GDT: 7/10/08 - DET (46-44) VS MINN (50-41) - 1:05 p.m. ET

DETROIT -- The Tigers can conclude their pre-All-Star schedule on a high note. The third-place Tigers host the second-place Twins for a four-game series starting Thursday afternoon at Comerica Park.

After sweeping a two-game set with the Indians, the Tigers trail the Twins by 3 1/2 games in the American League Central standings.

"We have a big series with Minnesota, and we're ready," said first baseman Miguel Cabrera, who has hit safely in 21 of his last 26 games. "We need to keep playing how we've played."

It's an important series, even for the middle of July. A series win would give the Tigers their best winning percentage of the season. And a sweep would bump them to second place in the division -- an incredible accomplishment considering their 0-7 start.

"They're going to try to gain some ground on us, and we're trying to cut the gap a little bit, as well," center fielder Curtis Granderson said. "It's going to be a battle. They won the series in Minnesota [last week], so hopefully we can make up some ground."

Perhaps more importantly, a series win or sweep would give the Tigers a nice starting point for a second-half push.

"What I shoot for every year is no different," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "I shoot to be going into September playing for something. Will we be? I don't know. We've got a chance."

Detroit welcomes a Minnesota team riding its first three-game losing streak since early June. The Twins have won 19 of their last 30 games. However, they have looked like a different team on the road, where they own an 18-23 record.



Pitching matchup

DET: LHP Kenny Rogers (6-6, 4.60 ERA)
The good news for Rogers out of his last outing Friday at Seattle was that he used a cutter effectively against right-handed hitters, something he hasn't done a lot with that kind of pitch. However, it couldn't help him through a pitching duel with Erik Bedard and the Mariners bullpen. He gave up a tape-measure solo homer to Raul Ibanez, a left-handed hitter, but stayed in the game until the Mariners wore him down in the eighth for two more runs, giving him four over 7 2/3 innings and returning his record to .500. Rogers gave up three earned runs on six hits with six strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings May 4 at the Metrodome in his only outing against the Twins this season.


MIN: RHP Kevin Slowey (6-6, 3.78 ERA)
Slowey saw his streak of 16 consecutive scoreless innings come to an end in the second inning of his last start against the Indians. The right-hander allowed five runs in the inning on three hits and two walks. But following a three-run homer by Grady Sizemore, Slowey recovered to retire 14 of his next 15 batters. Slowey's ability to bounce back speaks volumes to how far he's come this season in his first full year as a starter. Next up for Slowey will be his second start of the season in Detroit. He pitched six scoreless innings, allowing just four hits, in a win there on May 23.


Tidbits

Leyland talked before Wednesday's game about how the Tigers are one of only two AL teams with a three-day All-Star break, while most other teams have four days off. The Tigers had three-day breaks the past two years, too. "We should all be playing Thursday, or nobody should be playing Thursday," Leyland said. "You can quote me on that. Big, bold, black print. ... It's silly and not responsible. It's a joke." ... Edgar Renteria left Wednesday's game with a mild left hamstring strain. He is listed as day-to-day.

On the Internet

MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes

On television
• FSN-HD

On radio
• 97.1FM/1270AM

Up next

• Fri., July 11: Tigers (RHP Armando Galarraga (7-2, 3.27 ERA)) vs. Twins (LHP Glen Perkins (5-2, 4.27 ERA)), 7:05 p.m. ET

• Sat., July 12: Tigers (LHP Nate Robertson (6-7, 5.19 ERA)) vs. Twins (RHP Scott Baker (5-2, 3.32 ERA)), 3:55 p.m. ET

• Sun., July 13: Tigers (RHP Justin Verlander, (6-9, 4.24 ERA)) vs. Twins (RHP Nick Blackburn (7-4, 3.72 ERA)) , 1:05 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS

Minnesota Twins
Player AVG OBP SLG
C. Gomez, CF .263 .298 .366
A. Casilla, 2B .309 .358 .436
M. Redmond, C .297 .333 .359
J. Morneau, 1B .314 .378 .494
C. Monroe, DH .211 .282 .437
D. Young, LF .293 .339 .398
B. Harris, 3B .256 .313 .361
N. Punto, SS .302 .358 .448
D. Span, RF .316 .426 .404



Detroit Tigers
Player AVG OBP SLG
C. Granderson, CF .302 .357 .489
P. Polanco, 2B .311 .358 .403
C. Guillen, 3B .285 .364 .440
M. Cabrera, DH .292 .357 .503
M. Joyce, RF .247 .314 .558
M. Thames, LF .271 .335 .612
J. Larish, 1B .200 .273 .300
I. Rodriguez, C .289 .330 .414
R. Santiago, SS .350 .469 .575

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81 degrees at Game Time


Sunny


Winds 10 mph from the SW

first post updated, Go Tigers!

here we go! Gunfight at the OK Corral!

1-2-3 1st inning for Kenny.

I can't run a live blog today because I'm too busy doing other things and I can't even watch them. Catbox is in class so, unless GoGetEm wants to start one, there will be no live blog today.

Still deadlocked in the 3rd inning. 1 hit apiece for each team.

Score update: 2-1 not Tigers.

Tigers take the lead 5-2!

Ramon Santiago with a 2-run double!!

6-2. Apparently Joyce homered to tie it for the second straight game earlier.

bobrob2004 wrote:

6-2. Apparently Joyce homered to tie it for the second straight game earlier.

He did indeed and what a bomb it was!

Slowey out of the game.

Polly on third, Guillen on first, Miggy up to bat.

Damn!

Miggy with a LONG fly ball that Span jumps to catch.

Two men stranded. Tigers 6-2

Score update: 6-4 Tigers.

6-5 in the ninth inning. Jones blowing it...

Tie game 6-6. Thank you Todd Jones!

Bobby Seay now pitching for the Tigers.

Seay walks the only batter he faces. Dolsi now trying to pitch.

9th inning mercifully over! And it only took 3 pitchers to do it!

Due up:

Guillen
Cabrera
Joyce

Guillen walks!

C'mon Miggy!

Guillen steals second!

Winning run is in scoring position!

Miggy walks!

Let's go Matt!

TigerLily wrote:

Let's go Matt!

Does he know how to bunt?

Matt's up to bunt... trying to move Carlos over to third

Raburn runs for Cabrera, which really doesn't matter since that run doesn't matter. Might as well have Verlander run.