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Tigers-Twins Preview

Jul 2, 2009 - 7:44 PM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Detroit (43-35) at Minnesota (41-39), 8:10 p.m. EDT

Kevin Slowey's first attempt at becoming the major leagues' first 11-game winner wound up matching his shortest outing of the season. He hopes his second chance produces a longer - and better - performance.

The right-hander again seeks his 11th win of the season Friday night when he takes the mound for Minnesota Twins to open a three-game home series against the AL Central-leading Detroit Tigers.

Slowey (10-3, 4.41 ERA) is tied with four other pitchers for the wins lead in the majors. Two of the others - Kansas City's Zack Greinke and Tim Wakefield of Boston - are also starting Friday.

Slowey struggled in his first attempt for win No. 11 on Saturday, surrendering five runs and six hits - including a pair of homers to Albert Pujols - and getting pulled after three innings of a 5-3 loss at St. Louis. He had been 6-1 with a 3.04 ERA in eight starts since lasting three innings in a 4-1 defeat at Baltimore on May 6.

"Slowey probably has as good a control as anybody on our team and he missed out over the plate," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire told the team's official Web site. "You just can't miss out over the plate. We saw it two times (Saturday) and it ends up killing you."

Slowey will try to help the Twins (41-39) win a third consecutive game after beating Kansas City 5-1 on Wednesday to complete a 6-3 road trip. He's 3-0 with a 4.57 ERA in four career starts against the Tigers (43-35), whom he defeated May 12 at the Metrodome by allowing one run and scattering eight hits in six innings of a 6-2 victory.

Minnesota swept that three-game set, improving to 4-1 in the season series. The Twins are also 9-3 in the last 12 meetings between these clubs at the Metrodome.

Continuing that success would tighten the division race. The Twins are third in the Central, three games back of the Tigers.

Joe Mauer, who went 3 for 3 with an RBI on Wednesday, could play a key role if Minnesota is going to close that gap. The catcher is hitting .488 (21 for 43) with a homer and 13 RBIs in his last 11 home games against Detroit.

Mauer is hitting .392 with 14 homers and 44 RBIs in 55 games on the season, but doesn't currently qualify for the AL batting title after missing the first 22 games while recovering from offseason kidney surgery.

"If I have anything to do with it, he'll qualify," Gardenhire said. "I don't mind writing his name in there. He'll get plenty of at-bats."

The Tigers are 2-4 heading into the final series of their 10-game road trip, having cooled off after a season high-tying seven-game winning streak.

Detroit lost again Wednesday, falling 5-1 at Oakland - the last place club in the AL West.

"I thought we looked a little sluggish and a little tired," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said after watching his team get six hits against the Athletics. "We didn't do too much. Hopefully a day off will perk them up a bit."

Leyland will give rookie Lucas French (0-0, 0.00) his first career start. The Tigers recalled the 23-year-old left-hander from Triple-A Toledo on Saturday to replaced Alfredo Figaro in the rotation.

French, who was 4-4 with a 2.98 ERA in 13 starts for Toledo, made two relief appearances for Detroit earlier this season, throwing three no-hit innings while striking out three and walking three. He has never faced the Twins.