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Orioles-Twins Preview

Aug 24, 2009 - 12:12 AM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Baltimore (50-73) at Minnesota (60-63), 8:10 p.m. EDT

With 18 of their next 25 games at home, the Minnesota Twins will be in the comfort of the Metrodome for much of the next four weeks.

The Twins, though, haven't enjoyed much of a home-field advantage lately.

Minnesota tries to avoid losing four straight series at the Metrodome for the first time in eight seasons as it opens a three-game set against a Baltimore Orioles team that just won its first series since the All-Star break.

The Twins (61-63) open their nine-game homestand Monday night after capping off a 5-2 trip with Sunday's 10-3 victory over Kansas City.

Sparked by two seventh-inning home runs from Michael Cuddyer and a three-run triple by Denard Span in the same frame, Minnesota recorded its first road sweep since June 24-26, 2008, versus San Diego.

"A very special day and a very special scenario that happened," Cuddyer said becoming the first Twins player to hit two homers in one inning.

Minnesota, however, has dropped seven of nine at home. The last time the Twins lost four straight series at the Metrodome was Aug. 7-30, 2001.

Scott Baker (11-7, 4.62 ERA) will try to help Minnesota avoid that mark as he goes for his sixth straight victory in the series opener.

In his last outing, the right-hander allowed four runs and nine hits over 5 1-3 innings of Wednesday's 5-4 win at Texas. Baker gave up four runs in the third and fourth innings but settled down as the Twins rallied for back-to-back wins for the first time since July 28-29 against the Chicago White Sox.

"That start could have very easily gone south fast," said Baker, 5-0 with a 3.35 ERA in his last eight starts. "But I continued to make good pitches and for the most part it worked out."

Baker is 2-0 with a 3.48 ERA in four starts versus Baltimore.

He will face an Orioles team that defeated the White Sox 5-4 on Sunday for its first series victory since July 10-12, when it won two of three versus Toronto.

Baltimore (51-73) lost or tied its next 10 series, going 9-24 before taking two of three from the White Sox.

"It was good for us, certainly, to come in here against a team that's battling for a playoff spot and to play the way we did," second baseman Brian Roberts said. "I think that's a great sign for us."

Roberts is batting .400 with five homers, nine doubles and 13 RBIs in his last 12 games. He has reached base safely in 25 straight contests.

Chris Tillman (1-1, 4.80) gets the ball for the Orioles on Monday when he makes his sixth career start.

The rookie right-hander yielded three runs and seven hits over six-plus innings in Wednesday's 3-1 loss at Tampa Bay.

Three of the hits he allowed were homers on first pitches.

"I can't really knock myself because I'm being aggressive, but I have to make better pitches," said Tillman, who has surrendered nine homers. "I guess I'm giving them too good of a first strike, obviously."

Tillman has pitched six innings or more in each of his last four starts.

Joe Mauer, batting a major league-best .378, went 11 for 28 with three home runs on the Twins' trip. He is hitting .452 in 12 career home games against the Orioles.

Minnesota is one home loss shy of matching last season's total at the Metrodome, where it went 53-28.