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Jul 5, 2009 - 2:31 AM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Detroit (44-35) at Minnesota (41-40), 2:10 p.m. EDT

The Detroit Tigers' Rick Porcello has been spectacular at times during his rookie season. The 20-year-old right-hander, though, isn't getting ahead of himself.

Porcello tries to lead the AL Central-leading Tigers to their first road series win in nearly a month as they close out a nine-game trip against the Minnesota Twins on Sunday.

Porcello (8-5, 3.90 ERA) came into his last start 7-1 with a 2.53 ERA over his previous 10 outings, but struggled in a 7-1 loss to Oakland on Monday. He lasted just 4 1-3 innings, yielding five runs and a season-high nine hits.

"There's a lot for me to learn," said Porcello, who had won his previous four road starts. "I'll take what I can out of it and move on. The biggest thing is to keep working at it and be better next time."

Porcello will be making his second start against the Twins. He dominated them in the first matchup, giving up four hits over seven innings of a 9-0 win May 5 at Comerica Park.

After an 11-9, 16-inning victory in the series opener Friday, Detroit (44-36) was on its way to another win Saturday when Magglio Ordonez hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the seventh. However, Justin Morneau hit a tying solo home run in the bottom of the inning and Nick Punto had the winning single in the eighth as the Twins (42-40) defeated the Tigers 4-3.

"You play that many innings (Friday), it's a great bounce back to come and win this ballgame," Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire said after his team snapped a three-game slide at home.

Detroit is 3-5 on its trip and has dropped four straight series on the road since taking three of five from the Chicago White Sox from June 8-11.

The Tigers will face Nick Blackburn (6-4, 3.10), who lost his last two starts. The right-hander didn't pitch badly in those outings, giving up five earned runs in 14 innings, but allowed 21 hits in the two games.

"I was a little off early, but made pretty good adjustments late," Blackburn said after throwing six innings and giving up three runs - two earned - in a 4-2 defeat at Kansas City on Monday.

Blackburn makes just his second start at the Metrodome since May 26. He is 3-0 with a 2.61 ERA in six starts at home.

He yielded a career-high nine runs - six earned - over 3 1-3 innings of the May 5 loss in Detroit. Blackburn is 1-2 with a 4.70 ERA in four career starts versus the Tigers.

Ordonez is 3 for 6 in this series after going 2 for 20 in his previous five contests. He is batting .326 with 14 homers and 69 RBIs in 78 games at the Metrodome.

Twins catcher Joe Mauer has recorded at least a hit in 13 straight home games against the Tigers, batting .462 (24 for 52) with a homer and 14 RBIs during that stretch.

Morneau has hit .390 with three home runs and 17 RBIs as Minnesota has won 10 of 14 against Detroit at the Metrodome.