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Twins-Mariners Preview

Jun 6, 2009 - 7:02 AM By DAN PIERINGER STATS Writer

Minnesota (28-28) at Seattle (26-29), 4:10 p.m. EDT

The worst road record in the AL has kept the Minnesota Twins from distinguishing themselves as the team to beat in the Central. Thanks to a pair of close wins, the Twins could be on their way toward fixing that problem.

The Twins look to ride the emotion of an extra-innings victory and record their first three-game road winning streak of the year Saturday when they continue a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners.

Minnesota (28-28) is tied with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the most home wins in baseball with 21. That success, however, hasn't translated to the road, where the Twins are an AL-worst 7-16.

Because of those road struggles, Minnesota is 1 1/2 games behind first-place Detroit in the wide open Central. If the Twins can continue their recent success away from home, they could make up that ground very quickly.

After edging Tampa Bay 3-2 in its last road game Sunday, Minnesota pulled out a 2-1, 10-inning win over Seattle (26-29) in the series opener Friday night. Justin Morneau scored the winning run from second base when Mariners outfielder Wladimir Balentien misplayed a fly ball with two outs in the 10th.

The Twins are now in position for their first three-game road winning streak since Aug. 6-8 of last season.

The Twins have to like their chances of continuing their success on the road with Nick Blackburn (5-2, 3.50 ERA) on the mound.The right-hander has gotten the decision in three of the team's road wins this season, including Sunday's victory over the Rays.

"I don't think it really has anything to do with me," Blackburn told the team's official Web site. "I think it's just the way I'm throwing right now - I'm feeling pretty good on the mound. I think the timing of that has just so happened that way."

Blackburn held the Rays to two runs in six innings in that game, the sixth time in eight outings he's allowed two runs or fewer. He has a 1.35 ERA during a three-start winning streak.

Blackburn is 1-0 with a 3.50 ERA in three career games against Seattle, and the Twins have split his first two starts against the Mariners this year.

While Blackburn seems to give Minnesota a good chance of continuing its recent success, Seattle hasn't been nearly as effective in games started by Jarrod Washburn (3-4, 3.22).

The Mariners have dropped the left-hander's last seven starts, though Washburn has held opponents to one or no earned runs in four games in that stretch. He gave up one run and six hits in seven innings against Baltimore on Monday but still suffered the 1-0 defeat.

"It's an awful shame to squander a pitching performance like that by Washburn. ... Same thing we've been talking about all year: fundamental baseball," manager Don Wakamatsu said.

Washburn is 7-6 with a 3.26 ERA in 16 starts against the Twins. He held them to five hits in eight innings of a 2-0 victory in his season debut April 9.

Twins catcher Joe Mauer, batting .430 this season, is 2 for 11 (.182) with four strikeouts in his career against Washburn, though he's also walked five times.

Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki had his franchise-record 27-game hitting streak snapped with an 0-for-4 performance Friday night. He dressed quickly, spoke to the Japanese media pack, then offered only one other comment on his way out the door.

"It's only natural to want to have good results," he said through his interpreter, when asked if he was ready to start a new streak Saturday.

Suzuki is 2 for 6 in his career against Blackburn.