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Indians-Twins Preview

Aug 15, 2009 - 5:04 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Cleveland (49-65) at Minnesota (55-59), 4:10 p.m. EDT

The Minnesota Twins' struggles against the AL Central this month cost them the chance to improve their position in the standings, but they feel they've gotten a much-needed spark from their last game.

The Twins look to win back-to-back contests for the first time in August when they continue a three-game series with the punchless Cleveland Indians on Saturday.

Minnesota (56-59) won for only the fourth time in 12 games this month Friday, beating Cleveland (49-66) 11-0. Jason Kubel hit a two-run homer and drove in five runs, while Scott Baker pitched a two-hitter for his fourth straight win.

Twins starters entered Friday 3-7 with a 6.92 ERA this month, going 3-5 with a 5.63 ERA against teams from their own division during that stretch. Those poor numbers have prevented Minnesota from taking advantage of slumps by Detroit and Chicago. The Twins are five games behind the first-place Tigers, but are optimistic that their fortunes are about to be reversed.

"I sure hope so," Kubel said of Friday's win providing a spark. "I think we're all still thinking positive. We all know we're still in this. Until we're done, it's not going to feel like we're out of it."

Joe Mauer, who had three hits, two walks and two RBIs on Friday, will try to improve on his impressive numbers against the Indians on Saturday. He extended his hitting streak to 11 games Friday and is batting .577 against the Indians this season, including four three-hit games.

Cleveland, meanwhile, has lost three in a row after winning 13 of 19. The Indians have scored one run in the last three games and are 0 for 15 with runners in scoring position during the losing streak.

Shin-Shoo Choo, who hit .361 with 12 runs scored and 11 extra-base during his team's 13-6 stretch, is 0 for 10 in the last three games.

The Indians will try to snap their skid versus a pitcher they fared well against earlier this season.

Minnesota rookie Anthony Swarzak (3-5, 5.44 ERA) hopes to avoid losing a third straight start Saturday. He's given up 11 runs over four innings in his last two outings. The right-hander allowed seven runs and eight hits in one inning of a 10-8 loss to Detroit last Friday. He faced two batters in the second but was unable to retire either.

"I just couldn't make any of my pitches," Swarzak said. "I wasn't able to stay ahead of the hitters."

The rookie struggled against the Indians on June 3 as well, allowing six runs and nine hits in four innings of a 10-1 loss.

Cleveland's David Huff (6-6, 6.72) is also fumbling through his own difficult stretch recently.

Huff allowed four runs or more for the fourth straight start but came away with an 8-4 victory over the White Sox on Sunday. He gave up eight hits - including two home runs - in 6 1-3 innings to rebound from losses in his previous two starts.

The rookie has been hit hard in two outings against the Twins, losing both while compiling a 10.24 ERA.

Mauer is 4 for 6 with a double and a homer against the left-hander.