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Tigers look to prolong power surge

May 25, 2008 - 3:11 PM Minnesota (24-25) at Detroit (21-28), 1:05 pm EDT

DETROIT (Ticker) -- The recent power surge by the Detroit Tigers could mean trouble for the rest of the American League.

The power-packed Tigers aim to finish their three-game weekend series against the Minnesota Twins on a positive note in Sunday's finale.

In Saturday's second game of the series, Magglio Ordonez homered twice and drove in a season-high six runs as the Tigers rolled to a 19-3 victory.

"It's one of those nights where everything you hit hard falls in, and you keep sending them up there," Detroit manager Jim Leyland said. "There's nothing you can do about it, no matter which team you are."

Detroit has won four of its last five games and outscored opponents, 53-26, over that stretch.

"You see these guys over there, they've got a lineup that will just absolutely kill you if you don't make good pitches, and we saw that," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said.

Tigers ace Justin Verlander (2-7, 5.61 ERA) goes to the hill in search of consecutive wins for the first time this season. Last time out, Verlander yielded just one run and four hits in 6 1/3 innings of Tuesday's 12-8 win over Seattle.

The hard-throwing righthander is 3-4 with a 4.19 ERA against the Twins, who defeated Verlander at the Metrodome on May 3.

Minnesota counters with Glen Perkins (1-1, 3.44), who picked up his first win of the season after limiting the Texas Rangers to three runs in 6 1/3 frames. The lefthander will be making his first start on the road this season.