• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Tigers-Twins Preview

Jul 4, 2009 - 7:27 AM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Detroit (44-35) at Minnesota (41-40), 4:10 p.m. EDT

In most of his starts this season, the Detroit Tigers' Edwin Jackson has shown why he's one of the AL's most effective pitchers.

His previous meeting with the Minnesota Twins wasn't one of those.

Jackson gets another crack at the Twins on Saturday and will try to help Detroit increase its lead over one of its pursuers in the AL Central in the second of a three-game series at the Metrodome.

After finishing 14-11 last year during Tampa Bay's run to its first AL pennant, Jackson was acquired by the Tigers on Dec. 11 for outfielder Matt Joyce.

This season, he's been one of the reasons why Detroit has been in contention. The right-hander has held opponents to one run or fewer in five of his victories, is second in the AL with a 2.49 ERA and tied for fifth with 12 quality starts.

Lack of run support has kept Jackson (6-4) from vying for the lead in wins. The 3.5 runs per game the Tigers have given him is third lowest among AL starters.

Against Minnesota on May 4, he allowed one run over six innings but was charged with four during a five-run seventh while failing to record an out. The five earned runs in the 7-2 loss were a season high and dropped him to 1-3 with a 7.00 ERA in four career starts versus the Twins.

The right-hander comes into Saturday's contest searching for his first win since June 6. He gave up three runs over seven innings Sunday before the Tigers rallied for a 4-3 victory in Houston.

On Friday, Detroit (44-35) opened this series with an 11-9 victory in 16 innings as Placido Polanco singled in the go-ahead run for one of his three hits, improving his career average against Minnesota to .315.

"It's a really good win because it could have been a really tough loss," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "The guys hung in there. We kept battling and so did they."

The Tigers' second victory in six games this season against Minnesota kept them 2 1/2 games ahead of the White Sox in the Central. The Twins (41-40) trail Detroit by four games.

Minnesota's Francisco Liriano (4-8, 5.62) searches for a season-high third straight victory and third straight against the Tigers.

While Jackson struggled on May 4, Liriano earned his first victory this season by tossing a season-high 7 1-3 innings and allowing two runs. With the win, Liriano improved to 3-1 versus Detroit and has a 4.50 ERA in eight appearances with six starts.

The left-hander has received more consistent run support with 12 in his consecutive wins. Liriano gave up two runs over seven innings in Sunday's 6-2 win in St. Louis.

"I haven't changed anything, just being more consistent, hitting my spots," Liriano said.

Minnesota outfielder Denard Span had a career-best five hits Friday to improve his batting average to .408 (29 for 71) in 18 career games against Detroit. Joe Crede also hit his third homer this season against the Tigers and 25th of his career - the most he's had against any team.