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Tigers-Indians Preview

Sep 26, 2010 - 11:33 PM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

Detroit (79-75) at Cleveland (64-91), 7:05 p.m. EDT

The Detroit Tigers have won eight of their last 10, with both losses by Armando Galarraga. This could be the perfect opportunity for him to get back on track.

Galarraga looks to extend his 16-inning scoreless streak against the Cleveland Indians on Monday night in the opener of a three-game series at Progressive Field.

Detroit (80-75) has won four straight overall as it tries to end its five-game slide at Cleveland (65-91). The Tigers had a four-game win streak snapped Tuesday when Galarraga (4-7, 4.44 ERA) allowed five runs and five walks over 5 1-3 innings in a 9-6 home loss to Kansas City.

"He's been OK this year, but he did not pitch well (against the Royals)," manager Jim Leyland said. "He didn't have his command, and that's when he starts walking guys."

The right-hander is 0-2 with a 5.13 ERA in his last six starts - all losses by Detroit. It's not surprising that his last victory came against Cleveland on Aug. 20 when he gave up three hits over seven innings in a 6-0 win.

Galarraga's first start against the Indians this year was his near-perfect game on June 2 in which a blown call by first-base umpire Jim Joyce resulted in a one-hitter.

His first career victory came at Progressive Field on April 16, 2008, when he yielded two runs over 6 2-3 innings in a 13-2 rout. Galarraga is 5-3 with a 4.15 ERA in 10 career starts against the Indians, limiting slugger Travis Hafner to two hits in 17 at-bats.

He'll be backed by an offense that batted .339, homered eight times and scored 26 runs in a weekend sweep of AL Central champion Minnesota.

MVP candidate Miguel Cabrera went 6 for 14 with three two-run homers in the series. He has a career-high 38 homers and a major league-leading 126 RBIs.

The first baseman, though, is 4 for 20 with no homers in six games at Progressive Field this year.

"If we played better away, we would've had a shot to win the division," said Cabrera about the Tigers' 28-46 road record.

Cabrera is 1 for 5 against Carlos Carrasco (1-1, 3.03), who went 0-2 with a 11.25 ERA in two September starts against the Tigers last year.

Carrasco posted an 8.87 ERA in five outings in 2009, and has pitched better in five this year. The right-hander allowed three runs over six innings Wednesday in a 5-1 loss at Minnesota.

The Indians enter after winning the final three games of a four-game home series with Kansas City. Pinch-hitter Michael Brantley's two-run double capped a five-run rally in the eighth inning in Sunday's 5-3 victory.

"It was a very nice win, a great comeback," manager Manny Acta said.

The home team has won the last nine meetings and 13 of 15 in 2010, with Detroit taking nine of 15.