(Sports Network) - Brian Duensing shoots for a fourth straight win this afternoon when the Minnesota Twins try to avoid a three-game sweep at the hands of the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.
Duensing started the year in the Twins bullpen, but has been tremendous since joining the rotation, as he is 7-1 with a 2.43 earned run average in 11 games as a starter. He beat the Cleveland Indians on Monday, holding them to three runs and six hits in six innings, upping his overall mark to 10-2 to go along with a 2.19 ERA.
The 27-year-old has completed at least six innings 10 times, and he's allowed more than one home run in just one of his 51 appearances.
Duensing, who will be the team's Game 3 starter in the ALDS, has faced the Tigers 11 times (three starts) and is 1-1 with a 1.95 ERA.
Detroit, meanwhile, will counter with young right-hander Rick Porcello, who is 9-11 with a 5.22 ERA. Porcello did not get a decision on Monday against Kansas City, as he allowed five runs and 12 hits in 5 1/3 innings of a 7-5 win. He has won his last four decisions and the Tigers are unbeaten in his last five and seven of his last eight starts.
Porcello lost to the Twins the last time he faced them and is 1-3 in six starts against them with a 3.15 ERA.
The Tigers moved to the cusp of a sweep over the American League Central champions with a dramatic win on Saturday, as Brandon Inge drove in the game- winner with a single in the bottom of the 13th inning, helping Detroit to an 11-10 win.
Miguel Cabrera, Don Kelly, and Alex Avila each homered for the Tigers, who have won three in a row and seven of eight. Detroit had 21 hits.
Starter Jeremy Bonderman gave up seven runs on nine hits over four-plus innings. Daniel Schlereth (1-0) tossed 1 2/3 scoreless frames to pick up the win.
Danny Valencia hit a grand slam and a solo homer for the Twins, who got a solo homer and two RBI from Jason Kubel. Carl Pavano allowed seven runs on 11 hits during a four-inning start.
The Twins went on to load the bases with one out in the top of the 13th. Kubel and Valencia struck out to keep it a tie game.
Pat Neshek (0-1), who struck out the side in the 12th, stayed on to pitch the 13th for Minnesota. Johnny Damon and Cabrera singled to begin the frame. Jhonny Peralta then reached first on Valencia's fielding error to load the bases. Randy Flores came in from the bullpen and Brennan Boesch hit a sharp grounder right back at him. The ball deflected off Flores' glove and second baseman Orlando Hudson picked up the baseball and threw home for the force out. Inge followed with the game-winning base hit to right.
"No matter what you did in the beginning of the game maybe it's the last one that always counts," Inge said. ,
Minnesota has won nine of its 17 matchups with the Tigers this season, but is just 2-6 in the eight games contested in Detroit.