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Reeling Twins look to take rubber match against Tigers

Sep 7, 2008 - 12:45 PM Detroit (68-74) at Minnesota (78-64), 2:10 pm EDT

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- The Minnesota Twins' hopes of punching a ticket to compete in the American League playoffs are dwindling by the day.

Mired in a dismal slump, the Twins look to take the rubber match against the lowly Detroit Tigers on Sunday at the Metrodome.

Shoddy bullpen work has been a culprit in the Twins' awful run against teams under the .500 mark and Saturday was no different.

Minnesota couldn't hold a two-run lead, as Detroit scored four times in the eighth inning to hand it a 6-4 defeat. It was the fourth loss in five games for the Twins, who dropped 2 1/2 games behind AL Central-leading Chicago White Sox (80-61).

They have dropped eight of their last 12 - five coming against the weak Seattle Mariners, Oakland Athletics and Tigers. The Twins' bullpen is 0-7 with a 6.49 ERA in the last 14 contests.

Glen Perkins (12-3, 4.08 ERA) takes the mound for the Twins looking to win his sixth straight decision. The 25-year-old lefthander has yielded four or more runs in six of his last eight starts, but has been one of the solid young hurlers that has kept the club in the race.

Detroit counters with Steve Lambert (0-1, 6.75), who will make his third major league start. The 25-year-old righthander gave up three runs and six hits in four innings against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Tuesday and lasted 2 2/3 frames in his debut.

Magglio Ordonez is batting .439 (18-for-41) with 11 RBIs during an 11-game hitting streak. He is hitting .486 (18-for-37) with five home runs and 13 RBIs against Minnesota in 2008.