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Tigers-Twins Preview

May 5, 2010 - 5:10 AM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Detroit (16-11) at Minnesota (17-9), 1:10 p.m. EDT

An important early-season series against the Minnesota Twins continues to get worse for the Detroit Tigers.

In danger of being swept for the first time in 2010, the Tigers enter Wednesday's contest at Target Field with heavy hearts following the death of longtime broadcaster Ernie Harwell.

These teams jockeyed for first place in the AL Central last season, with Minnesota prevailing after winning a one-game tiebreaker. The Tigers (16-12) had a chance to leapfrog the Twins (18-9) into first this week, but have lost the first two contests of the three-game set to fall 2 1/2 games back.

Detroit lost the middle game 4-3 on Tuesday night, learning of Harwell's death shortly before the contest began.

The Hall of Fame announcer, who called Tigers games for 42 years of his 55-year career and became one of the most beloved Michigan sports figures in history, died after a battle with cancer. He was 92.

"His passion and wisdom during each broadcast gave you insight to his love for the Tigers, and for the state of Michigan," Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski said in a statement.

Despite the sad news, Detroit made a strong comeback bid, getting a game-tying homer from Brennan Boesch in the top of the ninth. However, Twins shortstop J.J. Hardy saved a run later in the inning with a brilliant defensive play, then tripled and scored on a wild pitch in the bottom half.

Minnesota has won three straight, batting .354 and scoring 22 runs. Now, the Twins will face Rick Porcello (2-2, 8.03 ERA) for the first time since his strong performance in the AL Central tiebreaker.

Minnesota won that Oct. 6 game 6-5 in 12 innings, but Porcello limited the Twins to two runs and struck out eight in 5 2-3 innings. Porcello is 1-2 with a 2.79 ERA in five starts against the Twins.

However, the 21-year-old right-hander is off to a terrible start after going 14-9 with a 3.96 ERA as a rookie last year. He is 1-2 with an 11.20 ERA in his last three outings.

Porcello earned a win despite giving up five runs and eight hits in 5 1-3 innings against Los Angeles on Friday night, with the Tigers prevailing 10-6.

It's uncertain who will be Porcello's batterymate. Catcher Gerald Laird suffered a bruised left shin Tuesday after fouling a ball of his leg in the top of the fifth inning. The Tigers said X-rays were negative, and Laird is listed as day to day.

If Laird sits out, Alex Avila will likely replace him behind the plate.

Minnesota has its own injury problems at catcher, missing reigning MVP Joe Mauer the past four games. Mauer, nursing a bruised left heel, remains day to day.

"He has told everybody it feels better," manager Ron Gardenhire said.

Rookie Wilson Ramos has been starting in place of Mauer. Wilson went 7 for 9 in his first two major league games, but was hitless in three at-bats Tuesday.

Mauer has caught all five of Kevin Slowey's starts. Slowey (3-2, 3.77), set to take the mound for the Twins, earned a win in his last outing, giving up three runs and striking out six in five innings as Minnesota beat Cleveland 9-3 on Friday night.

The right-hander is 3-0 in five starts against the Tigers despite a 6.20 ERA.