It would be easy to bash Detroit's rookies since one of them, right fielder Matt Joyce, made a costly ninth-inning error in Detroit's 11-inning loss Thursday.
But it would be proper to give the young players their due. It was the rookies who played a key part in getting Detroit a big enough lead to muff. Joyce's two-base error on a single with no outs in the ninth let in one run and set up the tying run as well.
But Joyce also hit a solo home run as a key part of a five-run rally in the fourth inning.
Then there was rookie Freddy Dolsi, who served up the game-deciding home run to Justin Morneau.
But Dolsi also got the final out of the ninth with two runners on base and pitched a scoreless 10th as well. All in all, he has done a good job for the Tigers.
Rookie first baseman Jeff Larish got to see the field defensively for his first start since coming up to Detroit and he delivered three hits, including an RBI single in the fourth. He's hitting better than .300 with men on base, and he's shown the ability to make adjustments at the plate as well.
Manager Jim Leyland will continue to play them, although two of the three will be going back to the minors in the next two weeks as right fielder Magglio Ordonez comes off the disabled list and the necessity for a fifth starter will eliminate the other after the All-Star break.
TWINS 7, TIGERS 6 (11 innings): Rookie Freddy Dolsi served up a solo home run to Justin Morneau, his fifth hit of the game, in the 11th inning. The Tigers came from 2-0 down but squandered a 6-2 lead. Rookie Jeff Larish had an RBI single in the fourth, Ramon Santiago a two-run double in the fourth and Placido Polanco drove in a run with a single. Curtis Granderson had an RBI double in the third.
