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Detroit Tigers (42-40) at Minnesota Twins (45-38), 8:10 p.m.

(Sports Network) - The Minnesota Twins had been baseball's hottest team for a good portion of June. It appears as if they've relinquished that distinction to their fellow American League Central inhabitants, the Detroit Tigers.

The resurgent Tigers shoot for a seventh consecutive victory when these divisional foes play the middle contest of a three-game set tonight at the Metrodome.

Detroit kept its win streak intact with a come-from-behind win over the Twins in Monday's series opener. The Tigers scored twice in both the seventh and eighth innings to pull out a 5-4 decision, with Curtis Granderson singling home the go-ahead run.

Granderson finished 3-for-4 on the evening and is batting a torrid .550 (22- for-40) with 12 runs scored over his last 10 games. The dynamic center fielder has hit safely in 15 of his 16 most recent outings.

Placido Polanco and Carlos Guillen aided Detroit's rally with RBI singles in the seventh inning, while pinch-hitter Matt Joyce tied the game at 4-4 with a run-scoring triple in the eighth before coming home on Granderson's hit.

Marcus Thames added a solo home run to help the Tigers win for the 18th time in their last 22 games.

Casey Fossum picked up the victory for Detroit with 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief. Joel Zumaya shut the Twins out over the final 1 2/3 frames to notch his first save of the season.

Minnesota, which had won 11 of its last 12 coming into Monday's matchup, received a solid pitching performance from starter Glen Perkins. The young lefty allowed just two runs on seven hits and fanned a career-best seven over the first 6 1/3 innings.

Matt Guerrier (4-3) was saddled with the loss after giving up Detroit's two eighth-inning runs.

Joe Mauer went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI for the Twins, while Denard Span contributed an RBI double among his two hits.

Minnesota has not lost back-to-back tests since a season-high six-game slide from June 5-10. Since that rough stretch, the Twins have amassed a 14-4 record and moved within 2 1/2 games of first-place Chicago in the AL Central standings.

Scott Baker has played a role in that surge and takes a crack at a third straight winning start for Minnesota tonight. The right-hander has been sharp since returning from a month-long stay on the disabled list, having posted a solid 3.00 earned run average in five starts following his comeback.

Baker tossed six innings of one-run ball to defeat Arizona at the Metrodome on June 20, then followed up with a winning effort at San Diego this past Thursday. Against the Padres, the Oklahoma State product allowed three runs and six hits over the first six innings in his team's 4-3 triumph.

The 26-year-old has made two previous starts against Detroit this season, surrendering a total of three runs over 10 innings in a pair of no-decisions. For his career, Baker is 2-3 with a 3.42 ERA through nine encounters with the Tigers.

Nate Robertson puts a string of three straight winning decisions on the line when he takes the hill tonight for the Tigers. The gritty left-hander pitched well enough to win a fourth consecutive start in Thursday's showdown with St. Louis, but had to settle for a no-decision in a 3-2 Detroit victory.

Against the Cardinals, Robertson scattered 11 hits in 6 1/3 innings but surrendered only one unearned run. The Tigers have come through with wins in six of his last seven mound trips.

This will be Robertson's 22nd career appearance and 21st start against Minnesota. He owns an 8-8 lifetime record with a 3.86 ERA versus the Twins, which includes a May 24 victory at Comerica Park in which he gave up three runs in 6 1/3 innings.

Detroit may play tonight's tilt without slugger Miguel Cabrera. The first baseman left Monday's game in the third inning with a left hip flexor strain and is considered day-to-day.

Minnesota is 5-4 against Detroit so far this season and swept the Tigers at home in early May. However, the Tigers went 8-1 in their nine games at the Metrodome a year ago.


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