Minnesota Twins Team Report - April 17th

(Sports Network) - Searching for their 15th straight win against the Detroit Tigers and the sixth consecutive victory overall, the Minnesota Twins close out a three-game set with their American League Central counterparts tonight at the Metrodome.

On Wednesday the Twins, tied for second in the division standings with a record of 8-6, produced a 4-2 win for their fifth consecutive triumph. Corey Koskie finished with three hits and two RBI while A.J. Pierzynski added a pair of hits and drove in a run for the Twins in the victory.

Rick Reed pitched six strong innings for the win, allowing just two runs on six hits while striking out five and walking one. Juan Rincon and Johan Santana combined to throw two innings of scoreless relief for Minnesota.

Jacque Jones finished with a pair of hits for Minnesota, which outhit Detroit by a 10-6 margin. He is now hitting .358 this year while Cristian Guzman, who scored twice, lifted his average to .341.

Kenny Rogers gets the call tonight for the Twins after an impressive outing in his last start. Rogers, 1-0 with a 6.30 ERA, allowed four runs on seven hits over six innings against Toronto on Friday.

The 38-year-old lefty, who was signed as a free agent on March 13 after Eric Milton injured his left knee, is 7-7 with a 4.44 ERA in 43 career appearances, including 20 starts, against the Tigers.

Minnesota hitters have accounted for only nine home runs in 482 at-bats thus far, with Doug Mientkiewicz leading the way with a pair. Both Torii Hunter and Koskie have produced nine RBI to lead the club, but Hunter is still batting a meager .137.

The last time the Twins lost to Detroit was on May 2, 2002, in a 7-6 decision at the Metrodome. The Twins' record for consecutive wins against an opponent is 17, set against the Boston Red Sox from June 2, 1965-May 7, 1966.

04/17 13:21:57 ET