News
Swarzak aims to stay unbeaten on road
Minnesota (53-55) at Detroit (57-50), 6:05 p.m. CT
By Kelly Thesier / MLB.com
08/06/09 6:25 PM ET
CLEVELAND -- Outings on the road might seem like the time when a rookie starting pitcher is most likely to stumble or suffer through a rough stretch. But for Anthony Swarzak, it's actually been the place where he's found the most success so far this season. In four road starts with the Twins, Swarzak has gone 2-0 with a 2.22 ERA. Three of those four starts have also included the right-hander pitching into the seventh inning, which includes his last start away from home, when he held the Angels to just one run over 6 2/3 innings at Angel Stadium. Swarzak's outing on the road against the Angels came after the Twins had dropped the first three contests of the series. It was a much-needed win at the time, against a team that was hitting well against Minnesota pitching. And it's that type of experience -- pitching in critical situations -- that the Twins hope will help Swarzak as he faces his first road test within the American League Central on Friday in a start against the first-place Tigers. "When he pitched in Anaheim after we lost those first three games, that was impressive," catcher Mike Redmond said. "He went against a great lineup and pitched his butt off. From start to start, a lot of it is about confidence. I know he definitely has the ability to pitch at this level." Swarzak's spot in the rotation became permanent last week when it was announced that Kevin Slowey would undergo season-ending right wrist surgery. The right-hander was called up for the second time this season in early July to take the spot of Slowey, who went on the disabled list on July 4 with the wrist injury. "It stinks that it happened the way it did with Kevin going down," Swarzak said. "He's a good friend of mine. We played together for a long time in the Minor Leagues. But it means a lot to me. I'm just going to try to do everything I can to take this opportunity and run with it." One of Swarzak's goals over the final two months is to find a little more consistency in his outings. While he's delivered some strong starts, he hasn't always followed them up with another solid performance. Such was the case when he faced the Angels for a second successive start, this time at the Metrodome. In the second of his outings against the Angels, Swarzak pitched just three innings as he allowed six runs (four earned) to pick up his fourth loss of the season. "It takes a lot to go out there and pitch well every game, but you look at guys like Roy Halladay and Josh Beckett -- guys I grew up watching -- and they do it consistently," Swarzak said. "I want to stick in this rotation, and if I'm going to do that, I'm going to have to pitch a little better than I did my last outing." Swarzak wants to do well, but he also wants to make sure that he doesn't get too amped up for his start against the Tigers, who the Twins currently trail by 4 1/2 games in the Central race. While Minnesota enters the series having lost five of its past six contests and knowing that this is a key series, Swarzak understands that he can't put too much pressure on himself to deliver a big outing. "I feel like I've fallen into that trap a lot this year," Swarzak said. "Where I feel so good and I'm so eager to show the world what I can do that I get a little too far ahead of myself and don't make quality pitches. I think about the starts I've pitched well, and it's been when I'm relaxed and just go out there and pitch. So I can't think too much about it." Pitching matchupMIN: RHP Anthony Swarzak (3-4, 4.25 ERA)
Swarzak had become Minnesota's stopper over his past few starts but ran into a tough Angels squad and picked up his fourth loss of the season. The rookie was chased in the fourth before recording an out, making it the shortest start of his young career. He will be facing the Tigers for the first time. DET: RHP Armando Galarraga (5-10, 5.22 ERA)
The numbers from Galarraga's career-worst start his last time out are somewhat deceptive, since the Tigers needed him to fill innings for a short bullpen corps on Sunday at Cleveland. Nonetheless, he paid for falling behind hitters and pitching tentatively at times, allowing eight runs on 11 hits over 5 2/3 innings, erasing the momentum from a well-pitched but winless July. He had a quality start in defeat to the Orioles at Camden Yards on May 28, allowing three runs over seven innings. His 4.52 ERA at Comerica Park is nearly a full run better than on the road. Tidbits
Joe Crede tweaked the AC joint in his right shoulder on a swing during his at-bat in the eighth inning. Manager Ron Gardenhire said after the game that Crede was fine and he was just fighting through it. ... When asked about Double-A New Britain pitcher Anthony Slama as an option to help the club's bullpen, Gardenhire said that he's asked about the pitcher and the reports so far are that Slama is not quite ready. Entering Thursday, Slama had a 2.60 ERA with 23 saves and 87 strikeouts in 62 1/3 innings for the Rock Cats. Gardenhire said that he'll continue to ask about Slama, though, if the team decides to bring in additional help from its system. ... In six games at Progressive Field this season, the Twins have not allowed a home run. It's the longest stretch of games in franchise history that the club has not allowed a home run in Cleveland. Tickets
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• Saturday: Twins (Glen Perkins, 6-7, 5.95) at Tigers (Justin Verlander, 12-5, 3.29), 6:05 p.m. CT
• Sunday: Twins (TBD) at Tigers (Jarrod Washburn, 8-7, 2.93), 12:05 p.m. CT
• Monday: Off-day
Kelly Thesier is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
