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Jul 22, 2009 - 6:15 AM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

Minnesota (48-46) at Oakland (39-53), 3:35 p.m. EDT

After suffering the heartbreak of losing a game in which they matched a franchise record by blowing a 10-run lead, the Minnesota Twins have put themselves into position to win another road series.

The Twins will try to capture their sixth straight road series Wednesday when they finish a three-game set against the Oakland Athletics.

Minnesota (48-46) won two of three at Texas over the weekend to begin this 10-game trip, before letting a 12-2 lead slip away Monday en route to a 14-13 loss to Oakland (39-53). The only other time the Twins blew a 10-run lead was in an 11-10 loss at Cleveland on Sept. 28, 1984.

The Twins bounced back Tuesday with a 3-2 win in 10 innings. Michael Cuddyer tripled in the go-ahead run in the 10th inning to gain a measure of revenge after he was called out on a controversial play at the plate to end Monday's game.

"As I told him before walking up, 'This time be safe,'" Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "He made somebody else safe. That's a good thing."

Minnesota has won every road series since splitting four games at Oakland from June 8-11. The season series is tied at three apiece, with four one-run games - 12 of the last 23 meetings between these clubs have been decided by one run.

Twins All-Star catcher Joe Mauer returned to the lineup Tuesday after not starting the series opener due to a 1-for-22 (.045) slump. Mauer had two hits, and is 10 for 23 (.435) versus the A's this year.

Oakland managed only four hits, one night after finishing with a season-high 22. Matt Holliday, who had four hits and six RBIs on Monday, went 0 for 4 in the defeat.

"We had good pitching tonight - a lot different than last night, that's for sure," Oakland manager Bob Geren said after Tuesday's loss. "Offensively we just had one little spurt there where we scored two runs on back-to-back hits. But after that they shut us down pretty good."

All-Star closer Andrew Bailey allowed Cuddyer's hit in the 10th and suffered his third loss, two of which have come against the Twins. Bailey was available despite receiving an injection in his troublesome left knee Monday.

Minnesota's Glen Perkins (5-5, 4.75 ERA) will make his first career start against the A's. He has pitched well in day games this year, with a 2.83 ERA in five outings, compared to his 6.14 ERA in nine starts at night.

The left-hander last pitched Friday in the opener of this trip at Texas, giving up three runs over five innings in a 5-3 win to even his record. Perkins threw 102 pitches - his highest total in his last eight starts.

Rookie Trevor Cahill (5-8, 4.72) is 0-3 with a 9.87 ERA in his last three starts for Oakland. He allowed three runs over 4 2-3 innings Friday against the Los Angeles Angels, though the A's went on to win 7-3.

The right-hander is making his second start against the Twins. He yielded three runs in seven innings but did not get a decision in a 4-3 Oakland victory on June 11.