Advertisement

Game 1: Diamond vs. Scherzer; Arcia, Hermsen receive Twins minor-league honors

The Tigers sit a half-game behind the White Sox heading into Sunday's doubleheader.

September 23, 2012 at 4:15PM
When Scott Diamond is on the mound, Twins hitters relax — and rake. The Twins offense entered Tuesday averaging 6.97 runs a game when Diamond is pitching, more than a run more for any other Twins starter.
Twins pitcher Scott Diamond (Associated Press/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

DETROIT -- The first-place White Sox lost to the Angels again Saturday night, leaving the Tigers a half-game back heading into Sunday's doubleheader against the Twins.

Scott Diamond opposes Max Scherzer in Game 1, and P.J. Walters opposes Drew Smyly in Game 2.

Diamond is 0-2 with a 3.26 ERA in three career starts against the Tigers. Scherzer left Tuesday's start against Oakland with right shoulder fatigue, and it was touch and go, whether he'd be able to make this start. Before the injury, Scherzer was on fire. He's 6-0 with a 1.41 ERA in his past eight starts.

MINOR LEAGUE AWARDS

The Twins named Oswaldo Arcia their Minor League Player of the Year and B.J. Hermsen their Minor League Pitcher of the Year. Each started the year at Class A Fort Myers and ended the year at Class AA New Britain.

Arcia, 21, batted a combined .320 with 17 home runs, 98 RBI and a .928 OPS.

Hermsen, 22, went a combined 12-6 with a 2.88 ERA in 26 starts. The 6-5 righthander isn't overpowering, but as they say, he knows how to pitch.

Update: The Twins say Samuel Deduno will return to face the Yankees on Wednesday, on three day's rest. He lasted just 2 1/3 innings on Saturday, so he wasn't overtaxed. Deciding this now allows Brian Duensing to pitch in today's doubleheader, if needed.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Pitching matchups for the Yankees series: Hendriks/Pettitte (Mon); Vaszuez/Hughes (Tues); Deduno/Sabathia (Wed).

TWINS (62-89)

1. Denard Span, CF
2. Ben Revere, RF
3. Joe Mauer, DH
4. Josh Willingham, LF
5. Justin Morneau, 1B
6. Ryan Doumit, C
7. Trevor Plouffe, 3B
8. Eduardo Escobar, 2B
9. Pedro Florimon, SS

Starting pitcher: LH Scott Diamond (11-8, 3.69 ERA)

TIGERS (80-70)

1. Austin Jackson, CF
2. Omar Infante, 2B
3. Miguel Cabrera, 3B
4. Prince Fielder, 1B
5. Delmon Young, DH
6. Jhonny Peralta, SS
7. Andy Dirks, LF
8. Avisail Garcia, RF
9. Gerald Laird, C

Advertisement

Starting pitcher: RH Max Scherzer (16-6, 3.78 ERA)

Comerica Park. First pitch: 1:10 p.m. TV: FSN. Twins Radio Network

Follow along on Twitter: @JoeCStrib

Advertisement
about the writer

about the writer

Joe Christensen

Sports team leader

Joe Christensen, a Minnesota Star Tribune sports team leader, graduated from the University of Minnesota and spent 15 years covering Major League Baseball, including stops at the Riverside Press-Enterprise and Baltimore Sun. He joined the Minnesota Star Tribune in 2005 and spent four years covering Gophers football.

See Moreicon

More from Twins

See More
card image

Ryne Sandberg, a Hall of Fame second baseman who became one of baseball's best all-around players while starring for the Chicago Cubs, has died. He was 65.

card image
card image
Advertisement
Advertisement

To leave a comment, .

Advertisement