GDT: 8/17/11 - DET (65-57) VS MIN (53-68) - 7:05 p.m. ET

Pavano, Penny set for series finale

By Cash Kruth / MLB.com | 8/16/2011 10:47 PM ET

You can't have it all.

With so many important aspects in the game of baseball, it's nearly impossible to field a perfect team. The Tigers -- who on Wednesday complete a three-game series with Minnesota -- concede their prerogative is on offense, which might at times hinder their defense.

"We've been there since April. That's the way it is. I always repeat myself, there's no perfect team," Leyland said of Detroit being near the bottom of the league in defensive categories. "Sometimes you have to give something to get something, that's just the way it goes."

While the Tigers have decided to concede a bit on defense, all the Twins want is to be healthy, which they hope can happen Wednesday.

Denard Span (concussion symptoms) and Michael Cuddyer (strained neck) have been out since Aug. 9 and Aug. 10, respectively, and could return to the lineup in the series finale. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said he expected Span to be back in the lineup, while Cuddyer took batting practice Tuesday for the first time since his injury.

"It feels better," Cuddyer said. "I'm going to see what I can do, and see how much stuff I can get done. But it's getting better."

Twins: Pavano putting it together
Right-hander Carl Pavano will take the hill for the Twins on Wednesday, coming off two stellar outings. On Aug. 6, Pavano allowed one unearned run in eight innings against the White Sox, while his last time out against the Indians the right-hander also gave up one unearned run in 7 1/3 innings.

"Carl pitched about as good as you can pitch," Gardenhire said. "He pitched through a lot of bad plays defensively. He did everything he could possibly do and we couldn't finish it off for him."

• It didn't take long for the player to be named in the Delmon Young trade to be announced. Along with left-hander Cole Nelson, right-hander Lester Oliveros was dealt from Detroit to Minnesota. Oliveros will be sent to Triple-A Rochester.

Tigers: Coke in a groove
After going 1-7 with a 4.82 ERA as a starter during the first part of the season, Coke has been solid in the bullpen, especially as of late. Since allowing five runs in two games in the end of July, Coke has made eight shutout appearances while allowing only three hits in 5 2/3 innings.

"In fairness to him, we had him starting and then going back, and I'm sure there was some confusion there for him," Leyland said. "But he's settled back in right now and pitching very well."

• Right-hander Brad Penny will take the mound for Detroit. He beat the Twins on July 23, giving up four runs in seven innings.

Worth noting
• Miguel Cabrera is on a 14-game hitting streak in which he is batting .414 with seven doubles and eight RBIs. He also has nine multi-hit games during the streak.

• Jim Thome, the newest member of the 600-homer club, is expected to return to the Twins' lineup Wednesday.

Tigers: RHP Brad Penny (8-9, 4.99 ERA)

Penny has gained nearly half a run on his ERA over the past three outings with 15 earned runs on 27 hits over 15 1/3 innings, including two home runs over 5 1/3 innings Friday in Baltimore -- despite ending a three-game skid.


Twins: RHP Carl Pavano (6-9, 4.55 ERA)

Pavano was failed by his infield defense against the Indians on Friday, as he allowed just one earned run over 7 1/3 strong innings. But the Twins made several mistakes on routine groundballs and Pavano was stuck with a no-decision.


Game Information



RESCHEDULED GAMES: The following is the information on the rescheduled Tigers games postponed at Comerica Park this season:
- Thursday, September 1 versus Kansas City at 1:05 p.m. (rescheduled from May 15)

INJURY UPDATE:

• INF Carlos Guillen (sore left wrist, 15-day disabled list on August 13),
• RHP Al Alburquerque (concussion, 7-day disabled list on August 12).
• RHP Joel Zumaya (right elbow olecranon fracture surgery, 60-day disabled list on March 30).
• LHP Brad Thomas (left elbow inflammation, 60-day DL on May 11)



To track MLB play-by-play, to help post GDT outcomes: http://m.mlb.com/scores/

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• Thursday, August 18:
OFF DAY

• Friday, August 19:
Tigers (RHP Max Scherzer (12-7, 4.37 ERA)) VS
Indians (RHP Josh Tomlin (12-5, 3.97 ERA)),
7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)

• Saturday, August 20: (Fiesta Tigres)
Tigers (RHP Doug Fister (4-13, 3.59 ERA)) VS
Indians (LHP David Huff (1-1, 0.51 ERA)),
7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)

• Sunday, August 21:
Tigers (RHP Rick Porcello (11-8, 4.98 ERA)) VS
Indians (RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (7-9, 4.48 ERA)),
1:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)

• Monday, August 22:
Tigers (RHP Justin Verlander (18-5, 2.31 ERA)) AT
Rays (RHP Jeff Niemann (8-4, 3.29 ERA)),
7:10 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / WXYT 97.1 FM & 1270 AM)

STARTING LINEUP:

TIGERS

Andy Dirks, CF
Brennan Boesch, RF
Delmon Young, LF
Miguel Cabrera, 1B
Victor Martinez, DH
Alex Avila, C
Jhonny Peralta, SS
Don Kelly, 3B
Ramon Santiago, 2B

P: Brad Penny

TWINS

Ben Revere, CF
Trevor Plouffe, 2B
Joe Mauer, C
Justin Morneau, 1B
Jason Kubel, RF
Jim Thome, DH
Danny Valencia, 3B
Rene Tosoni, LF
Tsuyoshi Nishioka, SS

P: Carl Pavano

MIN - Top 1st
B:2 S:1 O:1
Ben Revere grounds out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:2 S:1 O:2
Trevor Plouffe pops out to second baseman Ramon Santiago.

B:1 S:1 O:3
Joe Mauer lines out, pitcher Brad Penny to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET - Bot 1st
B:1 S:3 O:1
Andy Dirks called out on .

B:4 S:2 O:1
Brennan Boesch walks.

B:2 S:2 O:2
Delmon Young flies out to center fielder Ben Revere.

B:0 S:0 O:3
Miguel Cabrera pops out to second baseman Trevor Plouffe.

0 - 0 AFTER 1 INNING

MIN - Top 2nd
B:2 S:1 O:1
Justin Morneau flies out to left fielder Delmon Young.

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

B:0 S:0 O:2
Jim Thome homers (12) on a line drive to left field.
MIN 1 - 0

B:1 S:1 O:3
Danny Valencia flies out to right fielder Brennan Boesch.

DET - Bot 2nd
B:0 S:1 O:1
Victor Martinez grounds out, shortstop Tsuyoshi Nishioka to first baseman Justin Morneau.

B:2 S:2 O:1
Alex Avila singles on a ground ball to right fielder Jason Kubel.

B:2 S:3 O:2
Jhonny Peralta called out on .

B:0 S:1 O:3
Don Kelly flies out to left fielder Rene Tosoni.

MIN 1 - 0 AFTER 2 INNINGS

MIN - Top 3rd
B:0 S:1 O:1
Rene Tosoni grounds out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Tsuyoshi Nishioka grounds out, second baseman Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:4 S:2 O:2
Ben Revere walks.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Trevor Plouffe singles on a line drive to left fielder Delmon Young. Ben Revere to 2nd.

B:2 S:1 O:3
Joe Mauer grounds into a force out, third baseman Don Kelly to second baseman Ramon Santiago. Trevor Plouffe out at 2nd.

DET - Bot 3rd
B:2 S:1 O:0
Ramon Santiago singles on a ground ball to center fielder Ben Revere.

B:0 S:0 O:1
Andy Dirks flies out to left fielder Rene Tosoni.

B:1 S:2 O:1
Brennan Boesch singles on a line drive to left fielder Rene Tosoni. Ramon Santiago to 3rd.

B:2 S:0 O:2
Delmon Young out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Ben Revere. Ramon Santiago scores.
TIED 1 - 1

B:1 S:2 O:3
Miguel Cabrera grounds into a force out, shortstop Tsuyoshi Nishioka to second baseman Trevor Plouffe. Brennan Boesch out at 2nd.

TIED 1 - 1 AFTER 3 INNINGS

MIN - Top 4th
B:0 S:0 O:0
Justin Morneau singles on a fly ball to left fielder Delmon Young.

B:3 S:1 O:1
Jason Kubel lines out to shortstop Jhonny Peralta.

B:4 S:2 O:1
Jim Thome walks. Justin Morneau to 2nd.

With Danny Valencia batting, passed ball by Alex Avila, Justin Morneau to 3rd.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Danny Valencia flies out to right fielder Brennan Boesch.

B:4 S:2 O:2
Rene Tosoni walks. Jim Thome to 2nd.

B:1 S:2 O:3
Tsuyoshi Nishioka grounds out, second baseman Ramon Santiago to pitcher Brad Penny.

DET - Bot 4th
B:1 S:2 O:0
Victor Martinez singles on a line drive to right fielder Jason Kubel.

B:2 S:3 O:1
Alex Avila out swinging.

B:0 S:0 O:1
Jhonny Peralta singles on a ground ball to center fielder Ben Revere. Victor Martinez to 2nd.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Don Kelly grounds into a force out, shortstop Tsuyoshi Nishioka to second baseman Trevor Plouffe. Victor Martinez to 3rd. Jhonny Peralta out at 2nd. Don Kelly to 1st.

B:3 S:2 O:3
Ramon Santiago lines out to right fielder Jason Kubel.

TIED 1 - 1 AFTER 4 INNINGS

MIN - Top 5th
B:1 S:0 O:1
Ben Revere bunt pops out to pitcher Brad Penny.

B:3 S:2 O:2
Trevor Plouffe flies out to center fielder Andy Dirks.

B:2 S:0 O:3
Joe Mauer grounds out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET - Bot 5th
B:0 S:0 O:1
Andy Dirks grounds out, shortstop Tsuyoshi Nishioka to first baseman Justin Morneau.

B:2 S:3 O:2
Brennan Boesch out on foul tip.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Delmon Young singles on a ground ball to shortstop Tsuyoshi Nishioka.

B:0 S:0 O:3
Miguel Cabrera lines out to second baseman Trevor Plouffe.

TIED 1 - 1 AFTER 5 INNINGS

MIN - Top 6th
B:1 S:0 O:1
Justin Morneau pops out to third baseman Don Kelly in foul territory.

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

B:2 S:3 O:3
Jim Thome called out on .

DET - Bot 6th
B:1 S:1 O:0
Victor Martinez singles on a ground ball to center fielder Ben Revere.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Alex Avila grounds into double play, first baseman Justin Morneau to shortstop Tsuyoshi Nishioka to first baseman Justin Morneau. Victor Martinez out at 2nd.

B:2 S:2 O:2
Jhonny Peralta homers (17) on a fly ball to left center field.
2 - 1

B:1 S:2 O:3
Don Kelly flies out to right fielder Jason Kubel.

2 - 1 AFTER 6 INNINGS

MIN - Top 7th
B:1 S:1 O:0
Danny Valencia doubles (23) on a line drive to center fielder Andy Dirks.

B:1 S:1 O:0
Rene Tosoni homers (3) on a fly ball to right field. Danny Valencia scores.
MIN 3 - 2

Pitcher Change: Duane Below replaces Brad Penny.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:1 S:1 O:1
Tsuyoshi Nishioka flies out to right fielder Brennan Boesch.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Ben Revere singles on a line drive to center fielder Andy Dirks.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Trevor Plouffe flies out to left fielder Delmon Young.

B:2 S:1 O:3
With Joe Mauer batting, Ben Revere picked off and caught stealing 2nd base, pitcher Duane Below to first baseman Miguel Cabrera to shortstop Jhonny Peralta.

DET - Bot 7th
B:4 S:1 O:0
Ramon Santiago walks.

B:0 S:0 O:1
Andy Dirks out on a sacrifice bunt, first baseman Justin Morneau to second baseman Trevor Plouffe. Ramon Santiago to 2nd.

B:0 S:2 O:1
Brennan Boesch hit by pitch.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Delmon Young lines out to left fielder Rene Tosoni.

B:0 S:0 O:3
Miguel Cabrera singles on a line drive to right fielder Jason Kubel. Ramon Santiago scores. Brennan Boesch out at home on the throw, right fielder Jason Kubel to shortstop Tsuyoshi Nishioka to catcher Joe Mauer.

TIED 3 - 3 AFTER 7 INNINGS

MIN - Top 8th
B:2 S:1 O:0
Joe Mauer doubles (11) on a line drive to left fielder Delmon Young.

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

B:0 S:2 O:2
Jason Kubel lines out to shortstop Jhonny Peralta.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:2 S:1 O:2
Jim Thome singles on a ground ball to center fielder Andy Dirks. Joe Mauer scores.
MIN 4 - 3
Pitcher Change: Joaquin Benoit replaces Duane Below.

Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Matt Tolbert replaces Jim Thome.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:1 O:3
Danny Valencia pops out to shortstop Jhonny Peralta.

DET - Bot 8th
Matt Tolbert remains in the game as the designated hitter.

Pitcher Change: Glen Perkins replaces Carl Pavano.

B:1 S:1 O:0
Victor Martinez doubles (26) on a fly ball to center fielder Ben Revere.
Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Austin Jackson replaces Victor Martinez.

B:4 S:2 O:0
Alex Avila walks.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:4 S:0 O:0
Jhonny Peralta walks. Austin Jackson to 3rd. Alex Avila to 2nd.

Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Wilson Betemit replaces Don Kelly.

Pitcher Change: Matt Capps replaces Glen Perkins.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:1 S:1 O:1
Wilson Betemit out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Ben Revere. Austin Jackson scores.
TIED 4 - 4

B:0 S:2 O:2
Ramon Santiago flies out to center fielder Ben Revere. Alex Avila to 3rd.

B:0 S:0 O:3
Andy Dirks pops out to third baseman Danny Valencia in foul territory.

TIED 4 - 4 AFTER 8 INNINGS

MIN - Top 9th
Austin Jackson remains in the game as the designated hitter.

Wilson Betemit remains in the game as the third baseman.

Pitcher Change: Jose Valverde replaces Joaquin Benoit.

B:1 S:0 O:0
Rene Tosoni singles on a ground ball to right fielder Brennan Boesch.

B:0 S:2 O:0
Tsuyoshi Nishioka hits a sacrifice bunt. Fielding error by pitcher Jose Valverde. Rene Tosoni to 2nd. Tsuyoshi Nishioka to 1st.

B:1 S:0 O:0
Ben Revere hits a sacrifice bunt. Throwing error by third baseman Wilson Betemit. Rene Tosoni to 3rd. Tsuyoshi Nishioka to 2nd. Ben Revere to 1st.

B:2 S:3 O:1
Trevor Plouffe out swinging.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:3 O:2
Joe Mauer out swinging.

B:2 S:0 O:2
Justin Morneau singles on a ground ball to center fielder Andy Dirks. Rene Tosoni scores. Tsuyoshi Nishioka scores. Ben Revere to 3rd.
MIN 6 - 4

B:4 S:0 O:2
Jose Valverde intentionally walks Jason Kubel. Justin Morneau to 2nd.

B:0 S:0 O:3
Matt Tolbert bunt grounds out, pitcher Jose Valverde to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET - Bot 9th
Pitcher Change: Joe Nathan replaces Matt Capps.

B:2 S:2 O:0
Brennan Boesch singles on a line drive to center fielder Ben Revere.

B:0 S:2 O:1
Delmon Young grounds out, pitcher Joe Nathan to first baseman Justin Morneau. Brennan Boesch to 2nd.

B:1 S:1 O:1
Miguel Cabrera singles on a ground ball to center fielder Ben Revere. Brennan Boesch scores.
MIN 6 - 5
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Ryan Raburn replaces Austin Jackson.

B:1 S:0 O:2
Ryan Raburn pops out to shortstop Tsuyoshi Nishioka.

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