Tigers try to keep up winning ways against Twins

The Detroit Tigers try to continue their mastery of the game series at Comerica Park.

Detroit has handled the Twins this season, taking eight of the nine matchups, including all three in the Motor City. Dating back to last season, the Tigers have won six straight at home in the series and 12 of their last 13 overall.

The Tigers continue to lead the AL Central, but saw their edge over Cleveland dwindled to 2 1/2 games on Sunday, as they had their three-game winning streak stopped with an 8-5 loss in Baltimore.

Ramon Santiago had a solo homer and two runs batted in, while Austin Jackson had three hits and an RBI in the loss.

Doug Fister (4-13) was pegged with the loss after giving up eight runs -- six earned -- on 12 hits in 5 2/3 innings. He fell to 1-1 since being acquired from Seattle in a trade last month.

"I go out there expecting to put up zeros every inning and battle every pitch," Fister said. "It's the same mind set."

Tonight, the Tigers turn to righty Rick Porcello, who had one of the worst outings of his young career his last time out. Porcello was ripped by the Indians on Wednesday for eight runs and 11 hits in 3 2/3 innings, dropping him to 11-7 on the year, while raising his earned run average to 4.93.

Porcello, who had won his previous five decisions, beat the Twins the last time he faced them and is 5-3 in 10 starts against them with a 2.70 ERA.

Minnesota, meanwhile, will counter with left-hander Francisco Liriano, who is 7-9 with a 5.00 ERA. Liriano did not get a decision on Tuesday against Boston, as he allowed three runs and four hits with seven walks in six innings of a 4-3 loss.

Liriano lost to Porcello and the Tigers on July 24 and is 4-6 lifetime versus the Tigers with a 5.36 ERA in 18 games, 14 of which have been starts.

The Twins enter this series having lost eight of nine. Minnesota, though, got a much needed break when the finale of its three-game series with the Cleveland Indians on Sunday was postponed by rain.

Minnesota slugger Jim Thome remains two home runs shy of becoming the eighth player in major league history to reach 600.