DETROIT - Last April proved the Minnesota Twins can survive without Joe Mauer. Last September proved they can survive without Justin Morneau. But Thursday showed they're in big trouble without both of the M&M Boys.
Manager Ron Gardenhire hadn't submitted a lineup without either of those two names since May 5, 2006, and the result was predictable.
Carl Pavano pitched the Twins first complete game of the season, but a lineup devoid of Mauer, Morneau and J.J. Hardy managed just four hits against Dontrelle Willis and two Tigers relievers in a 3-0 loss at Comerica Park.
"Thank God their two big guys didn't (start) today," Willis said.
The Twins had won their first six series, but the Tigers claimed the rubber game of this three-game set and handed the Twins their first shutout loss since last Aug. 29 against Texas.
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Not having Mauer and Morneau "changes the dynamic of the lineup a little bit," Pavano said. "Day games - I've noticed our energy's down a little bit, and that happens. We're playing good baseball. We're picking each other up, and as the season goes on, there's the peaks and valleys."
For some reason, the Twins keep hitting those valleys on getaway day. They are 14-8 overall but 1-5 when concluding a series with a day game.
"I think it's a coincidence," said Michael Cuddyer, who started at first base in Morneau's place for the second game in a row. "I don't think there's anything to it."
But there's a challenge for the Twins, as they look to reverse that trend. It's common for teams to give their starting catcher a break when they have a day game after a night game. The Twins are 13-6 in Mauer's starts and 1-2 when they've turned to backup catcher Drew Butera.
Last year, the Twins were 74-59 in Mauer's starts, and 13-17 when he wasn't in the lineup.
Minnesota Detroit
ab r h bi ab r h bi
Span cf 4 0 0 0 AJcksn cf 4 1 2 1
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OHudsn 2b 3 0 1 0 Damon dh 3 0 0 1
Cuddyr 1b 3 0 1 0 Ordonz rf 4 1 2 0
Thome dh 4 0 0 0 MiCarr 1b 3 0 0 0
Kubel rf 2 0 0 0 Boesch lf 2 0 0 0
DlmYn lf 3 0 0 0 Kelly lf 1 0 1 1
BHarrs ss 3 0 1 0 Inge 3b 4 0 0 0
LHughs 3b 3 0 1 0 Laird c 3 0 1 0
Butera c 2 0 0 0 SSizmr 2b 3 1 1 0
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Mauer ph-c 1 0 0 0 Everett ss 3 0 0 0
Totals 28 0 4 0 Totals 30 3 7 3
Minnesota 000 000 000-0
Detroit 100 010 01x-3
E-Butera (1). DP-Detroit 3. LOB-Minnesota 4, Detroit 6. 2B-Ordonez (6), S.Sizemore (4). SB-A.Jackson (4), Ordonez (1). CS-L.Hughes (1). SF-Damon.
IP H R ER BB SO
Minnesota
Pavano L,3-2 8 7 3 2 2 5
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Detroit
Willis W,1-1 6 4 0 0 2 6
Zumaya H,4 2 0 0 0 0 2
Valverde S,7-8 1 0 0 0 1 1
Willis pitched to 1 batter in the 7th.
T-2:18. A-25,595 (41,255).
