Twins 2 - 3 Tigers
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Sizzling Tigers aim to keep rolling vs. Twins

Sep 10, 2011 - 3:11 PM

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(Sports Network) - A rough first inning last night didn't seem to bother the sizzling Detroit Tigers in the opener of a three-game series versus the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park.

The American League Central-leading Tigers will try to make it easier on themselves Saturday in the middle portion of this set and shoot for an eighth win in a row. The Tigers were down 4-0 in the first inning of this series opener before scoring eight unanswered runs to keep their winning streak intact.

Alex Avila got some of those runs back with a three-run homer in the second inning, Ramon Santiago later added a two-run blast and Delmon Young cracked a solo shot for Detroit, which hasn't lost a series since dropping two of three matchups with Minnesota from Aug. 15-17 and sits 9 1/2 games ahead of Chicago in the division standings.

Detroit hasn't won a division title since capturing the East in 1987.

Tigers starter Brad Penny settled down after that rough first inning and lasted five frames, allowing four runs and five hits for the win, Detroit's seventh in a row and 17th in its last 21 games.

"After the first inning I knew I had to throw zeroes up no matter what," Penny said postgame.

Detroit slugger Miguel Cabrera went 1-for-3 with a walk and has reached base in a career-best 35 straight games. He is batting .390 over the torrid span.

Max Scherzer has won three of his last four decisions and will take the hill for Detroit this afternoon. He threw seven shutout innings of five-hit ball in Sunday's 18-2 blowout of the White Sox and struck out six batters. He was able to push his record to 14-8 in 29 starts and lowered his ERA to 4.33.

Scherzer rebounded from a disastrous start versus Kansas City on Aug. 29, when he was raked for seven runs and 10 hits in only three innings of a 9-5 loss. The right-hander is 7-4 in 16 home starts and defeated Minnesota on July 22 at Target Field with seven innings of one-run ball in an 8-2 victory. In five career starts against the Twins, Scherzer is 1-1 with a lofty 7.34 ERA.

Minnesota has lost 15 of its last 19 games and failed to hang on to an early lead last night in the Motor City.

Twins starter Kevin Slowey fell to 0-5 on the season and was roughed up for six runs and seven hits, including two homers, in four innings.

"It's frustrating every time you have a lead that you can't hold," Slowey said. "I know it's tough on our hitters. I feel like I put us back on the eight ball."

Danny Valencia drove in two runs, while Jason Kubel and Chris Parmelee each had an RBI for the Twins.

Getting the call for the Twins today will be Anthony Swarzak, who has lost three straight starts and is 3-6 with a 3.95 ERA in 23 games (7 starts) this season. He pitched well in a 2-1 defeat at the hands of the White Sox on Monday and allowed a pair of runs through eight innings of work.

Swarzak did not pitch at the major league level in 2010 and is 0-1 with an 11.57 ERA in four career games (1 start) against the Tigers.

Detroit is 12-4 against Minnesota this season.






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