Price is 7-3 with a 2.42 ERA in 13 appearances (12 starts) against Minnesota while holding first baseman Joe Mauer to 5-for-30. Three of those strikeouts came against Twins rookie cleanup hitter Miguel Sano as the veteran left-hander, relying more than usual on his changeup, set down the final 10 batters he faced.
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“””(Pelfrey) had gotten me out twice with the split-finger, so I figured at some point he’d try and go to it”, Kinsler said. Greene was removed from his Wednesday start with Triple-A Toledo after just 38 pitches and is expected to arrive in the Twin Cities on Saturday. “They’re in front of us in the standings and they have a good squad”. Pelfrey was charged with all four runs on eight hits through 7.2 innings to fall to 5-6.
The Twins needed an error from third baseman Nick Castellanos and another ball to glance off his glove in the fifth to help them score their two unearned runs. He allowed five hits and two unearned runs.
Pelfrey was one pitch from making it through eight when the Detroit Tigers ended his night.
Outside of the one-two punch of David Price and Anibal Sanchez a top the Tigers starting rotation there has been little consistency in any of the Tigers other three starting pitchers, who combined have a BAA around.312.
Price allowed at least two baserunners in three of the first four innings but stranded them all and allowed two runs – none earned – on five hits.
Toeing the rubber for the Twins tonight will be Mike Pelfrey, who is 5-5 with a 3.94 ERA overall, while at home he has gone 3-1 with a solid 1.80 ERA.
Detroit struck on the second pitch of the game when Kinsler hit a 1-0 fastball from Pelfrey over the left field fence for his third home run of the season. He enters this matchup with a 1.90 ERA during his win streak – which has covered six outings – and also has a 1.21 ERA in beating the Twins (46-39) in three straight starts.
“For us and the situation we’re in, every game is going to be important from here on out”, Kinsler said.
“We made him work”, Twins manager Paul Molitor said about Price.
“A good game”, Molitor said. Kinsler and Cespedes had RBI doubles in the eighth inning, and Price slammed the door on the Twins.
After stranding five runners through the first five innings, the Twins took the lead in the fifth. Dozier scored on a Trevor Plouffe RBI single. Tigers LHP Kyle Lobstein, out since May 24 with inflammation in his throwing shoulder, was cleared to begin a throwing program….
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Catcher James McCann celebrates with closer Joakim Soria after preserving a Detroit Tigers 5-4 victory over the Seattle Mariners.
