Sep 16, 2007, 14:44 GMT
- The Detroit Tigers try to gain even more ground in the AL wild card race this afternoon when they go for a sweep in their three-game series with the Minnesota Twins at the Metrodome.
The Tigers moved within 2 1/2 games of the New York Yankees in the wild card chase on Saturday, as they scored four times on Johan Santana in the first inning and held on for a 4-3 win. The Yankees, meanwhile, were routed by the Boston Red Sox.
Ivan Rodriguez's bases-clearing double capped the big first inning, while Carlos Guillen singled in the other run for Detroit, which has won four in a row.
The Tigers remained 5 1/2 games back of the Cleveland Indians in the AL Central, but will head to Jacobs Field on Monday for the opener of a three- game series.
Yorman Bazardo, who took the mound for only the 11th time in his major league career, allowed two runs on four hits with two walks and two strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings in his first major league start for the Tigers. Joel Zumaya (2-3) tossed 1 2/3 perfect innings to earn the win, and Todd Jones worked a scoreless ninth for his 36th save of the season.
Nick Punto ended 2-for-3 and scored twice for the Twins, who dropped their third straight. Johan Santana (15-12), who garnered his first win in three starts Sunday against the White Sox, surrendered six hits and four runs with two walks and seven strikeouts over eight innings for Minnesota.
Heading to the hill tonight for the Tigers will be 21-year-old righty Jair Jurrjens, who is 2-1 with a 3.15 in four starts this season. Jurrjens, who will be facing the Twins for the first time today, returned from the disabled list on Tuesday to get the win against the Texas Rangers, holding them to a run and three hits in five innings.
Minnesota will give the ball to right-hander Scott Baker, who has won three of his last four decisions. Baker picked up the win on Tuesday against the Kansas City Royals, as he allowed three runs and 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings to run his record to 9-7, while lowering his ERA to 4.17.
Baker, who will turn 26 on Wednesday, is 2-2 lifetime against the Tigers with a 3.52 ERA in six starts.
Detroit has won nine of the 14 overall meetings between these AL Central foes in 2007. The Tigers have won six straight over the Twins, including a three- game sweep of them the last time they faced them in Minnesota from July 17-19.
© 2007 The Sports Network
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