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Orioles-Twins Preview

Aug 26, 2009 - 6:41 AM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Baltimore (51-75) at Minnesota (63-63), 8:10 p.m. EDT

Justin Morneau's absence didn't hurt Minnesota's productivity at the plate much. Still, the Twins are certainly glad to have the AL MVP candidate back as they make a run at the AL Central title.

Morneau, who has ended a long homerless drought, leads the Twins as they try to extend a season-best five-game winning streak in the finale of a three-game set with the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday night.

Minnesota (63-63) has won seven of eight after a rough stretch, playing well despite missing Morneau for six contests due to an inner ear infection.

In his second game back, the All-Star first baseman homered for the first time in 51 at-bats, and Delmon Young's fourth hit of the night drove in the winning run in the Twins' 7-6 win over the Orioles (51-75) on Tuesday. Morneau homered for the first time since Aug. 2, against the Los Angeles Angels, and has 29 on the season.

Minnesota averaged 6.3 runs in six games without Morneau and scored 5.9 per game over its last eight.

Morneau's latest homer helped Minnesota win five straight for the first time since a 10-game run from June 17-27, 2008. The Twins have moved into a second-place tie with Chicago in the AL East, and trail first-place Detroit by 4 1/2 games.

Young helped the Twins remain hot at the plate without Morneau, and he continues to play well after a poor start.

Young is hitting .292 with three homers and 13 RBIs over his last 10 games, raising his average to .266. The left fielder hit .241 in April and .236 in May.

"He's been swinging great this month and we need that," Twins right fielder Michael Cuddyer said. "Since he's been swinging great, we've been playing better. I think that's a direct correlation."

Young and the Twins will next face Jeremy Guthrie (8-12, 5.45 ERA), who is scheduled to take his turn in Baltimore's rotation. He is coming off his first win in over a month, giving up one run in seven innings to earn a win in the Orioles' 5-1 victory over the White Sox on Friday night.

The right-hander went 0-4 with a 7.55 ERA in his previous five starts.

Guthrie has not received a decision in one start and two relief appearances all-time against the Twins, posting a 3.75 ERA.

Minnesota will counter with Nick Blackburn (8-8, 4.27), who is 0-4 with an 8.82 ERA in seven starts since his last win, against the Chicago White Sox on July 10. He's coming off one of his better outings during that stretch, though, giving up three runs and striking out six in seven innings of Minnesota's 5-4, 10-inning win over Kansas City on Friday night.

The right-hander struggled in his only start against the Orioles, allowing six runs and nine hits - four homers - in four innings as the Twins lost 7-3 on Sept. 14, 2008.

He'll face a Baltimore lineup that bounced back nicely after losing this series' opener 2-1 on Monday night.

Brian Roberts, though, went 0 for 5, failing to reach base for the first time in 27 games. That had been the longest active streak in the majors.

The second baseman is 1 for 16 against the Twins this year.