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Orioles-Twins Preview

Aug 25, 2009 - 4:59 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Baltimore (51-73) at Minnesota (61-63), 8:10 p.m. EDT

Having put together the most momentum they've had in more than a month, the Minnesota Twins are trusting a rookie making his major league debut to help them maintain it.

Armando Gabino takes the mound Tuesday when the Twins continue a three-game series with the Baltimore Orioles, looking to win their season-high fifth straight.

It was a difficult start to August for Minnesota (62-63), which began the month losing 11 of 15. But the Twins remain in the AL Central race thanks to their recent surge and the struggles of Detroit and Chicago.

After sweeping a three-game series against Kansas City over the weekend, Minnesota extended its winning streak to four with a 2-1 victory over Baltimore (51-74) on Monday. Scott Baker pitched seven strong innings and Jason Kubel hit a sacrifice fly in the sixth to score the go-ahead run. Alexi Casilla had tied the game earlier in the inning after scoring on a wild pitch by Chris Tillman.

It was only the fourth time in 31 games that Minnesota has won when scoring fewer than three runs, and the victory came despite AL batting leader Joe Mauer going 0 for 4.

"You can see the excitement, you can feel the excitement that we're going to find a way to win," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "That's the feeling you have to have. We feel better about ourselves."

The Twins, who are trying to move back to .500 for the first time since Aug. 4, haven't won five in a row since July 1-6, 2008.

They'll turn to Gabino, who was mainly used as a reliever in Triple-A Rochester, on Tuesday. The 25-year-old right-hander is replacing Anthony Swarzak in the rotation. He was 5-3 with a 2.83 ERA in 36 appearances - five starts - at Rochester.

Justin Morneau and the Twins offense will try to provide the rookie with some run support. Morneau returned to the lineup Monday after missing six games with an inner ear infection. He went 0 for 2 with two walks and is now hitless in his last three games.

The Orioles, meanwhile, have been outscored 30-14 in losing six of their last eight at the Metrodome. Brian Roberts, though, extended his recent surge at the plate with a with a run-scoring double. He's hitting .390 over the last 13 games, with 15 of his 23 hits going for extra bases.

Despite Roberts' contribution, it was the third time in six contests Baltimore was held to only one run.

The Orioles will try to bounce back Tuesday when they hand the ball to Brian Matusz (2-2, 6.75 ERA).

Matusz is making his fifth major league start. He gave up four runs and struck out seven in 5 1-3 innings of an 8-7 win over Tampa Bay on Thursday. It was his first victory since beating Detroit in his major league debut Aug. 4.

The rookie left-hander hasn't faced the Twins.