Twins-Tigers:Slowey is on the way
Posted on May 4th, 2008 – 12:29 PMBy La Velle
2:09 p.m. update: The Twins have announced that righthander Kevin Slowey will be called up in time to start Thursday in Chicago. He’ll replace righthander Scott Baker who continues to have problems with his right groin muscle.
The Twins have the option of pushing Baker back to Saturday - when they’ll need a fifth starter again - or to put him on the DL if they feel he needs more time to heal. If he lands on the DL, someone like lefthander Glen Perkins could be called up.
Baker on Monday will have an MRI exam on his strained right groin muscle. The Twins will have a better idea of how to proceed with the injury at that point.
Carlos Gomez is back in the lineup today. He missed Saturday’s game with a bump on his head and a headache after being hit in the head by a throw while stealing a base on Friday.
Talked to Curtis Granderson before the game. Granderson and Pat Neshek have battled each other since Neshek pitched at Butler and Granderson was at Illinois-Chicago. Granderson got the best of Neshek on Saturday with a homer.
“The first three pitches I really didn’t see that well,” Granderson said. “Then I started to see him better as the at-bat went along.”
Neshek grimaced when Granderson’s comment was relayed to him: `Argh! I knew that at-bat was taking way too long.”
Granderson: “He’s gotten me a few times and I’ve gotten him a few times. I hope we both stay in the same division because it’s a challenge to face him.”
Granderson is 2 for 4 against Neshek, including the homer on Saturday.
Right-handed hitters are batting .341 against Kenny Rogers. With that in mind, here are today’s lineups.
Detroit (14-17): 1. Curtis Granderson, CF. 2. Placido Polanco, 2B. 3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B. 4. Magglio Ordonez, DH. 5. Carlos Guillen, 3B. 6. Marcus Thames, RF. 7. Edgar Renteria, SS. 8. Ivan Rodriguez, C. 9. Jacque Jones, LF. Pitching: Kenny Rogers.
Twins (15-14): 1. Carlos Gomez, CF. 2. Brendan Harris. 2B. 3. Joe Mauer, C. 4. Justin Morneau, 1B. 5. Michael Cuddyer, RF. 6. Craig Monroe, DH. 7. Delmon Young, LF. 8. Matt Tolbert, 3B. Nick Punto, SS. Pitching: Boof Bonser.


