Just 4.5 games behind the Detroit Tigers heading into the second game of their four-game set, the Minnesota Twins can pick up their fifth consecutive victory on Tuesday night at Comerica Park and further close the gap.
The Twins racked up 13 hits as a team in Monday's 6-4 victory, and will hope to have similar success in game two against Detroit's Duane Below. The 26-year-old left-hander has not started a game for the Tigers yet this season, but posted a stellar 2.70 ERA in 33.1 innings out of the bullpen and features swing-and-miss stuff.
Manager Ron Gardenhire will give the ball to starter Nick Blackburn in hopes of a bounce back performance from his veteran right-hander. Blackburn has yielded at least four runs in each of his last four outings, and faces a Detroit lineup that has the potential to rack up runs in a hurry.
Here are the starting lineups for Tuesday's game:
Twins
1. Denard Span - CF
2. Ben Revere - RF
3. Joe Mauer - C
4. Josh Willingham - LF
5. Justin Morneau - 1B
6. Trevor Plouffe - 3B
7. Ryan Doumit - DH
8. Brian Dozier - SS
9. Alexi Casilla - 2B
Nick Blackburn - SP
Tigers
1. Austin Jackson - CF
2. Quintin Berry - LF
3. Miguel Cabrera - 3B
4. Prince Fielder - 1B
5. Delmon Young - DH
6. Alex Avila - C
7. Ryan Raburn - 2B
8. Brennan Boesch - RF
9. Ramon Santiago - SS
Duane Below - SP
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