DETROIT (Ticker) -- The Minnesota Twins probably will be sorry to leave Comerica Park.
Kyle Lohse allowed two runs in eight innings and the Twins defeated the Detroit Tigers for the 12th straight time, 3-0.
Lohse (1-0) entered the game having allowed 15 earned runs in 21 2/3 innings in four prior starts against Detroit. But he followed up strong performances in the series' first two games by teammates Brad Radke and Joe Mays by retiring the first 16 batters before allowing a double to rookie Omar Infante.
Lohse retired Matt Walbeck on a foulout and Hiram Bocachica on a flyout to end the sixth.
"When you see the way that Brad and Joe handled themselves in the first two games, you just want to go out there and keep it going," Lohse said. "I had really good movement on my fastball and A.J. (Pierzynski) called a really nice game to keep them off-balance so it stayed effective."
The righthander gave up a single to Dmitri Young with two outs in the seventh before retiring the last four batters he faced. Lohse threw 92 pitches and struck out five.
Lohse was asked it he thought about a perfect game.
"No, five innings is too early," he answered. "I was just trying to get outs because it was still such a close game."
Eddie Guardado worked around a single in the ninth to preserve the shutout and record his second save in as many opportunities.
The Twins limited the Tigers to two runs and 10 hits in sweeping the three-game series and have won eight straight games in Detroit.
"I guess the story is that we really haven't been swinging the bats," Tigers manager Alan Trammell said. "I really don't have any answers right now. We'll just keep trying. We used everybody today as far as now everybody's played a game. One run, one run and no runs and 10 hits in three games, you're not going to win too many games."
Adam Bernero (0-1) went seven innings, allowing two runs and five hits with one walk and one strikeout.
"We've really just got to concentrate on each game and not put any pressure (saying) - `Oh God, we lost three in a row,' because then pressure's going to keep getting built up," Bernero said. "When you give up two runs in seven innings, I'll take that."
Third baseman Corey Koskie had two of Minnesota's six hits and went 4-for-7 with three RBI after missing the opener with back spasms.
"Obviously, this is a great way to start," Koskie said. "We got three great pitching performances and that's always going to give you a chance to win. That team is going to go through some growing pains and we were able to take advantage of them."
With one out in the first inning, Cristian Guzman lined Bernero's 2-2 pitch into the right field corner for a triple. Torii Hunter followed with an RBI groundout for a 1-0 lead.
Bernero retired 10 straight batters, when Koskie tripled into right-center field with two outs in the fourth and Bobby Kielty singled to right to double the lead.
Minnesota got its final run off Franklyn German in the eighth. Jacque Jones led off with a walk and one out later went to second on a wild pitch. Jones stole third base and scored when Koskie grounded into a forceout.
