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Twins look to continue winning ways against Tigers

Apr 29, 2007 - 2:19 PM Minnesota (14-10) at Detroit (12-11), 1:05 pm EDT

DETROIT (Ticker) - The Minnesota Twins look to continue their run of success against the Detroit Tigers when the teams meet in the final game of a three-game series on Sunday.

Including last season, the Twins have won five consecutive games against the Tigers and have prevailed in seven of the last eight meetings.

It appears the Twins are in good position to keep that streak going and sweep the series as Johan Santana (3-2, 3.44 ERA) takes the mound. In two road starts this season the Cy Young Award winner is 2-0 with a 0.64 ERA and 16 strikeouts.

The lefthander continues to keep the Twins bullpen fresh as he has pitched seven innings in each of his last four starts.

Mike Maroth (2-0, 5.06) gets the start for the Tigers, who have won all four games started by the lefthander this season. Maroth's career numbers against the Twins are not good - in 17 appearances, 16 starts, he is 3-9 with a 4.73 ERA.

Maroth has yet to log more than six innings in any of his starts this season and had control problems in his last outing on Monday, walking five in the team's 9-5 victory against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Minnesota, which has won three in a row, is 11-0 when leading after seven innings. One reason for that is closer Joe Nathan, who is seven-for-seven in save opportunities this season.

Torii Hunter has a 14-game hitting streak. During the streak, he is hitting .362 (21-for-58) with three home runs, 11 doubles and 12 RBI.