GDT: 5/16/12 - DET (18-18) VS MIN (10-26) - 7:05 p.m. ET

Consistent success elusive for Tigers, Twins
Detroit sends Porcello against Blackburn in series opener

By Paul Casella / MLB.com | 5/15/2012 6:42 PM ET

The Tigers have a chance to do something they haven't done in nearly a month on Wednesday, when they return home to Comerica Park to open a short two-game series with the Twins.

Coming off a series-finale victory against the White Sox, Detroit will be looking to win back-to-back games for the first time since April 18. Detroit has come up empty in its quest for consecutive wins, despite searching coast to coast.

Since winning four straight in mid-April, the Tigers have played a combined 12 road games in New York, Seattle, Oakland and Chicago, while also competing in 12 home games. Detroit's comeback win in Chicago on Monday allowed the Tigers to salvage a 4-5 record on their most recent road trip and push their overall season record back to .500.

One encouraging sign for the Tigers is they put up five or more runs in both games in Chicago, marking the first time they reached that plateau in consecutive games in more than two and a half weeks.

"We haven't really put a whole stretch together where we hit real well in a game," catcher Gerald Laird said. "So hopefully the bats are starting to wake up. Our pitching's been good lately, so we just have to put it all together and we're going to get going here."

The Twins are looking to get things going themselves, as they enter the series with a Major League-worst 10-26 record. Minnesota has actually gone even longer than Detroit without two straight wins, having accomplished that feat just once all season with wins against the Angels on April 11-12.

The trip to Comerica Park marks the start of an eight-game road trip for the Twins, which will conclude with a three-game set against the fellow divisional foe White Sox.

"We have to win," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We keep talking about how we're in a hole, and it's a big hole. We have a long way to go to get back, so we need to start winning some baseball games."

Twins: Morneau set to return from DL
Minnesota will receive a much-needed lift Wednesday, with Justin Morneau expected to be in the lineup for the first time since April 30.

Morneau, who has been on the disabled list retroactive to May 1, missed the club's last 14 games because of a sore left wrist. Gardenhire said he plans to start Morneau at first base instead of easing him back into the lineup as the designated hitter.

"Morneau is going to play first base. He said he'd rather play first base and get right back into it," Gardenhire said. "He thinks it's going to help him stay looser and into the game."

• Nick Blackburn (1-4, 7.18 ERA) will take the mound for the Twins, coming off his first win of the season. The right-hander picked up a victory Friday against the Blue Jays despite allowing five runs, including three homers, in just five innings of work.

Tigers: Porcello looking for consistency
Rick Porcello will get the ball in the series opener for the Tigers, as the right-hander continues his search for some consistency on the mound this season.

Porcello was dominant in his first two starts of the season (three earned runs in 14 2/3 innings) before getting tagged hard in his next two (13 earned runs in 7 2/3 innings). He bounced back to turn in two more solid outings before giving up four runs on nine hits in just five innings his last time out.

"From the get-go, I was out of sync," Porcello said after the 11-4 loss to the Athletics last Friday. "I wasn't locating the fastball down in the zone. I had a tough time getting the middle of the order out. It's not a good combination for an effective game."

Worth noting
• Miguel Cabrera is 13-for-29 (.448) with three home runs and 13 RBIs in his career against Blackburn.

• The Tigers are 18-4 in their last 22 games against the Twins, dating back to 2010.

• This is the latest first meeting between these clubs since 1998, when they didn't play their first head-to-head game until May 19.









Tigers: RHP Rick Porcello (3-3, 5.18 ERA)

Porcello's sinker was rising Friday night, and so was his ERA, yielding four runs on nine hits over five innings. However, he could find a spark facing the Twins, whom he beat four times last season, while averaging six innings a start.



Twins: RHP Nick Blackburn (1-4, 7.18 ERA)

Blackburn had trouble keeping the ball in the park vs. the Blue Jays on Friday, allowing three homers in five-plus innings, but still picked up his first win since July 8. The sinkerballer allowed five runs on six hits and three walks to get the win.








INJURY UPDATE:
• RHP Al Alburquerque (right elbow surgery, 60-day disabled list on April 4).
• RHP Luis Marte (strained left hamstring, 15-day disabled list on April 4).
• C Victor Martinez (left knee surgery, 60-day disabled list on March 12).
• LHP Daniel Schlereth (left shoulder tendinitis, 15-day DL on April 21).








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• THURSDAY, May 17:
Tigers (RHP Doug Fister (0-1, 0.54 ERA)) VS Twins (RHP P.J. Walters (0-1, 3.00 ERA)), 1:05 p.m. ET FSD HD, / 1270 AM & 97.1 FM)


• FRIDAY, May 18:
Tigers (RHP Justin Verlander (4-1, 2.47 ERA)) VS Pirates (?HP TBA (TBA ERA)), 7:05 p.m. ET FSD HD, / 1270 AM & 97.1 FM)


• SATURDAY, May 19:
Tigers (LHP Drew Smyly (1-0, 2.31 ERA)) VS Pirates (?HP TBA (TBA ERA)), 4:05 p.m. ET FSD HD, / 1270 AM & 97.1 FM)

STARTING LINEUPS:

TWINS

Denard Span Erik Komatsu, CF
Brian Dozier, SS
Joe Mauer, DH
Josh Willingham, LF
Justin Morneau, 1B
Ryan Doumit, C
Trevor Plouffe, RF
Alexi Casilla, 2B
Jamey Carroll, 3B

P: Nick Blackburn


TIGERS

Austin Jackson, CF
Andy Dirks, LF
Miguel Cabrera, 3B
Prince Fielder, 1B
Delmon Young, DH
Alex Avila, C
Ryan Raburn, 2B
Brennan Boesch, RF
Ramon Santiago, SS

P: Rick Porcello

MIN - Top 1st
B:2 S:1 O:1
Erik Komatsu grounds out to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:3 S:2 O:1
Brian Dozier reaches on missed catch error by first baseman Prince Fielder, assist to shortstop Ramon Santiago.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Joe Mauer doubles (8) on a fly ball to left fielder Andy Dirks. Brian Dozier scores. Joe Mauer advances to 3rd, on throwing error by shortstop Ramon Santiago.
MIN 1 - 0

B:3 S:2 O:1
Josh Willingham doubles (12) on a line drive to left fielder Andy Dirks. Joe Mauer scores.
MIN 2 - 0

B:1 S:3 O:2
Justin Morneau out swinging.

B:1 S:3 O:3
Ryan Doumit out swinging.


DET - Bot 1st
B:2 S:1 O:0
Austin Jackson singles on a ground ball to left fielder Josh Willingham.

B:4 S:2 O:0
Andy Dirks walks. Austin Jackson to 2nd.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Miguel Cabrera flies out to center fielder Erik Komatsu. Austin Jackson to 3rd. Andy Dirks to 2nd.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Prince Fielder out on a sacrifice fly to left fielder Josh Willingham. Austin Jackson scores.
MIN 2 - 1

B:1 S:3 O:3
Delmon Young out swinging.

MIN 2 - 1 AFTER 1 INNING

MIN - Top 2nd
B:3 S:2 O:1
Trevor Plouffe flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Alexi Casilla bunt grounds out, third baseman Miguel Cabrera to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Jamey Carroll singles on a ground ball to left fielder Andy Dirks.

B:2 S:0 O:2
Erik Komatsu reaches on fielding error by second baseman Ryan Raburn. Jamey Carroll to 2nd.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Brian Dozier homers (2) on a fly ball to left field. Jamey Carroll scores. Erik Komatsu scores.
MIN 5 - 1

B:1 S:2 O:3
Joe Mauer grounds out, second baseman Ryan Raburn to first baseman Prince Fielder.


DET - Bot 2nd
B:2 S:3 O:1
Alex Avila called out on .

B:4 S:2 O:1
Ryan Raburn walks.

B:0 S:0 O:1
Brennan Boesch singles on a ground ball to right fielder Trevor Plouffe. Ryan Raburn to 3rd.

B:3 S:2 O:1
Ramon Santiago singles on a ground ball to left fielder Josh Willingham. Ryan Raburn scores. Brennan Boesch to 3rd.
MIN 5 - 2

Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Austin Jackson singles on a line drive to center fielder Erik Komatsu. Brennan Boesch scores. Ramon Santiago to 2nd.
MIN 5 - 3

B:0 S:0 O:1
Andy Dirks singles on a line drive to center fielder Erik Komatsu. Ramon Santiago scores. Austin Jackson to 3rd. Andy Dirks to 2nd on the throw.
MIN 5 - 4

B:2 S:0 O:1
Miguel Cabrera singles on a line drive to right fielder Trevor Plouffe. Austin Jackson scores. Andy Dirks to 3rd.
TIED 5 - 5

B:1 S:1 O:2
Prince Fielder out on a sacrifice fly to right fielder Trevor Plouffe. Andy Dirks scores.
6 - 5


B:0 S:0 O:3
With Delmon Young batting, Miguel Cabrera caught stealing 2nd base, pitcher Nick Blackburn to second baseman Alexi Casilla.


6 - 5 AFTER 2 INNINGS

MIN - Top 3rd
B:2 S:2 O:0
Play reviewed and stands as called: Josh Willingham doubles (13) on a fly ball to right fielder Brennan Boesch.

B:3 S:2 O:1
Justin Morneau flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:3 S:2 O:1
Ryan Doumit singles on a ground ball to center fielder Austin Jackson. Josh Willingham scores.
TIED 6 - 6

B:0 S:2 O:2
Trevor Plouffe lines out to third baseman Miguel Cabrera. Ryan Doumit advances to 2nd, on throwing error by third baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:3 S:2 O:3
Alexi Casilla grounds out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Prince Fielder.


DET - Bot 3rd
Pitcher Change: Jeff Gray replaces Nick Blackburn.

B:0 S:0 O:1
Delmon Young grounds out, third baseman Jamey Carroll to first baseman Justin Morneau.

B:1 S:0 O:2
Alex Avila grounds out, second baseman Alexi Casilla to first baseman Justin Morneau.

B:2 S:0 O:3
Ryan Raburn grounds out, third baseman Jamey Carroll to first baseman Justin Morneau.

TIED 6 - 6 AFTER 3 INNINGS

MIN - Top 4th
B:2 S:2 O:1
Jamey Carroll grounds out, second baseman Ryan Raburn to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:2 S:3 O:2
Erik Komatsu out swinging.

B:3 S:2 O:3
Brian Dozier flies out to left fielder Andy Dirks.


DET - Bot 4th
B:0 S:0 O:1
Brennan Boesch grounds out, second baseman Alexi Casilla to first baseman Justin Morneau.

B:2 S:2 O:2
Ramon Santiago flies out to center fielder Erik Komatsu.

B:0 S:1 O:3
Austin Jackson flies out to right fielder Trevor Plouffe.

TIED 6 - 6 AFTER 4 INNINGS

MIN - Top 5th
Defensive Substitution: Don Kelly replaces center fielder Austin Jackson, batting 1st, playing center field.

Pitcher Change: Duane Below replaces Rick Porcello.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Joe Mauer grounds out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Josh Willingham flies out to left fielder Andy Dirks.

B:0 S:1 O:3
Justin Morneau grounds out, second baseman Ryan Raburn to first baseman Prince Fielder.


DET - Bot 5th
B:2 S:1 O:0
Andy Dirks singles on a line drive to right fielder Trevor Plouffe.

B:3 S:1 O:0
Miguel Cabrera doubles (6) on a fly ball to center fielder Erik Komatsu. Andy Dirks scores.
7 - 6

B:1 S:0 O:1
Prince Fielder flies out to center fielder Erik Komatsu. Miguel Cabrera to 3rd.

Coaching visit to mound.

Pitcher Change: Alex Burnett replaces Jeff Gray.

B:2 S:1 O:2
Delmon Young grounds out, shortstop Brian Dozier to first baseman Justin Morneau.

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

B:0 S:2 O:3
Ryan Raburn grounds out, shortstop Brian Dozier to first baseman Justin Morneau.

7 - 6 AFTER 5 INNINGS

MIN - Top 6th
B:0 S:2 O:0
Ryan Doumit singles on a ground ball to left fielder Andy Dirks.

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

B:4 S:1 O:1
Alexi Casilla walks. Ryan Doumit to 2nd.

B:3 S:2 O:1
Jamey Carroll doubles (6) on a line drive to left fielder Andy Dirks. Ryan Doumit scores. Alexi Casilla scores.
MIN 8 - 7

Coaching visit to mound.

B:1 S:0 O:2
Erik Komatsu pops out to shortstop Ramon Santiago.

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


DET - Bot 6th
B:2 S:0 O:1
Brennan Boesch flies out to left fielder Josh Willingham.

B:4 S:2 O:1
Ramon Santiago walks.

Coaching visit to mound.

Pitcher Change: Brian Duensing replaces Alex Burnett.

B:0 S:2 O:2
Don Kelly pops out to third baseman Jamey Carroll in foul territory.

B:1 S:1 O:3
Andy Dirks flies out to right fielder Trevor Plouffe.


MIN 8 - 7 AFTER 6 INNINGS

Minnesota - Top of 7th
Duane Below pitching for Detroit

O:1 J Mauer flied out to center.

L Putkonen relieved D Below.

J Willingham singled to center.

J Morneau doubled to deep right, J Willingham to third.

R Doumit intentionally walked.

O:2 T Plouffe out looking.

A Casilla singled to right, J Willingham scored, J Morneau to third, R Doumit to second.
MIN 9 - 7

O:3 J Carroll flied out to center.


Detroit - Bottom of 7th
Brian Duensing pitching for Minnesota

O:1 M Cabrera grounded out to shortstop.

P Fielder reached on infield single to second.

D Young doubled to deep left, P Fielder to third.

O:2 A Avila out swinging.

J Burton relieved B Duensing.

O:3 R Raburn out swinging.

MIN 9 - 7 AFTER 7 INNINGS

Minnesota - Top of 8th

O:1 E Komatsu grounded out to second.

O:2 B Dozier out looking.

J Mauer singled to center.

J Mauer to second on wild pitch by L Putkonen.

O:3 J Willingham out swinging.


Detroit - Bottom of 8th
Jared Burton pitching for Minnesota

D Butera catching.

O:1 B Boesch flied out to right.

O:2 R Santiago flied out to left.

O:3 D Kelly grounded out to first.

MIN 9 - 7 AFTER 8 INNINGS

MIN - Top 9th
Pitcher Change: Collin Balester replaces Luke Putkonen.

B:2 S:2 O:1
Justin Morneau flies out to center fielder Don Kelly.

B:0 S:0 O:1
Drew Butera doubles (1) on a ground ball to left fielder Andy Dirks.

B:3 S:1 O:1
Trevor Plouffe homers (2) on a fly ball to left field. Drew Butera scores.
MIN 11 - 7

B:4 S:1 O:1
Alexi Casilla walks.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:0 O:3
Jamey Carroll grounds into double play, third baseman Miguel Cabrera to second baseman Ryan Raburn to first baseman Prince Fielder. Alexi Casilla out at 2nd.


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

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

B:2 S:0 O:2
Miguel Cabrera grounds into double play, second baseman Alexi Casilla to shortstop Brian Dozier to first baseman Justin Morneau. Andy Dirks out at 2nd.

B:0 S:2 O:3
Prince Fielder flies out to center fielder Erik Komatsu.

DET LOSES 7-11

CLICK HERE FOR BOX SCORE

Game Over R H E

Twins	11	14	0
Tigers	7	11	4

WP: Burnett (1-0, 2.61)
LP: Below (2-1, 2.79)

Game Info

WP: Putkonen.
IBB: Doumit (by Putkonen), Avila (by Burnett, Al).
Pitches-strikes: Blackburn 53-33, Gray 25-14, Burnett, Al 22-10, Duensing 25-17, Burton 14-8, Perkins 10-7, Porcello 100-65, Below 37-23, Putkonen 41-25, Balester 17-8.
Groundouts-flyouts: Blackburn 0-3, Gray 4-3, Burnett, Al 2-1, Duensing 1-1, Burton 1-2, Perkins 1-1, Porcello 7-3, Below 2-2, Putkonen 1-1, Balester 1-1.
Batters faced: Blackburn 13, Gray 9, Burnett, Al 5, Duensing 6, Burton 4, Perkins 3, Porcello 20, Below 10, Putkonen 10, Balester 5.
Inherited runners-scored: Burnett, Al 1-0, Duensing 1-0, Burton 2-0.
Umpires: HP: Eric Cooper. 1B: Marty Foster. 2B: Tim Timmons. 3B: Jeff Kellogg.
Weather: 64 degrees, partly cloudy.
Wind: 9 mph, Out to RF.
T: 3:25.
Att: 33,955.