Avila day to day with contusion on left shin

MINNEAPOLIS -- Tigers catcher Alex Avila left Friday's 10-6 win over Minnesota in the fifth inning with a left shin contusion. He is considered day to day.

Avila was injured when he collided with Twins catcher Kurt Suzuki in the second inning. Avila was trying to score from first base on Andrew Romine's double, but he was cut down at home. Suzuki blocked the plate as he tagged Avila, who slid into Suzuki's shin guards.

Avila remained in the game and caught the first four innings before Bryan Holaday replaced him to start the fifth.

"He doesn't want to come out of the game," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus. "Quite frankly, I don't want to take him out of the game. He's working with [winning pitcher] Rick Porcello. I don't like removing catchers when we have a lead and they're working with the starting pitcher."

Ausmus said he would give Avila a day off on Saturday, but he didn't expect the injury to become a long-term issue.

Avila went 1-for-2 at the plate and scored on Ian Kinsler's single in a seven-run third inning.