--C Joe Mauer was back in the lineup at catcher after DHing in Wednesday's 13-inning win. Manager Ron Gardenhire said Mauer agreed to DH on Wednesday and when he did so, he said he could catch Thursday. Gardenhire said he's still being careful with the recently returned Mauer, checking in with him before each game to see how the catcher feels.
--3B Joe Crede's walk-off grand slam in the 13th inning Wednesday was his 24th career home run against Detroit, Crede's most homers off any opponent in his career. His two-run single in the eighth drove in his 69th and 70th runs against the Tigers, tying his mark for most RBIs against any opponent (he has 70 against Kansas City as well). --OF Denard Span went 2-for-5 and is now batting .381 in his career against Detroit (24-for-63), with 13 hits in his last 32 at-bats against the Tigers. Span's 12 multi-hit games are the second most on the team behind 1B Justin Morneau's 14.
MEDICAL WATCH:
RHP Boof Bonser (torn right labrum and rotator cuff surgery in February 2009) went on the 15-day disabled list April 2. He is out for the season.
RHP Pat Neshek (right elbow surgery) went on the 60-day disabled list Feb. 21. He will remain in Florida all summer and targets a return by next spring.
ROTATION:
LHP Francisco Liriano
RHP Nick Blackburn
RHP Kevin Slowey
LHP Glen Perkins
RHP Scott Baker
BULLPEN:
RHP Joe Nathan (closer)
RHP Matt Guerrier
LHP Craig Breslow
RHP Luis Ayala
RHP R.A. Dickey
LHP Jose Mijares
RHP Jesse Crain
CATCHERS:
Joe Mauer
Mike Redmond
INFIELDERS:
1B Justin Morneau
2B Matt Tolbert
SS Nick Punto
3B Joe Crede
INF Brian Buscher
INF Brendan Harris
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Delmon Young
CF Denard Span
RF Michael Cuddyer
DH Jason Kubel
OF Carlos Gomez
