(Sports Network) - The Minnesota Twins will try to keep pace with the Detroit Tigers in the AL Central when the two teams collide this afternoon in the finale of a three-game set at the Metrodome.

Nick Blackburn will try to return to the win column when he takes the hill for Minnesota. Blackburn has lost his last two starts and has just one victory in his last five outings.

The last time the right-hander was on the hill he suffered a 4-2 setback to KC. In that loss, the Oklahoma native allowed three runs -- two earned -- on 10 hits in six innings.

Earlier this season Blackburn was hammered by Detroit, allowing nine runs -- six earned -- on eight hits with three walks. He has struggled in his career against the Tigers, posting a 1-3 ledger with a 5.76 earned run average.

Just like his counterpart, Rick Porcello is coming off a tough loss to Oakland. The young hurler was pounded by the A's in his last start, surrendering five runs on nine hits in 4 1/3 innings of work.

Porcello made his first career start against Minnesota earlier this year and it was a memorable one, as the right-hander tossed seven shutout innings, scattering four hits, while striking out three batters.

On Saturday, Nick Punto's RBI single in the eighth inning helped the Twins take a 4-3 win over the Tigers.

Justin Morneau went 4-for-4 with a solo home run and two RBI, and Michael Cuddyer added a solo shot for the Twins, who have won three of their last four.

Francisco Liriano had a solid start as he gave up three runs and five hits with two walks and eight strikeouts over seven innings of work. Matt Guerrier (4-0) got the win for throwing a perfect eighth inning.

Magglio Ordonez clubbed a three-run homer to provide the offense for the Tigers, who have dropped five of their last eight.

Edwin Jackson threw 6 1/3 innings and was charged with three runs and six hits with four walks and nine strikeouts. Brandon Lyon (3-4) suffered the loss after working 1 1/3 innings.

"It was just one of those days where things didn't go our way," said Jackson. "I didn't have my best stuff. I'm a competitor and always compete, but this was just one of those days where it didn't work out."

With the score tied at 3-3 in the eighth inning, Minnesota grabbed the lead. Brian Buscher led off with a single and moved to second on a groundout from Jose Morales. Matt Tolbert then came in to pinch-run for Buscher and Punto singled to left, allowing Tolbert to score for a 4-3 lead.

"I saw the ball off the bat and knew I would have a chance to score," said Tolbert. "Once I took off if he would have caught it I would have been doubled off, but I knew it had enough on it to get into the outfield."

Joe Nathan came on in the ninth and shut things down with a 1-2-3 inning to pick up his 22nd save of the season.

The Twins swept a three-game series from Detroit at the Metrodome between May 12-14 and is 5-2 against the Tigers this season. Minnesota has also taken 11 of the past 16 overall meetings between the divisional foes.