Free Live Odds - Scores and Odds - Sports News - Sports Information - Live Scores - Sports Statistics - Sports Articles - Sports Standings - Live Scoreboard - Live Odds - Sporting Events - Live Lines

(Sports Network) - The Detroit Tigers are climbing up the ranks with three straight wins, and will try to stay the course tonight in the opener of a three-game series versus the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park.

Detroit, which is aiming for a season-high tying fourth straight victory, is fresh off a three-game sweep of the Seattle Mariners to open a six-game homestand in the Motor City. In Thursday's 9-2 pounding of the Mariners in the series finale, Brandon Inge belted a three-run homer and Matt Joyce added a two-run shot to power the Tigers.

Gary Sheffield had three hits and Magglio Ordonez knocked in a pair of runs, as Detroit outscored Seattle, 30-14, in the series. Tigers starter Jeremy Bonderman hurled six innings of two-run ball and allowed eight hits for the victory, while Freddy Dolsi tossed three perfect innings of relief for his first major-league save. Detroit is still last in the AL Central division at 6 1/2 games off Chicago's lead.

The Tigers will send Armando Galarraga to the mound on Friday, and he is trying for back-to-back wins since opening the season 2-0. Galarraga is 3-1 with a 3.06 ERA in six starts this season and was 0-1 in three outings before beating Arizona on the road on May 17.

Galarraga yielded just a pair of runs and one hit in six innings of a 3-2 victory over the Diamondbacks. Detroit improved to 5-1 in his six trips to the mound this season.

The young righty was beaten by Minnesota on May 2 this season at the Metrodome, allowing four runs -- two earned -- on six hits in six frames. Galarraga is 0-1 with a 3.00 earned run average in two career games (one start) against the Twins.

Minnesota has been caught in a funk, having dropped two straight and seven of its last 10 games. It just lost the last two installments of a four-game set with the Texas Rangers, including Thursday's 8-7, 10-inning setback in the series finale at the Metrodome.

Carlos Gomez powered the Twins' offense with four hits, including a homer, and three RBI. Brian Bass absorbed the loss in relief after giving up the game- winning home run to Josh Hamilton. Starter Livan Hernandez allowed six runs -- five earned -- in 5 1/3 frames for the no-decision.

The Twins, who are 3 1/2 games behind Chicago in the Central, will open a six- game road trip at Detroit and Kansas City. In other team news, shortstop Adam Everett was placed on the 15-day disabled list Thursday with a strained right shoulder. Everett, in his first stint with Minnesota, is batting just .189 with a homer and seven RBI through 25 games.

Minnesota starter Kevin Slowey has lived up to his last name as far as collecting wins is concerned this season. Slowey is 0-4 with a 5.49 earned run average in four outings, and was reached for three runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 frames of his previous start on May 18 at Colorado.

Slowey, who has allowed three runs in each of his four appearances, faced Detroit for the first time on June 30 of last season. The right-hander earned the win despite yielding four runs and nine hits over six innings of an 8-5 victory.

Minnesota is 3-2 versus the Tigers this season, but dropped a pair of matchups in Motown on April 14-15.