MINNEAPOLIS -- Justin Verlander realizes that numbers don't lie.

He was 35-15 with a 3.64 ERA for the Tigers in 2006 and 2007, and is 10-15 with a 4.74 ERA going into today's start here against the Twins.

"But being able to fight through negatives is a positive," Verlander said Friday, "and I am going to do that."

AP PhotoMinnesota Twins' Delmon Young, right, slides safely into home to score on a Brian Buscher single as Detroit Tigers catcher Brandon Inge waits for the ball in the seventh inning.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Justin Morneau hit a grand slam and Francisco Liriano threw seven solid innings to help the Minnesota Twins snap their three-game losing streak with a 10-2 win over the Detroit Tigers on Friday night.

Delmon Young also homered and had an RBI double in the seventh to help the Twins score more runs than they did in their previous three games combined in Toronto.

AP PhotoDetroit's Kenny Rogers is 1-7 with an 8.50 ERA since July 28. He took the loss Thursday against the Los Angeles Angels.

DETROIT -- When Kenny Rogers walked off the mound during the third inning Thursday, many applauded as he neared the Detroit dugout. Some even stood and cheered.

It isn't what you expect after giving up eight hits and getting only six outs. But it seemed as if those in Comerica Park were saying thank you to Rogers, sensing that it would be one of their last opportunities to watch him.

"They could've booed me," Rogers said after the 7-1 loss to the Los Angeles Angels. "They pull for me as much or more than any fans I've had. I can't explain what it means to me. As supportive as they've been, that makes you want to do it even more for them. Sometimes that isn't good. But they have been fantastic to me."

DETROIT -- Detroit's outfield defense was a contributing factor in the 3-6 homestand just completed. Several outfielders missed cutoff men with errant throws and made late or poor breaks on balls hit to them.

There isn't a single outfielder on the team playing crisp defense right now, according to Tigers manager Jim Leyland.

"We haven't played well in the outfield lately," Leyland said. "I don't know the answer to that, and I've thought about it long and hard. We're making some fundamental mistakes."

AP PhotoDetroit's Placido Polanco, right, celebrates the Tigers' win with teammate Mike Hessman. Polanco drove in three runs while Hessman homered.

DETROIT -- It's too bad the Detroit Tigers have been struggling. Otherwise, Curtis Granderson might be the talk of baseball.

Granderson drove in the tying run Wednesday night with his league-leading 13th triple, and then scored the go-ahead run later in the seventh inning.

He scored three times on three hits in a 9-6 win over the Los Angeles Angels, and has now scored 48 times in the last 45 games to lead the American League since the All-Star break. He is third in the league with 98 runs for the season.

AP PhotoMike Hessman hits a two-run home run in his first game since being called up from Toledo.

DETROIT -- Detroit Tigers third baseman Mike Hessman made the most of an opportunity. In his first start since being recalled from Toledo, Hessman hit a two-run homer and made several strong defensive plays in a 9-6 win Wednesday over the Los Angeles Angels.

"Hessman was one of the stars of the game," said Detroit manager Jim Leyland, who before the game said Hessman "might run into one."

And he sure did, hitting a 396-foot shot off Justin Speier on a full-count slider after fouling back a couple pitches to lock in.

AP PhotoTigers center fielder Curtis Granderson reaches up for the ball after missing it on a diving attempt Tuesday against the Los Angeles Angels.

DETROIT -- Sure, Francisco Rodriguez got his 54th save to draw within three of the single-season major league record.

And, sure, Miguel Cabrera hit a dramatic, two-out homer in the eighth inning to briefly tie Tuesday night's game. It was his 31st of the season, and third straight game with an opposite-field homer.

Those are moments guaranteed to make the highlight reels.

DETROIT -- Freddy Garcia and Dontrelle Willis pleased Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland with their pitching during a simulated game Tuesday afternoon.

"I was very happy with Dontrelle," Leyland said. "He was a little tentative at the beginning, but then free and easy. I was impressed. He threw two or three of the better sliders I've seen him throw. He had control and velocity and was looking more confident every inning."

Ramon Santiago, Ryan Raburn, Jeff Larish and Toledo callups Mike Hessman and Dusty Ryan hit against them with three outs per inning.

DETROIT -- Tigers manager Jim Leyland would have preferred that Justin Verlander hadn't said that home plate umpire Chuck Meriwether had a "tight" strike zone after giving up eight runs (five earned) in Monday's loss to the New York Yankees.

"Diversionary tactics are not good," Leyland said. "There are times when you've just got to say, 'I couldn't get anybody out.' I'm not taking a shot at Justin Verlander. That goes for all of us.
"You start by not looking for other reasons. Chuck Meriwether had nothing to do with Justin Verlander's horse-blank outing."

Leyland is big on accountability, and said the best approach is to simply admit you didn't have it and take steps to improve upon your faults. He was pleased that Verlander spent one hour studying videotape of the performance with Tigers bullpen coach Jeff Jones.

AP PhotoYankees catcher Ivan Rodriguez was overwhelmed when he received a standing ovation before his first at-bat. "These fans in Detroit are great," he said.

DETROIT -- Nita Hanchett stood in the stands behind the batting cage, watching her beloved Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez taking cuts for his new team. What was it like watching him in a New York Yankees uniform?

"It kills me," Hanchett said.

Hanchett, manager of the Fanatic U store in Garden City, wore a 2005 All-Star Game jersey with PUDGE on the back. It's one of five Rodriguez Tigers jerseys she owns. She had Rodriguez sign autographs at her store two days before his July 30 trade.