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Brewers-Twins Preview

May 22, 2010 - 5:14 AM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

Milwaukee (16-25) at Minnesota (24-17), 4:10 p.m. EDT

The Milwaukee Brewers lost their final five games and 12 of their last 16 at the Metrodome, so the Minnesota Twins' designated interleague rivals were one of many teams hoping a new open-air facility would lend them better luck in the Twin Cities.

After just one visit, the Brewers might rather try their luck at the Metrodome again than return to Target Field.

Milwaukee's first trip to the Twins' new facility resulted in their worst interleague loss in 185 games, an embarrassment the Brewers hope to bounce back from Saturday afternoon as Yovani Gallardo makes his first start against Minnesota.

Milwaukee (16-26) snapped a nine-game losing streak with a 4-3 win in Pittsburgh on Friday, providing a much-needed boost heading into a city where they haven't had a whole lot of luck recently.

The Brewers' initial trip to baseball's newest facility went even worse than their final visits to the Metrodome. Dave Bush gave up seven first-inning runs, and the Twins (25-17) pounded out 17 hits in a 15-3 win to improve to a major league-best 54-19 in interleague play since 2006.

The 12-run margin tied Minnesota's largest against the NL, while it was the Brewers' widest interleague margin of defeat.

"Score a touchdown, and it goes from there," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said.

The only minor drama came when Carlos Gomez hit a three-run, eighth-inning homer in his first game against his former team. He flipped his bat close to Minnesota catcher Joe Mauer, and stood and admired his shot into the second deck.

"Some things never change," Gardenhire said. "That irritated a few people."

A loss Saturday would guarantee Milwaukee a fifth straight series loss against the Twins, but it'll feel at least somewhat confident with its top starter on the hill. Gallardo (4-2, 2.89 ERA) hasn't allowed more than two runs in his last seven starts, and he's won four consecutive decisions despite some control problems.

Six walks hurt Gallardo's cause Monday at Cincinnati, though he allowed only one run over six innings in a 6-3 loss. The right-hander is second in the NL with 29 walks.

Gallardo has never faced Minnesota, but any potential wildness could prove to be a major problem against the Twins. Minnesota draws the second-most walks in the AL (4.26 per game) and is second in the majors in on-base percentage (.355), led by major league leader Justin Morneau (.480).

Morneau, who had three hits Friday, has 19 RBIs and a .455 on-base percentage in his last 14 games against Milwaukee.

Control hasn't been an issue for Kevin Slowey (5-3, 4.70), who's allowed six walks in his last six starts, but giving up hits has. Slowey allows 11.66 hits per nine innings, the fifth-most in the majors.

Slowey gave up eight hits and three runs over five innings Monday at Toronto, but got plenty of support from Morneau (two homers, four RBIs) in an 8-3 win.

The right-hander has made it through six innings once in eight starts.

"There aren't any frustrations," Slowey told the Twins' official website. "I mean, it is still a game, it is my job absolutely, and I want to do well, but I'm working as hard as I can - it's not for lack of effort."

Fortunately for Slowey, the Brewers tend to bring out his best. He's 3-0 with a 1.48 ERA in three starts versus Milwaukee since 2008, lasting at least 7 1-3 innings each time and pitching a three-hit shutout in June 2008.

Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun are a combined 4 for 24 with seven strikeouts against Slowey.