B:0 S:0 O:1 - Carlos Gomez grounds into a force out,
shortstop Ramon Santiago to second baseman Placido Polanco. Delmon Young out at 2nd. Carlos Gomez to 1st.

B:4 S:1 O:1 -
Nick Punto walks. Carlos Gomez to 2nd.

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Denard Span triples (4) on a ground ball to right fielder Josh Anderson. Carlos Gomez scores. Nick Punto scores.

DET 7, MIN 5

dang it Miner!


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Brendan Harris triples (1) on a fly ball to right fielder Josh Anderson. Denard Span scores. DET 7, MIN 6



B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Injury Delay.


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


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Pitcher Change: Fu-Te Ni replaces Zach Miner.


B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Joe Mauer out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Brendan Harris scores.
DET 7, MIN 7

B:0 S:2 O:3 -
Justin Morneau grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

Game tied 7-7 after 6 innings

Inning 7
Top Half

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Ramon Santiago flies out to left fielder Denard Span.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Curtis Granderson bunt grounds out, pitcher Brian Duensing to first baseman Justin Morneau.


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


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Pitcher Change: Bob Keppel replaces Brian Duensing.


B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Placido Polanco grounds out, third baseman Joe Crede to first baseman Justin Morneau.

Game tied 7-7 after 6.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Brandon Lyon replaces Fu-Te Ni.


B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Michael Cuddyer singles on a line drive to left fielder Don Kelly.


B:0 S:0 O:2 - Joe Crede grounds into double play,
third baseman Brandon Inge to second baseman Placido Polanco to first
baseman Miguel Cabrera. Michael Cuddyer out at 2nd.

B:3 S:0 O:2 -
Delmon Young doubles (6) on a fly ball to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Carlos Gomez grounds out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

Game tied 7-7 after 7 innings

Inning 8
Top Half

B:1 S:0 O:0 -
Miguel Cabrera doubles (17) on a fly ball to center fielder Carlos Gomez.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Marcus Thames grounds out sharply, pitcher Bob Keppel to first baseman Justin Morneau.

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

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Brandon Inge hit by pitch.


B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Josh Anderson flies out to left fielder Denard Span.

Game tied 7-7 after 7.5 innings

Bottom Half

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

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Denard Span reaches on missed catch error by first baseman Miguel Cabrera, assist to catcher Gerald Laird.

Leyland argued the call.

B:2 S:1 O:3 - Brendan Harris grounds into double play,
second baseman Placido Polanco to shortstop Ramon Santiago to first
baseman Miguel Cabrera. Denard Span out at 2nd.

Game tied 7-7 after 8 innings

Inning 9
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Joe Nathan replaces Bob Keppel.


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


B:3 S:3 O:2 -
Ramon Santiago swinging.

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

B:2 S:2 O:2 -
With Placido Polanco batting, Curtis Granderson steals (14) 2nd base.

B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Placido Polanco called out on .

Game tied 7-7 after 8.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Bobby Seay replaces Brandon Lyon.

B:3 S:1 O:1 -
Joe Mauer flies out to left fielder Don Kelly.

B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Justin Morneau swinging.


B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Pitcher Change: Joel Zumaya replaces Bobby Seay. (oh crap...)

B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Michael Cuddyer grounds out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

Game tied 7-7 after 9 innings

Inning 10
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Matt Guerrier replaces Joe Nathan.


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, shortstop Brendan Harris to first baseman Justin Morneau.


B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Marcus Thames singles on a line drive to left fielder Denard Span.


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Ryan Raburn replaces Marcus Thames.


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Injury Delay.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Don Kelly flies out to left fielder Denard Span.

B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Brandon Inge flies out to center fielder Carlos Gomez.

Game tied 7-7 after 9.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Ryan Raburn remains in the game as the designated hitter.

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Joe Crede pops out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Delmon Young called out on .

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Jason Kubel replaces Carlos Gomez.

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

Game tied 7-7 after 10 innings

Inning 11
Top Half

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


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Jason Kubel remains in the game as the left fielder.


B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Josh Anderson called out on .

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Gerald Laird pops out to catcher Joe Mauer in foul territory.

B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Ramon Santiago grounds out softly, second baseman Nick Punto to first baseman Justin Morneau.

Game tied 7-7 after 10.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Brian Buscher replaces Nick Punto.

B:3 S:3 O:1 -
Brian Buscher swinging.

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Denard Span singles on a line drive to right fielder Josh Anderson.

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
With Brendan Harris batting, wild pitch by Joel Zumaya, Denard Span to 2nd.


B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Brendan Harris grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Denard Span to 3rd.


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


B:4 S:0 O:2 -
Joel Zumaya intentionally walks Joe Mauer.


B:4 S:0 O:2 -
Joel Zumaya intentionally walks Justin Morneau. Joe Mauer to 2nd.

B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Michael Cuddyer swinging.

Game tied 7-7 after 11 innings