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Pirates-Twins Preview

Jun 18, 2009 - 5:50 AM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

Pittsburgh (30-34) at Minnesota (33-33), 1:10 p.m. EDT

When an AL team has seen the Pittsburgh Pirates coming to town in recent years, it hasn't just been a good opportunity to pick up a few wins - it's been a near guarantee.

Baseball's worst interleague team hasn't been so bad this season, though, and the Pirates can win their first road series against an AL opponent since 2003 on Thursday afternoon when they conclude a three-game set against the Minnesota Twins.

Pittsburgh (31-34) has had 16 consecutive losing seasons, but some of its greatest struggles have come in interleague play. Coming into 2009 the Pirates were 63-103 against the AL, a .380 winning percentage that was far and away baseball's worst in interleague play.

Most of Pittsburgh's troubles versus teams from the other league have come on the road, where it entered this season at 21-59 - 4-29 since 2004. The Pirates were shut out in their first two games versus AL opponents in 2009 but have won four of six since, taking two of three away from home.

Pittsburgh bounced back from an 8-2 series-opening loss in Minnesota with a victory by the same score Wednesday, giving manager John Russell's club a chance to win its first interleague road series since beating Tampa Bay in 2003 - 12 series ago.

The Pirates' solid offensive output Wednesday came courtesy of three home runs, a rarity for the team that ranks 29th in the majors in that category. Brothers Andy and Adam LaRoche went deep in the same game for the first time in their careers, and rookie Andrew McCutchen hit his first major league homer.

"Full moon, I guess," Russell said of his team's rare power surge.

A similar performance Thursday won't be easy with Nick Blackburn (5-2, 3.31 ERA) on the mound for the Twins (33-34). Blackburn, Minnesota's most consistent starter, hasn't allowed a homer in 32 1-3 innings at home, where he's 2-0 with a 3.06 ERA in five outings.

His last three starts, though, have come on the road. Blackburn, 1-0 with a 2.57 ERA in those outings, didn't earn a decision last Thursday in the Twins' 4-3 loss in Oakland. He was in line for a win after posting seven shutout innings, but the right-hander gave up three runs in the eighth.

"I was leaving a lot of pitches up today, more than usual," Blackburn, who's never faced the Pirates, told the Twins' official Web site. "It was one of those situations where I couldn't slow myself down, couldn't figure it out."

Pittsburgh will go for its rare road series win by giving the ball to its best starter, Zach Duke (7-4, 3.10). The left-hander has been sharp in two interleague outings this season, going 1-1 with a 2.81 ERA and lasting eight innings each time.

He gave up three runs - two on solo homers - to Detroit on Saturday in a 9-3 win.

"As the game went on, I think he got stronger," Russell told the Pirates' official Web site. "His sinker worked really well for him. ... The old saying is, 'Solo home runs don't often beat you.'"

Duke has never faced the Twins and he's never pitched a game on turf.

He'll be in for a challenge against Joe Mauer. Minnesota's All-Star catcher is hitting .425 - .507 at home - and extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a double Wednesday.

Left-handers are batting .346 against Duke this season.