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Twins-Angels Preview

Jul 23, 2009 - 5:24 AM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

Minnesota (48-46) at Los Angeles (54-38), 10:05 p.m. EDT

The Los Angeles Angels may have a number of regulars out, but their offense continues to shine.

The Angels will try to extend their winning streak to six games Thursday night in the opener of a four-game home set against the Minnesota Twins, who have given up a boatload of runs lately.

Los Angeles (55-38) has shown no signs of slowing down despite playing without Vladimir Guerrero, Torii Hunter and Juan Rivera. Guerrero (strained knee) and Hunter (strained adductor) are on the disabled list, while Rivera has missed the last four games with a tight right hamstring.

The Angels have scored 39 runs during their five-game streak, including 27 in a three-game sweep at Kansas City. Maicer Izturis drove in four runs and Chone Figgins had four hits Wednesday as Los Angeles scored five times in the eighth inning for a 9-6 win - its major league-leading 30th come-from-behind victory.

"This a team that never looks at the scoreboard, we never let our guard down," Izturis said through an interpreter. "Regardless of what happened early in the game, we don't try to get out of our game."

First baseman Kendry Morales had two hits to extend his career-best hitting streak to 20 games. Morales is batting .377 (29 for 77) with 14 runs, five homers and 16 RBIs during his run.

The Twins (48-47) will be looking for a big effort from starter Scott Baker (8-7, 5.10 ERA) on Thursday after their pitching was battered in a three-game series at Oakland. Minnesota gave up 32 runs and 44 hits in losing two of three, including a 16-1 loss Wednesday in which its bullpen was forced to log seven innings.

"We just got murdered," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "It wasn't much fun. Matter of fact, it was no fun. There was not really any fun."

Gardenhire also got bad news on third baseman Joe Crede, who was scratched after a setback with his bothersome right shoulder. Crede re-aggravated the injury Tuesday and will see a specialist Thursday.

Brendan Harris has started three of the last four games at third with Crede out. Harris was a major factor when the Twins swept three at home from the Angels from April 17-19, going 5 for 13 (.385) with a homer and four runs scored.

Baker, meanwhile, looks to continue his resurgence and win a third straight start. He is 6-1 with a 3.97 ERA in his last nine outings after going 2-6 with a 6.32 ERA in his first nine.

The right-hander was very sharp Saturday at Texas, yielding one run over eight innings in a 4-1 victory. He retired his final nine hitters.

"I want to have a big impact on this team in the second half," Baker said. "It'll definitely start with pitching."

Baker, though, has never made much of an impact against the Angels. He is 0-4 with a 5.88 ERA against them, lasting past the sixth inning just once.

The Angels' Jered Weaver (10-3, 3.48) had a poor outing Saturday partly because he fell ill during the first inning. He lasted 3 2-3 innings - his shortest outing since July 22, 2008 - and gave up five runs in an 11-6 victory at Oakland.

"I just felt nauseous and woozy," Weaver said.

Weaver had been 7-1 with a 3.76 ERA in his previous 10 starts.

The right-hander is 2-1 with a 2.60 ERA in four career starts versus Minnesota. Twins All-Star Justin Morneau is 2 for 11 (.182) with four strikeouts against Weaver, while right fielder Michael Cuddyer is 1 for 9 (.111).