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Jun 3, 2010 - 3:42 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Cleveland (19-31) at Detroit (26-25), 1:05 p.m. EDT

Detroit's Rick Porcello has dominated Cleveland during his brief career. However, nothing less than perfection from the young right-hander could top the effort by his teammate in the Tigers' most recent game.

After Armando Galarraga came within one out of a perfect game, Porcello and the Tigers try for a second straight victory Thursday to take the three-game set from the visiting Indians.

Making his third start of the season, Galarraga lost his bid for the first perfect game in Tigers history with two outs in the ninth inning on a blown call at first base by veteran umpire Jim Joyce.

Cleveland's Jason Donald reached on an infield single though it appeared he was out as Galarraga beat him to the base while receiving a throw from first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Galarraga retired the next batter to help Detroit (27-25) avoid a third straight loss with a 3-0 victory to even the series.

"He needs to do a better job in that situation. It wasn't even close," Galarraga said of Joyce's call.

Joyce later admitted he made the wrong call.

"It was the biggest call of my career, and I kicked the (stuff) out of it," Joyce said. "I just cost that kid a perfect game."

Despite the controversial and bittersweet ending, Galarraga's performance could jump-start a Detroit team which has won three of 11 since its last series victory - a two-game sweep at Oakland from May 19-20.

Porcello (4-5, 5.27 ERA) hopes to follow Galarraga's gem by continuing his success against Indians (19-32), who have lost 11 of 13 at Comerica Park.

In less than two seasons, Porcello is 4-0 with a 2.10 ERA in five starts against Cleveland. He allowed two runs in five innings of a 5-2 win over the Indians on April 9.

Porcello has a 2.73 ERA in his last four starts but lost his most recent one, giving up two runs in 6 1-3 innings of a 6-0 defeat to Oakland on Saturday.

"Not being sharp and everything, to hold them to two runs was a pretty good accomplishment," manager Jim Leyland told the Tigers' official website. "You can feed off that and build off that."

Rookie Austin Jackson had three hits Tuesday and Miguel Cabrera added a solo homer for the Tigers, who have averaged 3.4 runs in 11 games.

Despite his team's struggles to score, Cabrera is 15 for 34 with six homers and 11 RBIs in his last eight games. He's 10 for 23 with five RBIs in seven against the Indians this season.

Jackson is 7 for 19 in his last five games and 9 for 22 in his last five versus Cleveland.

The Tigers will get a second look at David Huff (2-6, 5.54), able to take his turn in Cleveland's rotation despite being hit in the head by a line drive from New York's Alex Rodriguez on Saturday.

Huff, who gave a thumbs up as he was carted off the field, underwent neurological testing Sunday and threw a successful bullpen session Monday.

"Anytime a pitcher gets hit by a line drive, everybody thinks the worst, especially when he's not moving," Huff said. "I'm fine, I feel fine and hopefully I'll bounce back. I'm going to try not to think about it."

Coming off his first win since April 15, the left-hander was charged with three runs in 2 1-3 innings of that 13-11 victory over the Yankees.

Huff allowed four runs in six innings in the loss to Porcello and the Tigers in April.