GDT: 8/7/09 - DET (57-50) VS MIN (53-55) - 7:05 p.m. ET

DETROIT -- The Tigers needed innings from Armando Galarraga his last time out, but unfortunately, that is all they got. Now, with the AL Central-contending Twins coming to town hoping to shrink their 4 1/2-game deficit in the division, Detroit needs a win from its starter.

To get there, he'll need some strong pitching.

"No pitcher in the history of the game can hide from the fact that you've got to throw strikes," manager Jim Leyland said. "Every pitching coach talks about the same thing: Strike one. There's nothing new about that, but there's also a lot of truth to that. In the big leagues, when you work 2-0 to real good Major League hitters, you get the snot knocked out of you. It's that simple."

Galarraga fell behind on several 2-0 counts and paid for them against the Indians, who beat him for the third time in as many outings. Leyland believes part of Galarraga's struggles Sunday was a rough reaction to that particular Cleveland team. Add in the eight runs he allowed on 11 hits over 5 2/3 innings, and Galarraga has given up 17 Cleveland runs on 28 hits over 16 2/3 innings this season.

That said, the Twins hit Galarraga for five runs on six hits and four walks in 5 2/3 innings in their lone meeting May 12 at the Metrodome.

With Justin Verlander and Jarrod Washburn scheduled to start in the last two games of the series, Friday's series opener has a different look from the pitching category. Yet with rookie Anthony Swarzak starting for Minnesota, it's also a game the Tigers can use to take command of the weekend from the outset.

That starts with a good pitching performance, and that's where Galarraga comes in. He has never beaten the Twins in his brief Major League career, going 0-5 with a 5.63 ERA, but he has been markedly better at home than on the road this season. His 3-4 record and 4.52 ERA at Comerica Park, where he averages nearly six innings per start, look stronger than his 2-6 record and 5.97 ERA everywhere else.

Galarraga can use the ballpark dimensions to his advantage and pitch aggressively compared with last time out. With Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau hitting a combined 10-for-31 off him, with two home runs and 11 RBIs, that could make a difference.

"With Mauer and Morneau, they always find a way," infielder Ramon Santiago said. "They bring new guys in and they embrace them and they find a way."

A win for the Tigers could make a huge difference for the rest of the weekend, not just putting Minnesota further back but keeping ahead of the second-place White Sox. They host Cleveland this weekend.

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Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Armando Galarraga (5-10, 5.22 ERA)
The numbers from Galarraga's career-worst start his previous time out are somewhat deceptive, since the Tigers needed him to fill innings for a short bullpen corps Sunday at Cleveland. Nonetheless, he paid for falling behind hitters and pitching tentatively at times, allowing eight runs on 11 hits over 5 2/3 innings, erasing the momentum from a well-pitched but winless July.

MIN: RHP Anthony Swarzak (3-4, 4.25 ERA)
Swarzak had become Minnesota's stopper over his past few starts but ran into a tough Angels squad and picked up his fourth loss of the season on Sunday. The rookie was chased in the fourth before recording an out, making it the shortest start of his young career. It was the second straight start for Swarzak against Los Angeles; he was victorious against the Angels on the road. But he didn't have the same command at the Metrodome, as is evident by the nine hits he allowed. He will be facing the Tigers for the first time.

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Tidbits

... Look for rookie catcher Alex Avila to be back behind the plate for Galarraga, as he was for his Major League debut with Rick Porcello on the mound. Leyland said before Thursday's game that he wanted Avila working with those two starters before he caught Verlander or Edwin Jackson.
... Magglio Ordonez is batting .316 (12-for-38) over his past 10 games.
... The Tigers' .760 winning percentage at home since June 6 is the best in the Majors in that span. Detroit is 19-6 over that stretch.

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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Saturday: Tigers (Justin Verlander, 12-5, 3.29 ERA) vs. Twins (Glen Perkins, 6-7, 5.95 ERA), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Sunday: Tigers (Jarrod Washburn, 8-7, 2.93 ERA) vs. Twins (TBD), 1:05 p.m. ET
• Monday: Tigers (Edwin Jackson, 8-5, 2.62 ERA) at Red Sox (Brad Penny, 7-6, 5.20 ERA), 7:10 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS:

Minnesota AVG
Span, LF .284
Cabrera, O, SS .290
Mauer, C .358
Morneau, 1B .304
Kubel, DH .302
Cuddyer, RF .272
Harris, B, 3B .262
Gomez, C, CF .236
Punto, 2B .207

Detroit AVG
Granderson, CF .257
Polanco, 2B .264
Thomas, C, LF .270
Cabrera, M, 1B .330
Guillen, C, DH .226
Ordonez, RF .264
Inge, 3B .255
Avila, C .500
Everett, SS .246

Inning 1
Top Half

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

B:0 S:2 O:2 - Orlando Cabrera grounds into double
play, shortstop Adam Everett to second baseman Placido Polanco to first
baseman Miguel Cabrera. Denard Span out at 2nd.


B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Joe Mauer homers (19) on a fly ball to left center field.
MIN 1, DET 0

B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Justin Morneau walks.

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

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

B:3 S:1 O:3 -
Michael Cuddyer pops out to third baseman Brandon Inge.

MIN 1, DET 0 after .5 inning

Bottom Half

B:0 S:2 O:0 -
Curtis Granderson singles on a ground ball to second baseman Nick Punto.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Placido Polanco singles on a ground ball to left fielder Denard Span. Curtis Granderson to 3rd.


B:1 S:0 O:0 - Clete Thomas reaches on a fielder's
choice, fielded by first baseman Justin Morneau. Curtis Granderson
scores. Placido Polanco to 2nd.
MIN 1, DET 1

B:3 S:0 O:0 -
Miguel Cabrera homers (22) on a line drive to right field. Placido Polanco scores. Clete Thomas scores.
DET 4, MIN 1

B:3 S:0 O:0 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:2 S:1 O:1 - Carlos Guillen triples (1) on a fly ball
to center fielder Carlos Gomez. Carlos Guillen out at home, pitcher
Anthony Swarzak to catcher Joe Mauer.

B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Magglio Ordonez called out on strikes.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Brandon Inge singles on a ground ball to center fielder Carlos Gomez.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Alex Avila homers (1) on a fly ball to right field. Brandon Inge scores.
DET 6, MIN 1

B:2 S:0 O:3 -
Adam Everett pops out to third baseman Brendan Harris in foul territory.


DET 6, MIN 1 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Brendan Harris flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:4 S:1 O:1 -
Carlos Gomez walks.

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

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Minnesota Twins Manager Ron Gardenhire ejected by HP umpire Hunter Wendelstedt.


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

B:1 S:1 O:1 - Denard Span singles on a ground ball to
left fielder Clete Thomas. Carlos Gomez scores. Denard Span to 2nd.
Nick Punto advances to 3rd, on throwing error by left fielder Clete
Thomas.
DET 6, MIN 2


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Orlando Cabrera lines out to third baseman Brandon Inge.


B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Joe Mauer singles on a line drive to left fielder Clete Thomas. Nick Punto scores. Denard Span scores.
DET 6, MIN 4

B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Justin Morneau grounds out, shortstop Adam Everett to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET 6, MIN 4 after 1.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:0 O:0 -
Curtis Granderson singles on a line drive to right fielder Michael Cuddyer.


B:3 S:1 O:0 -
Placido Polanco singles on a soft line drive to right fielder Michael Cuddyer. Curtis Granderson to 3rd.

B:3 S:1 O:0 -
Coaching visit to mound.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Brian Duensing replaces Anthony Swarzak.


B:1 S:1 O:1 - Clete Thomas grounds into a force out,
shortstop Orlando Cabrera to second baseman Nick Punto. Curtis
Granderson scores. Placido Polanco out at 2nd. Clete Thomas to 1st.
DET 7, MIN 4

B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera strikes out swinging.

B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Carlos Guillen called out on strikes.

DET 7, MIN 4 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Jason Kubel strikes out swinging.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Michael Cuddyer grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Brendan Harris singles on a ground ball to center fielder Curtis Granderson.



B:0 S:2 O:3 - Carlos Gomez grounds into a force out,
third baseman Brandon Inge to second baseman Placido Polanco. Brendan
Harris out at 2nd.

DET 7, MIN 4 after 2.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez grounds out, shortstop Orlando Cabrera to first baseman Justin Morneau.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Brandon Inge pops out to second baseman Nick Punto.


B:3 S:1 O:3 -
Alex Avila flies out to center fielder Carlos Gomez.

DET 7, MIN 4 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Nick Punto called out on strikes.


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


B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Orlando Cabrera lines out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:2 S:2 O:2 - Joe Mauer singles on a ground ball to
second baseman Placido Polanco. Denard Span advances to 3rd, on
throwing error by second baseman Placido Polanco.


B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Justin Morneau flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

DET 7, MIN 4 after 3.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Adam Everett grounds out, shortstop Orlando Cabrera to first baseman Justin Morneau. (very close)


B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Curtis Granderson grounds out to first baseman Justin Morneau.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Placido Polanco singles on a line drive to right fielder Michael Cuddyer.


B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Clete Thomas strikes out swinging.

DET 7, MIN 4 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Jason Kubel walks.


B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Michael Cuddyer pops out to third baseman Brandon Inge.


B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Brendan Harris strikes out swinging.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Carlos Gomez singles on a ground ball to left fielder Clete Thomas. Jason Kubel to 2nd.



B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Nick Punto flies out to left fielder Clete Thomas.

DET 7, MIN 4 after 4.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:2 O:0 -
Miguel Cabrera singles on a ground ball to center fielder Carlos Gomez.


B:0 S:2 O:0 -
Carlos Guillen reaches on force attempt, throwing error by first baseman Justin Morneau. Miguel Cabrera to 3rd.

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez strikes out swinging.


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

B:0 S:1 O:2 - Alex Avila doubles (2) on a ground ball to second baseman Nick Punto, deflected by first baseman Justin
Morneau. Miguel Cabrera scores. Carlos Guillen scores.
DET 9, MIN 4

B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Adam Everett flies out to right fielder Michael Cuddyer.

DET 9, MIN 4 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Ryan Perry replaces Armando Galarraga.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Denard Span grounds out softly, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Orlando Cabrera singles on a ground ball to center fielder Curtis Granderson.


B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Joe Mauer singles on a ground ball to left fielder Clete Thomas. Orlando Cabrera to 2nd.


B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Justin Morneau singles on a line drive to left fielder Clete Thomas. Orlando Cabrera to 3rd. Joe Mauer to 2nd.


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


B:0 S:0 O:1 - Jason Kubel doubles (23) on a soft line
drive to left fielder Clete Thomas. Orlando Cabrera scores. Joe Mauer
scores. Justin Morneau to 3rd.
DET 9, MIN 6





B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Michael Cuddyer strikes out swinging.


B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Brendan Harris pops out to second baseman Placido Polanco.

DET 9, MIN 6 after 5.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson grounds out to first baseman Justin Morneau.


B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Placido Polanco flies out to left fielder Denard Span.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Clete Thomas singles on a ground ball to shortstop Orlando Cabrera.


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


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Pitcher Change: Jesse Crain replaces Brian Duensing.



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

DET 9, MIN 6 after 6 innings

Inning 7
Top Half

B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Injury Delay.


B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Carlos Gomez strikes out swinging.


B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Nick Punto grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Denard Span called out on strikes.

DET 9, MIN 6 after 6.5 innings

Bottom Half

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

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


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Carlos Guillen doubles (5) on a line drive to right fielder Michael Cuddyer.


B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez grounds out, first baseman Justin Morneau to pitcher Jesse Crain. Carlos Guillen to 3rd.



B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Brandon Inge hit by pitch.
(that's one way to get on base)




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

B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Alex Avila strikes out swinging.


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

DET 9, MIN 6 after 7 innings

Inning 8
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive switch from left field to right field for Clete Thomas.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Ryan Raburn replaces right fielder Magglio Ordonez, batting 6th, playing left field.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Brandon Lyon replaces Ryan Perry.


B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Orlando Cabrera strikes out swinging.


B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Joe Mauer grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to pitcher Brandon Lyon.


B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Justin Morneau grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Justin Morneau grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET 9, MIN 6 after 7.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Joe Nathan replaces Jesse Crain.


B:0 S:1 O:0 -
Curtis Granderson triples (6) on a line drive to right fielder Michael Cuddyer.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Placido Polanco doubles (26) on a line drive to center fielder Denard Span. Curtis Granderson scores.
DET 10, MIN 6

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Clete Thomas grounds out to first baseman Justin Morneau. Placido Polanco to 3rd.

B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera called out on strikes.

B:4 S:1 O:2 -
Carlos Guillen walks.

8th inning - indians 6-2 over CWS

B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Ryan Raburn strikes out swinging.

DET 10, MIN 6 after 8 innings

Inning 9
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Fernando Rodney replaces Brandon Lyon.


B:4 S:0 O:0 -
Jason Kubel walks.

40% of 1st batters get on base against Rodney


B:1 S:2 O:0 -
Michael Cuddyer singles on a line drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Jason Kubel to 2nd.


B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Brendan Harris strikes out on foul tip.


B:1 S:1 O:1 -
With Delmon Young batting, wild pitch by Fernando Rodney, Jason Kubel to 3rd. Michael Cuddyer to 2nd.



B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Delmon Young singles on a ground ball to right fielder Clete Thomas. Jason Kubel scores. Michael Cuddyer to 3rd.
DET 10, MIN 7




B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Denard Span singles on a ground ball to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Delmon Young to 2nd.

O. Cabrera

Tigers win 10-8

August 7, 2009

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Minnesota	1	3	0	0	0	2	0	0	2		8	15	1
Detroit	6	1	0	0	2	0	0	1	X		10	15	2

Minnesota AB- R-- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB -AVG- Span, LF-CF 6 1 4 1 0 1 0 .290 Cabrera, O, SS 6 1 1 0 0 2 6 .289 Mauer, C 5 2 4 3 0 0 0 .364 Morneau, 1B 4 0 1 0 1 0 3 .303 Kubel, DH 2 1 1 2 3 1 0 .304 Cuddyer, RF 5 1 1 0 0 1 5 .271 Harris, B, 3B 5 0 1 0 0 2 5 .261 Gomez, C, CF 3 1 1 0 1 1 1 .237 --Young, D, LF 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .265 Punto, 2B 3 1 0 1 1 1 2 .204 Totals 40 8 15 8 6 9 22 BATTING 2B: Kubel (23, Perry). HR: Mauer (19, 1st inning off Galarraga, 0 on, 2 out). TB: Span 4; Cabrera, O; Mauer 7; Morneau; Kubel 2; Cuddyer; Harris, B; Gomez, C; Young, D. RBI: Mauer 3 (63), Span (39), Kubel 2 (61), Young, D (28), Punto (25). 2-out RBI: Mauer 3. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Cuddyer; Morneau; Punto; Harris, B 2; Cabrera, O. SF: Punto. GIDP: Cabrera, O. Team RISP: 5-for-13. Team LOB: 12. FIELDING E: Morneau (2, throw).		Detroit AB-- R-- H- RBI- BB- SO- LOB- AVG Granderson, CF 5 3 3 0 0 0 0 .261 Polanco, 2B 5 1 4 1 0 0 0 .271 Thomas, C, LF-RF 5 1 1 2 0 1 4 .268 Cabrera, M, 1B 5 2 2 3 0 2 3 .331 Guillen, C, DH 4 1 2 0 1 1 1 .234 Ordonez, RF 4 0 0 0 0 2 3 .261 --Raburn, LF 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .261 Inge, 3B 3 1 1 0 0 1 2 .256 Avila, C 4 1 2 4 0 1 2 .500 Everett, SS 4 0 0 0 0 1 3 .242 Totals 40 10 15 10 1 10 20 BATTING 2B: Avila (2, Duensing), Guillen, C (5, Crain), Polanco (26, Nathan). 3B: Guillen, C (1, Swarzak, A), Granderson (6, Nathan). HR: Cabrera, M (22, 1st inning off Swarzak, A, 2 on, 0 out), Avila (1, 1st inning off Swarzak, A, 1 on, 2 out). TB: Granderson 5; Polanco 5; Thomas, C; Cabrera, M 5; Guillen, C 5; Inge; Avila 6. RBI: Thomas, C 2 (32), Cabrera, M 3 (65), Avila 4 (5), Polanco (51). 2-out RBI: Avila 4. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Everett 2; Raburn. Team RISP: 3-for-14. Team LOB: 8. FIELDING E: Thomas, C (3, throw), Polanco (2, throw). DP: (Everett-Polanco-Cabrera, M).
Minnesota IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- -ERA- Swarzak, A (L, 3-5) 1.0 8 7 7 0 1 2 5.44 Duensing 4.2 4 2 0 0 5 0 4.40 Crain 1.1 1 0 0 0 2 0 6.84 Nathan 1.0 2 1 1 1 2 0 1.69		Detroit IP-- H- R- ER- BB- SO- HR- ERA Galarraga (W, 6-10) 5.0 8 4 3 5 3 1 5.23 Perry 2.0 4 2 2 0 3 0 3.93 Lyon (H, 8) 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.06 Rodney 1.0 3 2 2 1 2 0 3.75
Swarzak, A pitched to 2 batters in the 2nd. WP: Rodney. HBP: Inge (by Crain). Pitches-strikes: Swarzak, A 33-18, Duensing 63-43, Crain 20-12, Nathan 19-13, Galarraga 109-64, Perry 36-30, Lyon 15-9, Rodney 29-18. Groundouts-flyouts: Swarzak, A 0-1, Duensing 5-4, Crain 1-1, Nathan 1-0, Galarraga 5-7, Perry 2-1, Lyon 2-0, Rodney 0-1. Batters faced: Swarzak, A 11, Duensing 19, Crain 6, Nathan 6, Galarraga 27, Perry 10, Lyon 3, Rodney 7. Inherited runners-scored: Duensing 2-1, Crain 1-0. Ejections: Minnesota Twins Manager Ron Gardenhire ejected by HP umpire Hunter Wendelstedt (2nd). Umpires: HP: Hunter Wendelstedt. 1B: Dana DeMuth. 2B: Doug Eddings. 3B: Brian Knight. Weather: 74 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 9 mph, R to L. T: 3:17. Att: 36,444. August 7, 2009