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Tigers search for runs vs. Twins

Apr 14, 2008 - 1:52 PM Minnesota (6-6) at Detroit (2-10) 7:05 pm EDT

DETROIT (Ticker) - Of all the surprises early in the baseball season, the Detroit Tigers inability to score runs is at the very top of the list.

The Tigers will look to snap a 19-inning scoreless streak when they host the Minnesota Twins on Monday.

Detroit spent a lot of money in the offseason and burned much of its organizational depth in order to put together what many believed to be the best lineup in the major leagues.

Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis were acquired from the Marlins over the winter for a package of six prospects and rewarded with extensions totaling $181 million. So far Willis is on the disabled list and Cabrera is batting .175.

The Tigers rank last in the majors with just 33 runs scored this season and the pitching staff's 78 runs allowed is also the worst number in baseball. They were crushed by the Chicago White Sox over the weekend, falling on Saturday and Sunday by a combined score of 18-0.

The Twins dropped a 5-1 decision at Kansas City on Sunday but have won three of their last four and will hand the ball to promising rookie Nick Blackburn (0-1, 2.25 ERA) on Monday.

The 26-year-old righthander was a hard-luck loser in his first start - allowing one run in an eventual 1-0 setback - but came back to post another solid start at Chicago on April 7, yielding two runs and seven hits in five innings.

Detroit will counter with righthander Jeremy Bonderman (1-1, 3.97), who owns the only win by a Tigers starter this season. The 25-year-old allowed two runs - one earned - and five hits in five innings against the Red Sox last Wednesday, walking four and striking out two.