Minnesota Vs. Detroit 7-21-11
Thanks to the Minnesota Twins, the Detroit Tigers remain tied for first place in the AL Central.
With ace Justin Verlander hoping to bounce back from a rare rough outing, the Tigers look to remain atop the division while trying for a 10th consecutive victory over the Twins on Thursday night at Target Field.
While Detroit (51-46) split a two-game set with Oakland this week, Minnesota took the final two to split a four-game series with Cleveland, leaving the Tigers and Indians tied atop the Central.
The Twins (46-51) are fourth in the division, just five games back.
"We're within striking distance of getting back on top of this division," Minnesota third baseman Danny Valencia said.
Though the Twins could have some momentum from their last series, it remains to be seen if it's enough to help end their longest losing streak against the Tigers since the franchise relocated to Minnesota in 1961. Detroit, 5-0 against the Twins in 2011, has totaled 29 runs during a three-game winning streak at Target Field.
"Every win is a big win," Verlander told the Tigers' official website. "You do have to beat the teams that are behind you, though."
Verlander (12-5, 2.29 ERA) has enjoyed some recent success versus Minnesota, going 2-1 with a 1.73 ERA in four starts in 2010.
The right-hander allowed seven runs over 72 innings while going 8-1 in his final nine starts heading into the All-Star break, but gave up five in six innings of an 8-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Friday.
"He wasn't at the top of his game, but he wasn't bad," manager Jim Leyland said.
Verlander hopes to help the Tigers bounce back after they blew a two-run lead in Wednesday's 7-5 loss to Oakland. Magglio Ordonez had three hits while Victor Martinez drove in two runs for Detroit, which has lost three of five since the break.
Ordonez has hit .338 with 11 RBIs his last 20 games to raise his average 62 points to .234. He's gone 9 for 21 versus scheduled Twins starter Carl Pavano (6-6, 4.08).
Pavano has pitched at least seven innings in 10 of his last 11 starts. He allowed three runs in seven innings but did not factor in the decision of a 4-3 win over Kansas City on Saturday.
The right-hander is 5-2 with a 3.79 ERA in nine starts versus Detroit, but was hit hard in the last one. He allowed seven runs, 11 hits and three homers in four innings of an 11-10, 13-inning loss at Comerica Park on Sept. 25.
While Valencia has driven home the go-ahead run the last two games for the Twins, Joe Mauer is 20 for 44 with eight RBIs his last 12. Mauer could play a third straight contest at first base, and he has nine hits in 16 at-bats during four games at the position.
"He looks pretty good," said bench coach Scott Ullger, who could replace Ron Gardenhire for this contest after the Twins manager left Wednesday's game because of a lingering viral infection. "He's just a natural athlete."
Mauer is batting .356 with three doubles and three homers in 45 at-bats versus Verlander. Jim Thome has hit seven of his 596 homers in 43 at-bats against Verlander, who is likely to have a new third baseman behind him after the Tigers traded two prospects to Kansas City for veteran Wilson Betemit.
A .281 hitter for the Royals this season, Betemit is expected to replace the struggling Brandon Inge, who was designated for assignment Wednesday. A 2009 All-Star, Inge is batting .177 with one homer and 17 RBIs and said he will accept a demotion to Triple-A Toledo if he clears waivers.
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