(World Wide Gamble) - Francisco Liriano targets his first win of the season this evening when the Minnesota Twins open a brief two-game series with the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.

Liriano is winless through five starts this season, going 0-4 with a 6.04 earned run average. He did not get a decision in his last start on Tuesday against Tampa Bay, but pitched pretty well, surrendering two runs and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings of his team's 4-3 win.

The 25-year-old left-hander, who has pitched to a 6.04 earned run average this season, lost four games all of last season.

Liriano has faced the Tigers seven times (five starts) and is 2-1 with a 4.93 ERA.

Minnesota dropped the final two games of its three-game series with the Kansas City Royals over the weekend, including a 7-5 setback in Sunday's rubber match at the Metrodome.

Scott Baker (0-4) actually carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning, but he unraveled in that frame, giving up a three-run home run to Jose Guillen, then a two-run double to Alberto Callaspo, as the Twins blew a four-run lead.

Michael Cuddyer went 2-for-3 with two runs batted in for Minnesota, while Justin Morneau had three hits, including a pair of doubles.

Detroit, meanwhile, enters tonight's tilt on a high note after Magglio Ordonez and Curtis Granderson each knocked in a run during a two-run seventh inning on Sunday to lead the Tigers past the Cleveland Indians, 3-1, in the rubber match of a three-game weekend series.

Granderson hit an RBI double and Ordonez stroked an RBI single in the home half of the seventh for the Tigers, who have won two in a row after dropping three straight games. Brandon Inge hit a solo home run for Detroit.

Justin Verlander (2-2) was spectacular in seven innings of work, giving up just one run on two hits to collect the win for Detroit. The right-hander also fanned 11 batters and walked three. Fernando Rodney retired the side in the ninth to pick up his sixth save of the year.

Getting the ball for the Tigers tonight will be right-hander Edwin Jackson, who is 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA this season. Jackson did not get a decision on Tuesday against the New York Yankees, despite a terrific outing that saw him scatter four hits over six scoreless innings. However, the Tigers were held off the scoreboard in that 11-0 loss.

In Jackson's 32 innings Detroit managed only seven runs. Jackson is 1-2 lifetime against the Twins with a 9.42 ERA in six games (three starts).

Minnesota won 11 of its 18 matchups with the Tigers last season, including five of the nine games contested at Comerica.