• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Twins-Rangers Preview

Jul 18, 2009 - 5:22 AM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Minnesota (45-44) at Texas (48-39), 8:05 p.m. EDT

The road wasn't kind to the Minnesota Twins early in the season. Lately, though, the Twins are making themselves at home away from the Metrodome.

Minnesota goes for its fifth straight road series win Saturday night when it continues a three-game set with the slumping Texas Rangers.

The Twins had seven victories in their first 26 games away from the Metrodome but have since won 11 of 16 on the road, taking two of three from the Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee, St. Louis and Kansas City.

Friday's 5-3 victory over Texas gave Minnesota (46-44) an opportunity to move three games above .500 for the second time this season. The Twins were 43-40 after a 6-2 win over Detroit on July 5, but lost four of the next five.

Scott Baker (7-7, 5.42 ERA) gets the start Saturday as Minnesota continues its 10-game trip. Since losing his first four starts with a 9.15 ERA, Baker has gone 7-3 with a 4.46 ERA in 13 outings.

Baker went 3-0 with a 3.12 ERA in his last four starts away from the Metrodome. He won three of his last four outings overall but was shaky in his last two, allowing 10 runs in 9 1-3 innings.

"With the exception of maybe a couple games, I feel like probably the last month and a half I've been throwing it pretty well," Baker told the Twins' official Web site following Sunday's 13-7 win over the Chicago White Sox.

Baker is 0-2 with a 7.47 ERA in three career starts against Texas.

Rangers All-Star outfielder Josh Hamilton is 2 for 2 with a walk versus Baker. Playing his first game at Rangers Ballpark since May 31 after an abdominal injury sidelined him 30 games, Hamilton went 3 for 4 with a two-run homer and an RBI single Friday.

"It was nice to see Ham swing the bat. After that, we couldn't get anything going," said manager Ron Washington, whose Rangers (48-40) lost their third in a row and had a five-game home winning streak snapped.

Scott Feldman (8-2, 3.83) takes the mound for Texas as he tries to win his fourth consecutive start. Feldman allowed two runs in 6 2-3 innings of a 6-4 victory at Seattle on July 10.

The right-hander is 8-2 with a 3.21 ERA in 15 starts since joining the rotation in late April. Feldman, making his second career start against Minnesota, is 0-0 with a 6.46 ERA in seven appearances versus the Twins.

Joe Mauer, the major leagues' leading hitter at .371, is 3 for 5 versus Feldman. The catcher's third-inning single Friday snapped an 0-for-10 slide.

Twins designated hitter Jason Kubel is batting .478 (11 for 23) with two homers and six RBIs during a six-game hitting streak. His three-run shot in the series opener was his 15th homer of the season - tied with Mauer for second most on the team behind Justin Morneau's 21.

"(Jason) doesn't get talked about too much around here, but if you look at his numbers ... that's a pretty good first half," manager Ron Gardenhire said.

Minnesota center fielder Carlos Gomez was 2 for 3 with a two-run triple Friday. He has hit .382 (13 for 34) in nine career games against Texas.