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Verlander seeks memorable start against Twins

Apr 28, 2007 - 1:13 PM Minnesota (13-10) at Detroit (12-10) 1:05 pm EDT

DETROIT (Ticker) - Following his last outing, Justin Verlander claimed he had forgotten that he had pitched as the game went into extra innings. If the bullpen continues to pitch poorly, he will need to maintain a short memory.

Verlander and the Detroit Tigers look to even their series with the Minnesota Twins as they host the second game of a three-game set Saturday.

Verlander (1-0, 2.08), who is starting against a division opponent for the fourth time in five starts this season, will face the Twins for the first time after dominating them last year, beating Minnesota three times in four starts while posting a 2.25 ERA.

However, the Tigers' bullpen gave up four runs in the eighth inning of Friday's 5-3 loss in the series opener. Relievers have accounted for eight of the Tigers' 10 losses this season.

Verlander did not figure into the decision in his last outing, a 6-5 win over the White Sox on Sunday. He yielded three runs and four hits with five walks and six strikeouts over seven innings.

Carlos Silva (1-1, 2.74) gets the start for the Twins. The righthander did not factor in the decision in Monday's 7-3 loss to the Indians, allowing three runs and seven hits over six innings.

Silva is 3-3 with a 4.97 ERA in 10 career appearances against the Tigers.

Detroit's Carlos Guillen has handled Silva in 23 career at-bats, pounding out 12 hits - including three homers - and 10 RBI.