• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Red Sox-Twins Preview

Apr 13, 2010 - 7:15 PM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

Boston (3-4) at Minnesota (6-2), 1:10 p.m. EDT

It didn't take the Minnesota Twins long to begin enjoying their new ballpark, and the club's move outdoors didn't immediately stop the Boston Red Sox's troubles in the Twin Cities.

Perhaps Boston's biggest offseason acquisition will.

The Twins can continue their impressive start and improve to 2-0 at Target Field on Wednesday, but the Red Sox will send John Lackey to the mound on the heels of his strong debut.

After nearly three decades playing in the Metrodome, Minnesota (6-2) celebrated the opening of its new open-air stadium with a 5-2 win over Boston on Monday.

"I've been waiting a long time," reigning AL MVP and St. Paul native Joe Mauer said. "It's definitely a special place, and I'm glad it's here."

Carl Pavano got the first win at the ballpark, while Jason Kubel hit the first home run. Mauer went 3 for 5 with two RBIs, improving his average to .423 during the Twins' fast start.

"It's only fitting, a Minnesota boy playing in his home ballpark," Twins outfielder Denard Span said of Mauer, who signed an eight-year, $184 contract extension with the Twins last month. "You can't write a better script than that. He's probably going to be doing that about 80 more times here. You guys might want to go ahead and get used to that."

An early concern for the reigning AL Central champions was the back end of their bullpen after All-Star closer Joe Nathan had season-ending Tommy John surgery, but Jon Rauch converted his fifth save in as many opportunities Monday, when even the weather cooperated.

"It was colder in spring training than here," Span said. "All around, a perfect day for everybody."

That is, except the Red Sox, whose mediocre start continued.

Another loss would give Boston (3-4) its eighth series defeat in its last 10 trips to Minnesota, where it has lost 20 of 29 games. Boston manager Terry Francona, who compared the Metrodome to an office building, called Target Field "beautiful."

Lackey (0-0, 0.00 ERA) may be able to help. Including the postseason, he's 7-5 with a 3.50 ERA in his career against the Twins, although Mauer is 9 for 20 (.450) with two homers against him.

In his first start after signing a five-year, $82.5 million contract, Lackey allowed three hits in six shutout innings against the New York Yankees last Wednesday, although Boston's bullpen sputtered in a 3-1, 10-inning loss.

"I was able to make a couple of big pitches in tough spots," Lackey said. "I had a lot of things on my mind. With added pressure and being here I wanted to make a good impression."

Minnesota will counter with Kevin Slowey, who won his first start Thursday, allowing a run and seven hits in 5 1-3 innings of a 10-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels.

"It was a bit of a battle for me," Slowey told the Twins' official Web site. "Certainly the most important thing is we won. ... Hopefully my next start will be a little more consistent and it won't feel like I'm fighting myself as much."

Slowey (1-0, 1.69) beat Boston 4-2 with six strong innings on May 27. He may face a Red Sox lineup with Jacoby Ellsbury at the top after the outfielder missed Monday's game with bruised ribs.