Both Armando Galarraga and Aquilino Lopez had been incredible for the Tigers since being called up from Triple-A Toledo, but the antiseptic atmosphere of the Metrodome apparently killed whatever spells they'd been casting in the first month of the season. 

Galarraga gave up more runs and hits than he had in either of his previous three starts, while also striking out the fewest batters.  But his lineup also scored fewer runs for him tonight than in his last three appearances.  Meanwhile, Lopez gave up four runs in just 1/3 of an inning, which is three more than he'd given up in his previous 18 2/3 innings combined.

"I want to give him the heat and announce my presence with authority!"

What exactly was that thing Livan Hernandez froze Gary Sheffield with to strike him out in the fifth inning?  On the radio, Jim Price said it looked like an "eephus pitch," but that's just an attempt to explain a really slow curveball, right?  Whatever it was, the pitch was clocked at 61 m.p.h. and Sheff was mesmerized by its lack of speed.  Maybe he could make out the spin of the ball and was hypnotized.

No wonder Livan could strike out Tigers batters with 87 m.p.h. "heat."  That fastball must have looked like it was coming in at 120, combined with that slop.

He Left the Game with Pulled Feelings?

I caught the last half of the game at a bar with my arch-enemy Samela (the visual evidence of which can be seen here), and when we noticed that Denny Bautista left the game with an apparent injury, we figured he just wanted out becuase he didn't want to get pummeled by the Twins anymore.  Sam's comment was "His feelings are hurt."  In all seriousness, it turns out Bautista felt soreness in his shoulder.  No other word, as of yet.

But Bautista had a chance to straighten some things out and get back in Leyland's good graces in a non-pressure situation, and failed to do so.  Is he ready to take Jason Grilli's old mop-up role?

Armando Galarraga (2-0, 1.50) vs. Livan Hernandez (3-1, 5.05)

To the Metrodome we go!  After sweeping the Yankees in their final visit to Yankee Stadium (and contributing to an excellent night for Detroit sports), the Tigers roar into Minneapolis looking much more like the team we've been expecting.  Last year, Detroit won eight of nine games at Minnesota.  Go ahead and read that sentence again;  I looked over it a few times after typing it out. 

At what point do we stop asking whether or not The Armando Galarraga Experience can continue and just embrace its majesty?  Maybe you're already there, and I'm the one who needs to put aside my reservations.  Galarraga has allowed just three earned runs in 18 innings as a Tigers starting pitcher.  He's also struck out 13 batters during that span.  (And that's probably why he was voted the Tigers Pitcher of the Month.)  This will be the first time he's faced the Minnesota Twins.

Livan Hernandez hasn't been quite as good, but considering that most observers thought he'd get hammered in the American League (provoking sheer horror at the idea of him possibly coming to the Tigers), he's done pretty well so far with the Twins.  But perhaps those initial fears are on their way to being realized, as Hernandez has given up 11 total runs in his last two starts.  (Pitching him at Ameriquest Field in Arlington was probably a disaster waiting to happen.)  This will be the first time Hernandez has faced the Tigers, as well, but he's 2-0 at the Metrodome to start the season.

The Twins will be without their manager this weekend, as Ron Gardenhire has left

Twinkie Town presents your SB Nation opposing view for this weekend's series.