GDT: 5/25/08 - DET (21-28) VS MINN (24-25), 1:05 p.m. ET

DETROIT -- Justin Verlander looked like his old self in his last start. Now, he's out to do it again.

The Tigers' ace earned just his second win of the season on Tuesday against the Mariners. He allowed four hits, one earned run and finally looked like the pitcher many pundits predicted would claim the American League Cy Young award this season.

His season has been a puzzling one thus far. His record sits at 2-7, one more loss than he had all of last season.

He's had enough of losing. The right-hander is focused on bumping up that win total when he takes the hill in the finale of a three-game series against the Twins on Sunday afternoon at Comerica Park.

"I feel fine, I'm looking forward to it, and I want to win," Verlander said. "That's the only goal -- the win. I don't care if I give up five or six, or I give up zero, at long as we win."

Verlander gave the Mariners a steady diet of offspeed pitches, which led to him posting a season-high seven strikeouts.

He said establishing his breaking ball is just as important as his mid-90s fastball.

"At this level, you got to have something to keep guys off of a certain pitch," Verlander said. "My offspeed is something that keeps guys off the fastball, and vice versa. [The offspeed] was big for me. I think I was able to throw it more for strikes."

He hopes to do the same on Sunday as the Tigers look to win their second series this season against the Twins.

According to Verlander, shutting down Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau is paramount in slowing the Twins' offense. That said, it makes sense why Verlander has a 3-4 career record against the Twins.

Morneau has a .438 average (6-for-17) against Verlander, while Mauer is hitting .444 (8-for-18) off him.

"Those guys in the middle of their lineup, they're really the spark plugs of their team," Verlander said. "When they're going it's tough to get them out. So, I think if you can limit those two guys in particular, you have a good chance of limiting their team."

2008 Interleague Schedule
• May 16-18: at Diamondbacks
• June 13-15: vs. Dodgers
• June 16-18: at Giants
• June 20-22: at Padres
• June 24-26: vs. Cardinals
• June 27-29: vs. Rockies


Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Justin Verlander (2-7, 5.61 ERA)
Verlander made one of his best starts in his baffling year against the Mariners on Tuesday. He gave up a single and a home run in the first inning, but he allowed only two hits over the next five frames. He gave the Mariners a steady helping of offspeed pitches, which helped him post a season-high seven strikeouts. Verlander faced Minnesota once this season, a loss that saw him allow four earned runs on seven hits in seven innings. For his career, he has a 3-4 record and 4.19 ERA in seven starts against the Twins.


MIN: LHP Glen Perkins (1-1, 3.44 ERA)
Perkins struck out three and didn't walk a batter in 6 1/3 strong innings on Tuesday during an 11-4 victory over Texas. It was Perkins' third consecutive quality start. The lefty sailed through six scoreless innings before getting into trouble in the seventh by throwing up in the zone. Perkins was deceptive throughout, primarily relying on his changeup as an out pitch, but effectively mixing the rest of his repertoire. He has been solid since being recalled from the Minors after not making the team out of Spring Training.


Tidbits

The four runs each scored by Magglio Ordonez and Placido Polanco on Saturday was the first time the Tigers had multiple hitters score four runs since 1997, when Bobby Higginson and Brian Hunter accomplished the feat. ... Miguel Cabrera has hit safely in 12 of his last 13 games. ... Polanco is hitting .377 in his last 26 games. ... Gary Sheffield is three RBIs shy of tying Andre Dawson for 32nd of the all-time RBI list.

On the Internet

MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes

On television
• FSN-HD

On radio
• 97.1FM/1270AM

Up next

• Mon., May 26: Tigers (LHP Kenny Rogers (4-4, 6.66 ERA)) AT Angels (RHP Jon Garland (5-3, 4.34 ERA)), 9:05 p.m. ET

• Tue., May 27: Tigers (RHP Jeremy Bonderman (3-4, 4.58 ERA)) AT Angels (RHP Ervin Santana (6-2, 3.24 ERA)), 10:05 p.m. ET

• Wed., May 28: Tigers (RHP Armando Galarraga, 3-2, 3.70 ERA) at Angels (LHP Joe Saunders, 8-1, 2.31 ERA), 10:05 p.m. ET

Starting Lineups:

Minnesota
Gomez, CF
Casilla, 2B
Mauer, C
Morneau, 1B
Cuddyer, RF
Kubel, DH
Young, LF
Lamb, 3B
Harris, SS

Detroit
Raburn, CF
Polanco, 2B
Sheffield, DH
Ordonez, RF
Cabrera, 1B
Guillen, 3B
Thames, LF
Renteria, SS
Inge, C

GO TIGERS GO!

Beat the Twins

As Rod said -- tigers need to open a can of whoop ass again in this game!

Yes!

Stat of the day: Tigers batting average in day games this year... .240.

GoGetEmTigers wrote:

As Rod said -- tigers need to open a can of whoop ass again in this game!

we gotta find some clipart for that one!!!!make it an emoticon!

2 out at the top of the first, Verlander with a K already.

Mauer draws a walk. Morneau up.

Morneau with a groundout: inning over.

We went down just as quickly! Their pitcher isn't messing around! Top of 2nd, 0-0

I'm hungover. Go tigers.

Maggs and his first pitch swinging... Don't they know we gotta get to the bullpen?

geez...we gotta figure this guy out, and QUICK.........

Thatta boy Guillen. Perkins is throwing too many strikes.

Looks like that homerun shook this dude up a little... fingers crossed at least.

Back to back walks for Perkins...

Tigers retired.

Gomez out.

Score?

Just got home, score 1-1 bottom of the 5th with 1 out

Raburn flies out for out 2

:placido: singles

:sheff: grounds out on great stop

end of 5th - game tied 1-1

their starter was BAAAAAAAAAD

Jeeze, I wish I could stay for all of this, but I have a cookout to go to soon, I need to get ready still though. So Ill be on later if possible.

Casilla - flies out

Mauer - flies out to cf

Morneau - k

1-2-3

tied 1-1

pops out foul