(My Sportsbook) - The Minnesota Twins hope to avoid falling further behind in the AL Central this afternoon when they play the rubber match of their three- game series with the Detroit Tigers at the Metrodome.

Minnesota fell 2 1/2 back of the Chicago White Sox in the division on Saturday, as Curtis Granderson and Magglio Ordonez hit two-run homers in the eighth inning, helping Detroit rally from a three-run deficit to pull out a 6-4 win.

Miguel Cabrera also drove in two runs for the Tigers, who bounced back from a 10-2 drubbing on Friday to win for just the second time in their last six tries.

Clay Rapada (3-0) picked up the win in relief after allowing one hit over 1 1/3 innings. Fernando Rodney worked around trouble in the ninth to earn his ninth save. Starter Justin Verlander gave up eight hits and four runs over 5 2/3 frames while striking out four and walking four.

Carlos Gomez had two RBI and Jason Kubel knocked in the other run for the Twins, who have dropped four of five and 10 of their last 14 and lost a game in the Central when Chicago topped Los Angeles, 7-6, in 15 innings.

Matt Guerrier (6-7) suffered the loss after allowing the game-deciding home run. Starter Scott Baker let up just four hits and three runs in 7 1/3 innings, striking out five but walking four.

Guerrier's loss was the seventh for the Twins' bullpen in the last 14 games.

Hoping to get the Twins back on track today will be 25-year-old lefty Glen Perkins, who has won his last five decisions. Perkins, though, did not factor in the decision on Tuesday in Toronto, as he allowed four runs and 10 hits in five innings of a 7-5 loss.

Perkins, who is 2-0 in three starts versus the Tigers, is 12-3 on the year with a 4.08 ERA.

Detroit will counter with a 25-year-old hurler of its own in righty Chris Lambert. After losing his first major league start, Lambert received a no- decision on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, as he allowed three runs and six hits in just four innings of a 5-4 loss.

Lambert will be facing the Angels for the first time.

Minnesota has won 11 of its 17 matchups with the Tigers this season, including six of the eight games played at the Metrodome.