SB Nation Minnesota - Twins Vs Tigers: Minnesota Drops Three-Game Series To Detroit

Twins Vs. Tigers Final Score: Minnesota Falls To Late-Rallying Detroit, 4-3

2012-05-27T22:01:52Z

Looking to avoid getting swept, the Minnesota Twins were stunned by a ninth inning home run in a 4-3 loss to Detroit at Target Field in Sunday's series finale.

Attempting to protect a 3-2 lead, Twins closer Matt Capps served up an 0-2 fastball to Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera with a runner on base, and the All-Star first baseman promptly smashed it over the wall in center field to give Detroit a one-run advantage it would never relinquish. The blown save was Capps' first of the season, but dropped his record to 0-3 and earned run average to a rather pedestrian 4.00.

Despite the loss, there are plenty of positive that can be taken away. First, the Twins did manage to put 12 hits on the board against Detroit pitching, and knocked around Tigers starter Rick Porcello for nine hits over just six innings. And in addition to completing three double plays on defense in the finale, Minnesota racked up 30 total hits on offense over the course of the series.

Thankfully for the Twins (15-31) they will host a light-hitting Oakland team for a three-game set on Monday. Manager Ron Gardenhire will give the ball to 3-1 rookie starter Scott Diamond in an effort to get his squad back on track.

For more on the Twins, head over to Twinkie Town. For more on the Tigers, be sure to check out Bless You Boys. And for the best MLB coverage on the web, make sure to visit Baseball Nation.

Twins Recall Jeff Manship, Designate Erik Komatsu For Assignment

2012-05-27T15:26:21Z

The Minnesota Twins take on the Detroit Tigers on Sunday, looking to put a stop to a four-game losing streak. Looking ahead, the Twins hope to get a boost later in the week from the return of pitcher Francisco Liriano to the starting rotation on Wednesday against the Oakland Athletics.

During his pre-game comments on Sunday, manager Ron Gardenhire also mentioned another move to add a pitcher, according to Rhett Bollinger.

Gardenhire says on his radio show the #Twins will be bringing up a pitcher after today's game.
— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) May 27, 2012

Bollinger followed that tweet up with the news that the Twins would recall right-handed pitcher Jeff Manship is from Rochester. Manship is 4-1 for the Red Wings and can work out of the bull pen or in a spot starting role, as needed. To make room for Manship, the Twins will designate outfielder Erik Komatsu for assignment. Komatsu was hitting just .216 in 51 at bats with the big club.

For more on the Minnesota Twins, check out Twinkie Town. For more on the Detroit Tigers, head over to Bless You Boys. More news and analysis on the world of baseball check out Baseball Nation, SB Nation's hub for America's past-time.

Twins Vs. Tigers: Minnesota Tries To Avoid Sweep By Detroit

2012-05-27T12:58:19Z

The Minnesota Twins wrap up their weekend series with the Detroit Tigers looking to avoid a sweep and snap a four-game losing streak after dropping the first two games of the series.

The Twins turn to right-hander P.J. Walters to improve their fortunes. Walters have been solid since joining the starting rotation, most notably in his last outing in which he posted a complete game win over the Chicago White Sox. Walters is 2-1 with a 2.91 ERA on the season. He will need to cool down the Detroit bats, as the Tigers have belted 28 hits in the first two games of the series.

Detroit will give the ball to Rick Porcello to try to complete the sweep. The young, right-hander has struggled recently and enters the game with a 3-4 record and 5.29 ERA.

The game at Target Field will start at 1:10 p.m. CT and will be televised on Fox Sports North.

Twins Vs. Tigers: Twins Fall To Tigers, 6-3

2012-05-26T22:31:02Z

The Minnesota Twins (15-32) fell to the Detroit Tigers (23-24), 6-3, on Saturday. The Twins just didn't have an answer for the Tigers' lineup while their own couldn't make up for the struggles on the mound.

Denard Span went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored and Ben Revere went 3-for-4 to lead the Twins. But those numbers didn't help Twins starter Carl Pavano as the righty was rocked for six runs on 10 hits in 4.1 innings to drop to just 2-4 on the season. After keeping it close heading into the fifth inning, the Tigers put up four-runs in the fifth to break open the game.

Miguel Cabrera went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and Andy Dirks went 2-for-4 with two RBIs to lead the Tigers. Prince Fielder also had a big game, going 4-for-4 with an RBI as the Tigers totaled 12 hits for the game.

The Twins' lack of pitching couldn't make up for a lineup that was able to put up three runs against a solid outing by the Tigers' Max Scherzer who went 5.1 innings on six hits with nine strikeouts.

The Twins fell to 2-10 in their last 12 home games against the Tigers.

For more on the Minnesota Twins, check out Twinkie Town. For more on the Detroit Tigers, head over to Bless You Boys. More news and analysis on the world of baseball check out Baseball Nation, SB Nation's hub for America's past-time.

Twins Vs. Tigers: Game Resumes After Rain Delay

2012-05-26T21:05:43Z

The tarp came off the field and the grounds crew worked on the diamond to get things back to shape. The Detroit Tigers lead the Minnesota Twins 6-3 in the top of the seventh inning after Dotel got the final two outs of the sixth inning.

There is always the fear of starting and stopping a game, particularly with this Twins team. Already having used more starting pitchers than they would like, but they were able to get a start out of Carl Pavano. However, they find themselves looking to climb out of a three-run hole in the final three innings of the game.

We will keep an eye on the weather as the game continues and the Twins look to mount a comeback.

For more on the Minnesota Twins, check out Twinkie Town. More news and analysis on the world of baseball check out Baseball Nation, SB Nation's hub for America's past-time.

Twins Vs. Tigers: Rain Will Delay Start Of Saturday's Game

2012-05-26T18:25:20Z

The forecast is not pretty near Target Field in Minnesota on Saturday afternoon, but many believed that the Twins-Tigers game would be played and the start of that game would be on time. The tarp was removed from the field shortly before 12 p.m. CT and first pitch was expected to start at 1:10 p.m. CT, as originally scheduled.

The game will not start on time, though:

Hopefully just a brief rain delay, first pitch tentatively set for 1:30 at #TargetField.
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) May 26, 2012

The reason for the delay is not because of current wet weather, but threatening rains in the area. I guess the teams don't want to start if only to be stopped shortly into the game, possibly wasting the starting pitchers. Seeing as the Twins have used nine starting pitchers this year, not wasting one of their more consistent starters in Pavano is not ideal.

For more on the Minnesota Twins, check out Twinkie Town. More news and analysis on the world of baseball check out Baseball Nation, SB Nation's hub for America's past-time.

Twins Vs. Tigers: Lineups For Saturday's Game

2012-05-26T17:19:45Z

After 'sweeping' a two-game series against the Tigers last week, the Twins dropped the first of a three-game home series against the Tigers on Friday night, 10-6. Dating back to May 16, the Twins have scored more than any other team in baseball (58), but of course, they also have the worst ERA (6.30) in that period.

Here is the Twins lineup for Saturday:

1. Denard Span (L) CF

2. Ben Revere (L) RF

3. Joe Mauer (L) DH

4. Josh Willingham (R) LF

5. Justin Morneau (L) 1B

6. Brian Dozier (R) SS

7. Alexi Casilla (S) 2B

8. Drew Butera (R) C

9. Jamey Carroll (R) 3B

Carl Pavano will be on the mound. He was 0-2 with a 5.95 ERA against the Tigers last season.

Here is the Detroit Tigers' lineup:

1. Quintin Berry (L) CF

2. Andy Dirks (L) LF

3. Miguel Cabrera (R) 3B

4. Prince Fielder (L) 1B

5. Delmon Young (R) DH

6. Brennan Boesch (L) RF

7. Jhonny Peralta (R) SS

8. Alex Avila (L) C

9. Ramon Santiago (S) 2B

Max Scherzer, fresh off his 15 strikeout performance last weekend, gets the start. He was 1-0 with a 4.35 ERA against the Twins last year.

For more on the Minnesota Twins, check out Twinkie Town. More news and analysis on the world of baseball check out Baseball Nation, SB Nation's hub for America's past-time.

Francisco Liriano Moving Back To Rotation, Will Start Wednesday Vs. Oakland

2012-05-26T16:17:05Z

After making five appearances from the bullpen and directly following his worst relief outing, the Minnesota Twins have announced that lefty Francisco Liriano will be moving back to the starting rotation, according to beat writer Rhett Bollinger. He will start next Wednesday against the Oakland A's.

Liriano looked somewhat like the Liriano of old in his first relief appearance, striking out three in two innings while not allowing a hit. In Liriano's first four appearances, in fact, he struck out six in 4.2 innings pitched while giving up just two hits and no runs. In all, he struck out a total of nine batters in seven-plus relief innings.

Walks continued to be an issue for Liriano out of the bullpen, though, much like it has been an issue for him the past two seasons. He walked nearly nine batters per nine innings out of the pen and they came back to hurt him when he finally started allowing some hits in his last appearance on Friday night against the Tigers; he gave up four runs in just 2.2 innings.

At any rate, the Twins never viewed his move to the 'pen as a permanent one. Although he may not have fixed anything, the Twins are hoping it's enough of a wake up call for him to be serviceable in a struggling rotation.

For more on the Twins, head over to Twinkie Town. For more MLB coverage and expert analysis, be sure to check out Baseball Nation.