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Surging Tigers face slumping Twins

May 12, 2007 - 1:14 PM Detroit (22-12) at Minnesota (17-18) 3:45 pm EDT

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- The surging Detroit Tigers will look to keep rolling against the slumping Minnesota Twins in the second game of a three-game series Saturday between the American League Central rivals.

The defending AL champion Tigers have won 10 of their last 11 games to move into first place in the Central. On Friday, Detroit posted a 7-3 victory over Johan Santana and the Twins in the series opener.

Carlos Guillen had three hits, including a home run, and drove in four runs and Gary Sheffield also homered to help secure the victory.

Minnesota has not fared as well of late, dropping eight of its last 11 contests to plummet to fourth place in the division.

The Twins will look to snap out their funk behind Sidney Ponson (2-4, 6.42 ERA), who allowed four runs - three earned - and eight hits in 5 1/3 frames in a 4-3 loss to Boston last Sunday.

The burly righthander has not had much success at the Metrodome, posting a 1-3 mark with a 6.85 ERA in four home starts this season.

The Tigers will counter with Chad Durbin (2-1, 5.45), who has bounced back to turn his season around in his last three starts. After posting a 10.54 ERA in his first three outings of the campaign, he is 2-0 with a 1.86 ERA his last three times out.

Durbin has not won back-to-back contests since September 28 and October 4, 2001.