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Orioles-Twins Preview

May 5, 2010 - 11:05 PM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Baltimore (7-20) at Minnesota (18-9), 8:10 p.m. EDT

After enjoying years of success at the Metrodome, the Minnesota Twins are growing quite comfortable in their new home park.

The Baltimore Orioles seem unlikely to spoil that home-field advantage.

The AL Central-leading Twins look to win their fourth straight at Target Field on Thursday night when they open a four-game series against the lowly Orioles, owners of the majors leagues' worst road record.

Minnesota's .606 home winning percentage from 2002-09 was the third best in baseball, helping the club to five division titles. The Twins (19-9) said goodbye to the Metrodome after last season, and have apparently brought that home edge to their new outdoor park.

Minnesota, 9-3 at Target Field, began a nine-game homestand this week with a three-game sweep of Detroit. With a 5-4 win Wednesday, the Twins opened a 3 1/2-game lead over the second-place Tigers.

"It's good to put distance between you and them no matter how early it is," said first baseman Justin Morneau, who leads the majors with a .483 on-base percentage.

Denard Span once again sparked Minnesota offensively with Joe Mauer (bruised left heel) sitting out his fifth straight game.

Span singled three times, walked, scored and drove in a run, and has gone 11 for 22 with four RBIs and five runs in the last five games. He has recorded at least a hit in his last 10 at Target Field, batting .410 with eight RBIs and eight runs.

While success at home has helped Minnesota to one of the best records in baseball, road woes are a big part of Baltimore having the worst mark in the majors.

The Orioles, 3-13 away from Camden Yards, are coming off a three-game sweep at Yankee Stadium.

After dropping the first two in the Bronx by 4-1 scores, the Orioles (7-21) lost the finale 7-5 on Wednesday. Baltimore, 3-2 against the Twins last season, trailed 6-1 after seven innings before scoring four times against New York's bullpen.

Matt Wieters hit a ninth-inning home run, his fourth homer of the season and third in five games. The Orioles had two homers in the ninth, but didn't face closer Mariano Rivera.

Struggling Brad Bergesen (1-2, 10.57 ERA) will get the start for Baltimore on Thursday. The right-hander was sent to the minors after posting a 12.19 ERA in his first three starts, then was recalled Saturday to face Boston. He earned the win, but yielded four runs and seven hits - two homers - in five innings of a 12-9 victory.

Bergesen has allowed six first-inning runs, which does not bode well against a Minnesota team that has been getting off to fast starts.

The Twins led 2-0 after the first Wednesday, becoming the first team to score at least two runs in that inning six straight times since the 1971 Yankees did so in seven.

In his only career start against Minnesota on May 7, 2009, Bergesen allowed three runs and 11 hits in six innings of a 5-4 win, but didn't receive a decision.

The Twins will counter with Carl Pavano (3-2, 3.73), who takes the mound after an extra day's rest because of a stiff neck.

Pavano pitched with the neck discomfort last Thursday in Detroit and it didn't seem to bother him. The right-hander gave up three runs in eight innings but suffered a 3-0 defeat.

This will be Pavano's first start against the Orioles since Sept. 19, 2008, when he allowed two runs in five innings of a 3-2 win for the Yankees.