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Yankees-Twins Preview

Jul 6, 2009 - 11:29 PM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

New York (48-33) at Minnesota (43-40), 8:10 p.m. EDT

The New York Yankees have yet to lose to the Minnesota Twins this year, and CC Sabathia hasn't even faced them.

Coming off just their second loss in 12 games, the Yankees and Sabathia look to continue their success against the Twins in the opener of a three-game series Tuesday night.

New York (48-34) failed to complete a four-game sweep against Toronto, losing the finale 7-6 on Monday. The Yankees, though, do have one four-game sweep to their credit, against Minnesota (43-40) from May 15-18.

New York starters gave up three runs or fewer in three of those contests.

Sabathia (7-5, 3.85 ERA) has been outstanding in recent years versus the Twins, posting a 1.24 ERA in winning his last four starts. The veteran left-hander is 12-8 with a 3.12 ERA in 27 starts against Minnesota, including a five-hitter for Cleveland in a 1-0 win June 10, 2008.

Sabathia, though, is coming off his second loss in 11 starts, giving up six runs and a season-high 10 hits in 5 2-3 innings as New York was defeated 8-4 by Seattle on Thursday night. He went 6-1 with a 2.82 ERA in his previous 10 outings.

Twins first baseman Justin Morneau is batting just .167 (6 for 36) against Sabathia, but he was named the AL's player of the week Monday after a big weekend series. Morneau, selected to the All-Star game Sunday, went 9 for 15 with two homers and five RBIs as Minnesota took two of three games against Detroit.

Morneau will join teammate Joe Mauer in the All-Star game. In just over seven weeks since coming off the disabled list after kidney surgery, Mauer has already surpassed his career high with 14 homers.

"No one likes to have to mess with those two guys, and rightfully so," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said.

The duo leads a Twins team that is trying to close in on the AL Central-leading Tigers. Minnesota has won 15 of its last 23.

"Sooner or later all the breaks had to start going our way, and I think now we're all clicking together," Minnesota's Nick Blackburn said after throwing a complete game in a 6-2 win over the Tigers on Sunday.

Scott Baker (6-6, 4.99), who is 4-0 with a 3.20 EERA in his last six starts, will now take his turn in the Twins' rotation. The right-hander allowed one run and five hits in five innings to earn a win in Minnesota's 2-1 victory over Kansas City on Tuesday night.

Baker is 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA in two career starts against the Yankees, who are averaging 6.6 runs in their last 12 games. New York, though, missed some opportunities Monday, going 2 for 11 with runners in scoring position.

Yankees All-Star first baseman Mark Teixeira went 0 for 5, extending his homerless streak to 84 at-bats. He's 14 for 23 (.609) with five homers and 12 RBIs in his last six games against the Twins.

Third baseman Alex Rodriguez, batting .370 with 21 homers in 55 games at Minnesota, returned to the lineup after getting Sunday off. He's homered five times in his last 11 games at the Metrodome.