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Tigers-Twins Preview

Sep 1, 2010 - 4:50 AM By CHRIS ALTRUDA STATS Editor

Detroit (65-66) at Minnesota (75-56), 8:10 p.m. EDT

The AL Central-leading Minnesota Twins have been adept at grinding out victories. When Francisco Liriano has pitched recently, those wins have come slightly easier.

Liriano seeks to extend his winning streak to a career-high seven games Wednesday night when the Twins continue their three-game series with the Detroit Tigers.

Manager Ron Gardenhire admitted Tuesday's 4-3 win was an "ugly game." Two errors led to all three Tigers runs, there were baserunning blunders and injuries to Jason Kubel, possibly Orlando Hudson and closer Brian Fuentes - adding to a team already decimated.

The biggest injury concern may be Fuentes, whose back locked up on him in the bullpen and could be sidelined for a few games. Matt Capps pitched the ninth for his seventh save with the Twins and 33rd overall, capping a stellar relief corps effort that contributed 2 1-3 scoreless innings to help Minnesota rally from a 3-0 deficit.

"We all try to build off each other," Jesse Crain said. "Everyone out there, we've all been in hold situations, save situations. So we feel anytime we go out there we treat it the same way, as if it's the ninth inning."

Despite the injuries, Minnesota (76-56) is still four games ahead of the White Sox in the division and sends its staff ace to the mound in Liriano (12-7, 3.41 ERA). The left-hander is 6-0 with a 2.47 ERA in eight starts since the All-Star break and was efficient in outpitching Cliff Lee on Thursday, giving up two runs in seven innings of a 6-4 win over Texas.

"When I can throw my changeup, things go better for me," Liriano said. "I was getting ahead in the count and focusing on getting the first hitter."

This is the third time in Liriano's career he has carried a six-game winning streak into a start, also doing so in 2006 and 2008. He has struggled in his last two starts against the Tigers since beating them April 27, getting tagged for 13 runs and 15 hits in 7 2-3 innings.

Miguel Cabrera is 6 for 15 with three doubles and a homer versus Liriano, who is 4-3 with a 5.24 ERA in 10 starts and 14 lifetime appearances versus the Tigers.

Tigers counterpart Max Scherzer (10-9, 3.60) also is pitching well of late. He has won three straight starts and has a 1.31 ERA over his last six. The right-hander allowed a solo homer and little else to the Toronto Blue Jays in eight innings of a 7-1 victory Thursday.

"You can see him on the mound, he has a mound presence that is saying 'Hey, I'm doing pretty good and I feel pretty good about myself,"' manager Jim Leyland said. "You'd be a fool if you can't see that."

Scherzer endured two miserable starts against the Twins in a five-day span earlier this season, going 0-1 with an 18.00 ERA. He allowed a season-worst 10 runs in 4 1-3 innings in a 10-4 defeat May 3 and failed to last five innings in either outing.

Detroit has dropped four of six since winning five straight.