The Detroit Tigers fell 7-2 to the Minnesota Twins on May 4th at Comerica Park in front of 21,298 fans.
Both teams got off to a slow start. Detroit’s starting pitcher Edwin Jackson only allowed one run in the first six innings, the score coming on Jason Kubel’s double in the second.
Minnesota pitcher Francisco Liriano suffered his first run in the bottom of the sixth when Miquel Cabrera smacked a solo home run to left center field.
Detroit couldn’t keep up the pace, however, and Minnesota soared ahead with five runs in the seventh inning. Jackson threw to four batters in the seventh, including the two run triple by Michael Cuddyer. Jackson gave away three runs with no outs before he was relieved by Brandon Lyon, who moved Delmon Young to first when he hit him with a ball.
Nick Punto reached on a fielder’s choice that put Michael Cuddyer out at home, but the damage had already been done. With Young and Punto at first and second, Lyon was pulled and replaced by Clay Rapada who tossed to Denard Span. Span hit a single to load the bases. A single by Alex Casilla plates Young and Punto putting the Twins in the lead 6-1.
Detroit makes an attempt at a rally in the eighth, when Placido Polanco doubles, leaving Adam Everett on third, prompting a pitching change. Matt Guerrier relieves Liriano to shut down the inning, but not before plating Everett off of a Magglio Ordonez ground out.
“It’s been going on really since the start of the season,” Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. “We’ve been inconsistent with our offense. We just haven’t gotten enough guys going at the same time, same day, same night, whatever. We just haven’t gotten our offense rolling yet. We’ve got too many guys not swinging well. So we have to get that going, but we will.”
Minnesota added a run in the ninth when Carlos Gomez doubled, then scored on a single by Span.
Liriano celebrated his first win, coming off a 0-4 skid, pitching seven innings and only allowing two runs on four hits. He walked three but struck out a season high nine batters.
“Tonight was a great night,” said Liriano. “I was able to throw my pitches whenever I wanted. And I got that first win out of the way. I was just thinking about it every time I got out there. Hopefully, I can keep throwing the ball like that.”
Jackson suffered the loss, pitching six nearly scoreless innings and recording a season high with seven strikeouts. He allowed five runs on five hits with two walks.
“He’s (Jackson) always had stuff,” Cuddyer said. “He’s always thrown 95-98 mph. He’s always had a good slider. The rap on him is that if you wait long enough, you’ll get a free pass. Tonight [against] a lot of guys, he was 0-2, 1-2, pounding the strike zone.”
Jim Yang is a writer for sportsfantreasures.com check out his Detroit Tigers Merchandise or his Detroit Tigers Christmas Ornaments
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