• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Twins-Athletics Preview

Jun 11, 2009 - 5:53 AM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Minnesota (29-31) at Oakland (26-31), 3:35 p.m. EDT

The Minnesota Twins have finally managed to break out of their batting slump. Their surge is somewhat surprising considering they've been facing what had been a hot Oakland Athletics pitching staff.

The Twins look to continue their momentum at the plate and win three straight on the road for the first time this season in the finale of a four-game series with the Athletics on Thursday.

Minnesota (30-31) has won consecutive games away from the Metrodome for the first time since April 24-25. Strong production at the plate has made the last two games particularly encouraging for the Twins.

After losing 4-3 to Oakland (26-32) in the series opener, Minnesota bounced back with a 10-5 win Tuesday night and followed that with a 6-3 victory the following evening.

The Twins had lost three straight, scoring six runs during that stretch. They had also been held to three runs or fewer in seven consecutive road games, losing five of those contests.

Oakland has lost two in a row following a season-best seven-game winning streak, a run in which it posted a 1.43 ERA and .197 opponents' batting average.

The A's will now turn to Trevor Cahill (3-5, 4.21 ERA), who had lost three straight decisions before allowing two runs and six hits while striking out five in six innings of a 9-4 win over Baltimore on Saturday night.

The rookie right-hander, who got four runs to work with in his previous three starts, was staked to a 5-0 lead in the third inning.

"Get the lead early and I kind of relax and go after hitters," Cahill said. "Every time I go out there I feel a little more comfortable."

This will be his first appearance against Minnesota, which got a clutch effort in its latest victory.

Pinch-hitter Jason Kubel hit a tying solo homer in the eighth inning and Delmon Young singled home the go-ahead run in the ninth.

Minnesota was without center fielder and leadoff man Denard Span after sending him home to see a specialist due to dizziness he experienced in Tuesday's game. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire doesn't plan to rush him back.

"I have no time limit on it," Gardenhire said. "We've got to make sure he's OK."

Oakland got a scare when Matt Holliday was hit on the left knee by a pitch in the second inning Wednesday, but the veteran left fielder stayed in the game. He singled in his next plate appearance to snap an 0-for-9 skid.

Holliday has never faced Nick Blackburn (5-2, 3.30), set to take his turn in the rotation for the Twins. He's 3-0 with a 1.33 ERA in his last four starts.

The right-hander gave up one run and six hits in seven innings of a 2-1 loss to Seattle on Saturday.

Blackburn is 0-1 with a 3.29 ERA in two career starts versus Oakland.