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Santana, Verlander to face off in duel of top AL aces

Jun 29, 2007 - 1:25 PM Minnesota (40-37) at Detroit (46-31) 7:05 pm EDT

DETROIT (Ticker) - Runs figure to be hard to come by on Friday when the Minnesota Twins head to Comerica Park to kick off a three-game series with the Detroit Tigers.

Johan Santana (8-6, 2.83 ERA), who has a history of being more stingy as June rolls around, takes the mound for the Twins. In 237 1/3 June innings, he is allowing a .198 batting average to his opponents, leading to 18-6 record and a 2.65 ERA during that month over his eight-year career.

The two-time American League Cy Young Award winner is 2-0 with a 1.23 ERA in his last three starts after beginning June with consecutive losses. One of those two wins came in a 7-4 win over the Florida Marlins on Sunday, when he allowed two runs and five hits with eight strikeouts over six innings.

The lefthander has been merely average against the Tigers this season, though, going 0-1 with a 3.75 ERA. However, he is 10-3 with a 2.70 ERA and one save in 22 lifetime appearances - including 17 starts - against Detroit.

Justin Verlander (9-2, 2.78) has been even more impressive than Santana this month, going 4-0 with a 1.24 ERA in June, with opponents hitting just .160 against the 2006 AL Rookie of the Year. He yielded one run and four hits on Saturday - striking out 11 over seven innings - to beat Atlanta 2-1.

The righthander is 3-2 with a 2.90 ERA against the Twins in his five lifetime starts. One of those starts - the only time he has faced Minnesota this season - was on April 28, as he allowed five runs - three earned - and eight hits over a season-low three innings as Detroit endured an 11-3 loss.