DETROIT -- Twins manager Ron Gardenhire got hit with a throw in the right ear during batting practice and is not on the bench to start the game.
Gardenhire was standing on first base, and the throw came from Alexi Casilla, who was making throws from second base. Apparently, there was a miscommunication, as Gardenhire was watching a throw from shortstop J.J. Hardy.
Gardenhire left the field under his own power but was in obvious pain. I guess Casilla feels terrible. These things happen as balls are flying all over the place during BP.
Update: The Twins say Gardy has a headache and appears to be OK but will continued to be monitored.
FROM EARLIER
Friday night stirred plenty of anxiety about the Twins' projected Game 1 playoff starter, Francisco Liriano, and tonight attention turns to Game 2.
Carl Pavano will be facing the Tigers in his first start since Sept. 16. That night, the 34-year-old righthander allowed five runs in five innings against the White Sox, but the Twins won 8-5. It was Pavano's 17th victory -- he won a career-high 18 with the Marlins in 2004 -- but the Twins' cited his heavy workload, a team-high 210 innings, as the reason for giving him extra rest before this start.
Pavano will be pitching with eight day's rest, or twice as much as "normal." The plan is to have him return on five day's rest Friday against Toronto, and he'll get another five-day breather before making his Game 2 start on Thursday, Oct. 7.
