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Twins-Athletics Preview

Jul 20, 2009 - 5:53 AM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Minnesota (47-45) at Oakland (38-52), 10:05 p.m. EDT

The last time they traveled to face the Oakland Athletics, the Minnesota Twins were the worst road team in the American League.

Since then, they've been one of the best.

As they open a three-game series against the struggling A's on Monday night, the Twins will try to continue their improved play away from home and keep surging toward the AL Central lead.

Before splitting four games against Oakland from June 8-11, Minnesota was an AL-worst 7-18 on the road. Now, the Twins enter this series having won 12 of their last 19 away from the Metrodome.

The Twins' victory total is second only to Seattle's 13, and their .632 winning percentage is second-highest behind the Los Angeles Angels' .705. Minnesota (47-45) has used that turnaround to move within two games of division-leading Detroit.

The Twins missed their first road sweep this season with Sunday's 5-3 loss in 12 innings to Texas. Minnesota couldn't hold on to an early two-run lead as it managed two hits in the final eight innings.

The Twins lost when Ian Kinsler hit R.A. Dickey's fastball into the left field seats for his second homer of the night.

"The pitch rested in my hand and I threw the wrong pitch," Dickey said. "I cost us this one."

Nick Blackburn (8-4, 3.06 ERA) will look to help Minnesota rebound by earning a season high-tying third straight win.

Blackburn has posted a 2.81 ERA in his two victories this month and has received an average of 5.5 runs per game. However, the right-hander has dropped consecutive road starts because he's gotten a combined three runs to work with.

The Twins, who play 13 of their next 19 away from home, have also lost four straight road games when Blackburn has pitched, including 4-3 on June 11 against the A's. He did not factor in the decision, and is 0-1 with a 3.32 ERA in three career starts against Oakland.

Since their most recent series versus the Twins, the A's (38-52) have lost 20 of 31 with a 4-9 home record in that span. They dropped three of four at the Oakland Coliseum in a weekend series with the visiting Angels.

Brett Anderson took a perfect game into the seventh inning Sunday, but the A's managed only four hits and went 0 for 4 with runners in scoring position in a 1-0 loss in 10 innings.

"We had more chances than they did," Oakland manager Bob Geren told his team's official Web site.

Andrew Bailey came on to relieve Anderson and allowed one hit in two innings - a solo homer to Bobby Abreu.

Oakland's Gio Gonzalez (1-2, 6.29) will make his first career appearance against the Twins.

The left-hander, who was 0-2 with a 7.27 ERA in his first two outings after being recalled from Triple-A Sacramento on June 24, struck out a career-high eight in his previous start - a 5-2 victory on July 5 in Cleveland.

He gave one run, one hit, walked two and struck out two in one inning of relief on July 10 in a 6-0 loss to Tampa Bay.