Minnesota (82-68) at Cleveland (73-77)

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Work, circumstance leave bullpen thin

Kelly Thesier / MLB.com
The Twins needed 14 innings from their bullpen over their three games in two days at Baltimore last weekend. All of that work made the relief corps quite thin for Monday's series opener against the Indians, and the team might not be that much better off on Tuesday, either.
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Twins probable pitcher

Francisco Liriano

  • #47 LHP
  • (5-3) 3.19 ERA 51 SO
Twins: Liriano delivered yet another strong start for the Twins, pitching eight innings and allowing just two runs to the Royals, but he walked away with a no-decision. It was the first time that Liriano had pitched into the eighth inning this season for the Twins and marked his longest start since July 28, 2006 vs. Detroit. Next up for Liriano will be a start against the Indians at Progressive Field. Liriano has not been nearly as dominant on the road as he's been at home. Liriano is 1-2 with a 5.63 ERA in five road starts, including two very rough ones in his first stint with the club in April.
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 18-8 2.87 206.2 64 228 .213
Season 5-3 3.19 62.0 25 51 .224
September 1-0 2.40 15.0 1 15 .200
Vs. Cleveland 1-1 2.45 11.0 8 8 .189

Series at a Glance

Standings - 09/16/2008 W L PCT GB Home Away
Minnesota Twins (AL Central) 82 68 .547 1.5 49-26 33-42
Cleveland Indians (AL Central) 73 77 .487 10.5 40-36 33-41
Stats - 09/16/2008 AVG R HR RBI SB SO ERA IP H BB SO
MIN .279 770 105 734 92 895 4.13 1343.2 1450 359 904
CLE .261 728 157 699 75 1109 4.40 1331.0 1408 402 906
cle

Rincon trying to earn chance to stay

Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com
Juan Rincon was a Twins castaway when the Indians opened their door to him with a Minor League contract offer in late June. So this week's series at Progressive Field, which resumes Tuesday night, is, for Rincon, akin to running into your ex while on a date with someone new.
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Indians probable pitcher

Zach Jackson

  • #57 LHP
  • (0-3) 5.63 ERA 21 SO
Indians: Jackson has shown spurts of potential for the Tribe, but he's still searching for his first win and he's now lost three straight starts. His outing against the Orioles wasn't particularly pretty, as he allowed five runs -- four earned -- on eight hits with two walks and two strikeouts in six innings. He needed 92 pitches to get through the abbreviated outing. He'll look to be more efficient an effective against a Twins team he's never faced before.
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 2-5 5.51 78.1 21 43 .305
Season 0-3 5.63 40.0 7 21 .305
September 0-2 4.85 13.0 2 4 .309

Twins hitters vs Zach Jackson

  2008 2003-2007
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI
Butera, Drew - - - - - - - -
Casilla, Alexi - - - - - - - -
Cuddyer, Michael - - - - .400 5 0 2
De Los Santos, Estarlin - - - - - - - -
Hardy, J.J. - - - - - - - -
Harris, Brendan - - - - .167 6 0 0
Hughes, Luke - - - - - - - -
Kubel, Jason - - - - .333 3 0 1
Mauer, Joe - - - - .500 2 0 1
Morales, Jose - - - - - - - -
Morneau, Justin - - - - .167 6 1 3
Plouffe, Trevor - - - - - - - -
Pridie, Jason - - - - - - - -
Punto, Nick - - - - .000 4 0 0
Ramos, Wilson - - - - - - - -
Span, Denard - - - - .400 5 0 0
Tolbert, Matt - - - - .667 3 0 1
Tolleson, Steven - - - - - - - -
Valencia, Danny - - - - - - - -
Young, Delmon - - - - .333 3 0 0

Indians hitters vs Francisco Liriano

  2008 2003-2007
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI
Brantley, Michael - - - - - - - -
Brown, Jordan .000 2 0 0 .000 2 0 0
Cabrera, Asdrubal .250 4 0 0 .400 5 1 1
Choo, Shin-Soo - - - - - - - -
Crowe, Trevor - - - - - - - -
Donald, Jason - - - - - - - -
Gimenez, Chris .500 2 0 0 .500 2 0 0
Hafner, Travis - - - - .286 7 1 1
Hodges, Wes - - - - - - - -
LaPorta, Matt - - - - - - - -
Marson, Lou - - - - - - - -
Marte, Andy - - - - .500 2 0 1
Peralta, Jhonny .400 5 0 0 .308 13 1 1
Rivero, Carlos - - - - - - - -
Santana, Carlos - - - - - - - -
Shoppach, Kelly .200 5 0 0 .333 12 0 0
Sizemore, Grady .000 4 0 0 .091 11 0 0
Toregas, Wyatt .667 3 0 1 .667 3 0 1
Valbuena, Luis - - - - - - - -
Weglarz, Nick - - - - - - - -

Victor spoils (82-69) (74-77)

Indians 12, Twins 9 (11)

Rally falls short

Kelly Thesier / MLB.com
They managed to keep ineffective starter Francisco Liriano unblemished since his recall, but the Twins could not convert on the comeback effort, falling 2 1/2 games behind the White Sox. The ace earned a no-decision after the Twins rallied from a seven-run hole, but closer Joe Nathan surrendered a walk-off homer in extras.

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Series at a Glance

 

Martinez ends it

Andrew Gribble / MLB.com
Seemingly headed for a tough-to-swallow loss after squandering an early seven-run advantage, the Indians instead rallied on a pair of big homers -- a solo shot by Grady Sizemore in the eighth to tie, and the game-winner by Victor Martinez in the 11th. Ryan Garko had four RBIs as the Tribe put a dent in Twins' playoff hopes.
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Indians 12, Twins 9

MinnesotaABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVG
Span, RF4210201.299
Tolbert, 2B-3B6231014.287
Mauer, C3111301.321
Morneau, 1B6012016.308
Cuddyer, DH3011111.252
  1-Pridie, PR-DH0000000.000
  a-Kubel, PH-DH1000100.276
Young, LF5111004.288
Buscher, 3B3120110.311
  2-Casilla, PR-2B1000010.289
Punto, SS4110104.287
Gomez, CF6123014.254
Totals4291399625 

a-Intentionally walked for Pridie in the 8th.
1-Ran for Cuddyer in the 7th. 2-Ran for Buscher in the 8th.

BATTING
2B: Gomez (23, Jackson), Morneau (45, Betancourt).
TB: Span; Tolbert 3; Mauer; Morneau 2; Cuddyer; Young; Buscher 2; Punto; Gomez 3.
RBI: Cuddyer (36), Gomez 3 (54), Tolbert (5), Mauer (75), Morneau 2 (126), Young (63).
2-out RBI: Cuddyer.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Young; Cuddyer; Morneau 2; Punto 2.
S: Punto.
SF: Young.
GIDP: Tolbert; Young.
Team LOB: 13.

BASERUNNING
SB: Gomez (31, 2nd base off Rincon/Martinez).

FIELDING
E: Punto (10, throw), Gomez (8, fielding).
DP: 2 (Punto-Tolbert-Morneau 2).
 
ClevelandABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVG
Sizemore, CF5111110.271
Gutierrez, F, RF5230113.251
Francisco, LF5100022.267
Peralta, SS5110122.273
Martinez, C5333111.276
Shoppach, DH4210122.272
Garko, 1B3124110.257
Marte, 3B3011011.219
  a-Choo, PH1000002.302
  Carroll, 3B1000000.273
Cabrera, 2B5122000.247
Totals4212141161113 

a-Grounded out for Marte in the 7th.

BATTING
2B: Martinez (14, Liriano).
3B: Peralta (4, Bonser).
HR: Garko (12, 2nd inning off Liriano, 2 on, 1 out), Cabrera (6, 2nd inning off Liriano, 0 on, 2 out), Sizemore (32, 8th inning off Guardado, 0 on, 1 out), Martinez (2, 11th inning off Nathan, 2 on, 1 out).
TB: Sizemore 4; Gutierrez, F 3; Peralta 3; Martinez 7; Shoppach; Garko 5; Marte; Cabrera 5.
RBI: Garko 4 (79), Cabrera 2 (40), Marte (16), Sizemore (88), Martinez 3 (31).
2-out RBI: Cabrera 2; Marte.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Gutierrez, F 2; Choo.
S: Francisco.
SF: Garko.
GIDP: Marte; Francisco.
Team LOB: 7.

FIELDING
E: Jackson (2, throw), Peralta (14, fielding), Martinez (3, catcher interference).
DP: 3 (Peralta-Cabrera-Garko, Cabrera-Garko, Marte).
 
MinnesotaIPHRERBBSOHRERA
Liriano 2.26842423.62
Bonser 3.15001305.91
Guerrier 0.20001104.79
Breslow 0.10000002.08
Guardado (BS, 1)1.01111114.28
Reyes 1.00000202.30
Mijares, Jo 1.00000000.00
Nathan (L, 0-2)0.12331011.47
 
ClevelandIPHRERBBSOHRERA
Jackson 5.19771206.35
Rincon (H, 3)0.11001105.50
Rundles (H, 1)0.10001002.70
Donnelly (H, 3)1.00002009.00
Betancourt (BS, 4)0.21224005.21
Mujica 0.10000007.15
Lewis, J 2.01000104.03
Mastny (W, 2-2)1.010002011.50

Bonser pitched to 1 batter in the 7th.

WP: Liriano.
IBB: Shoppach (by Liriano), Sizemore (by Bonser), Kubel (by Betancourt).
HBP: Span (by Jackson).
Pitches-strikes: Liriano 72-41, Bonser 51-31, Guerrier 11-6, Breslow 2-1, Guardado 26-16, Reyes 17-10, Mijares, Jo 7-4, Nathan 17-9, Jackson 76-50, Rincon 12-7, Rundles 13-7, Donnelly 17-7, Betancourt 33-13, Mujica 2-2, Lewis, J 19-14, Mastny 15-10.
Groundouts-flyouts: Liriano 2-2, Bonser 7-0, Guerrier 1-0, Breslow 1-0, Guardado 0-2, Reyes 1-0, Mijares, Jo 1-2, Nathan 1-0, Jackson 12-2, Rincon 0-0, Rundles 0-1, Donnelly 0-2, Betancourt 0-2, Mujica 1-0, Lewis, J 2-3, Mastny 1-0.
Batters faced: Liriano 17, Bonser 14, Guerrier 3, Breslow 1, Guardado 5, Reyes 3, Mijares, Jo 3, Nathan 4, Jackson 26, Rincon 3, Rundles 2, Donnelly 5, Betancourt 7, Mujica 1, Lewis, J 7, Mastny 4.
Inherited runners-scored: Bonser 2-1, Guerrier 1-0, Breslow 2-0, Rincon 2-2, Rundles 2-0, Mujica 3-0.
Umpires: HP: Sam Holbrook. 1B: Scott Barry. 2B: Greg Gibson. 3B: Jeff Kellogg.
Weather: 63 degrees, clear.
Wind: 2 mph, Out to RF.
T: 4:25.
Att: 20,101.
September 16, 2008

Box score official statistics approved by Major League Baseball Office of the Commissioner