Currently: A surprisingly slow start this season put the Detroit Tigers in an early hole. Much improved play over the past three weeks, however, has them one win away from .500.
Coming off arguably their most impressive series of the season, the Tigers look to even their record for the first time this year as they open a three-game set with the Minnesota Twins on Friday at the Metrodome.
After opening the season 0-7, the Tigers (14-15) have slowly been climbing their way back. Beginning with an 11-9 win over the Twins (13-14) on April 14, Detroit has won 12 of 17, including its first three-game sweep of the Yankees in New York since 1966.
The Tigers concluded that series Thursday with an 8-4 victory as Magglio Ordonez had three hits and Miguel Cabrera added a two-run homer and an RBI triple.
“We started slow this season, so to come in here and win three games is big for us,” said Cabrera, who had just two hits in his first 20 at-bats, but has hit .321 since. “We feel confident.”
The Tigers have averaged 7.3 runs in the last 10 games, outscoring opponents 73-35 during that stretch. They averaged 2.1 runs during their 0-7 start.
Detroit is looking to continue its success against the Twins. The Tigers scored 18 runs during a two-game sweep of Minnesota at Comerica Park on April 14 and 15 after winning 12 of 18 meetings last year.
Detroit was 8-1 at the Metrodome last season, winning six straight there.
Minnesota, meanwhile, has won three of its last four and is coming off a two-game sweep of the Chicago White Sox. Justin Morneau delivered an RBI double in the seventh inning on Wednesday to lead the Twins to a 4-3 victory.
Morneau, the 2006 AL MVP, had two hits on Wednesday after going 1-for-11 in the previous three games.
The Twins look to hand Armando Galarraga (2-0, 1.50 ERA) his first loss of the season on Friday. He pitched six innings on Saturday against the Angels, allowing three runs - one earned - and three hits. He did not receive a decision in his team’s 6-4 win despite taking a no-hitter into the sixth.
The right-hander is in the rotation in place of the injured Dontrelle Willis, who is scheduled to make his first rehab start on Friday.
“I really didn’t know what to expect from him when we had to bring him up, but he’s been very good,” Tigers manager Jim Leyland said.
Galarraga made one three-inning relief appearance against the Twins last season, yielding one run and four hits.
Minnesota counters with Livan Hernandez (3-1, 5.05), who is coming off his worst start of the season.
The Twins were 5-0 in Hernandez’s first five starts, but he lasted just 2 2-3 innings Sunday against Texas after allowing seven runs and nine hits - including two home runs - in a 10-0 loss.
“I know I’m better than that,” Hernandez told the Twins’ official Web site. “It’s a bad day.”
Hernandez has surrendered six home runs in his last three starts after not allowing any in his first three.
The right-hander, who spent the previous 12 seasons in the NL before joining the Twins this year, has never faced the Tigers.
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