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Twins-Tigers Preview

Aug 8, 2009 - 4:35 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Minnesota (53-55) at Detroit (57-50), 7:05 p.m. EDT

Neither Detroit nor Minnesota put on an exemplary pitching display in the opener of their three-game series, but each team has good reason to hope for a better performance in the next matchup.

Carl Pavano makes his Twins debut Saturday, looking to win his fourth game this season against a Tigers club that will have Justin Verlander on the mound trying to tie the major league lead with his 13th victory.

Minnesota (53-56) and Detroit (58-50) combined to allow 30 hits in the Tigers' 10-8 victory Friday. Neither starter made it past the fifth inning, with Minnesota's Anthony Swarzak failing to make it out of the second after giving up seven runs - six in the first.

Armando Galarraga gave up four runs in five innings for Detroit, which held off a late rally after the Twins scored twice in the ninth and had runners on first and second before Orlando Cabrera struck out to end the game.

The Tigers moved 5 1/2 games ahead of the third-place Twins in the AL Central and three games ahead of second-place Chicago.

"We got in the right column, it wasn't easy," said manager Jim Leyland, whose team has won three straight and is 20-6 at home since June 5.

Leyland will hand the ball to Verlander (12-5, 3.29 ERA), who is trying for his third straight win. He did not receive a decision Monday against Baltimore after allowing five runs while striking out eight over eight innings of a 6-5 win.

The right-hander has gone at least seven innings in each of his last five starts.

Verlander did not get a decision after pitching 6 1-3 innings against the Twins on May 14, allowing two runs while striking out 13 in a 6-5 loss.

Joe Mauer, who added to his career-best total with his 19th homer Friday, is 11 for 27 (.407) against Verlander while Justin Morneau is 9 for 28 (.321) with four doubles and two homers.

The Tigers may need another solid outing from Verlander because they've yet to figure out a way to beat Pavano (9-8, 5.37), who is 3-0 with a 1.93 ERA against them this season.

Minnesota acquired the right-hander from Cleveland on Friday for a player to be named. The Twins are hoping Pavano can provide them with a steady arm for a rotation that has struggled recently, going 1-5 with a 7.91 ERA over the last seven games.

Pavano gave up one run in eight innings of an 11-1 victory over Detroit on Sunday.

"He's been throwing the ball well recently, so we'll see," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "Put him out there and let him go."

Pavano will face a Detroit team that recorded 15 hits Friday - seven for extra bases. Placido Polanco had four hits while Alex Avila homered and drove in four in his second game since being called up from Double-A Erie. Avila is the son of Detroit assistant general manager Al Avila.

"The last two games have been a blast for me," he said.

Cabrera will try to extend a career-high 17-game hitting streak Saturday. The veteran shortstop, acquired from Oakland at the trade deadline, is 8 for 29 (.276) against Verlander.