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Rockies-Twins Preview

Jun 17, 2010 - 4:53 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Colorado (33-31) at Minnesota (37-27), 1:10 p.m. EDT

Ubaldo Jimenez and Francisco Liriano spent time training together in the Dominican Republic while the latter was recovering from Tommy John surgery and the former was preparing for his first season as a starter.

It's unlikely either could have foreseen then how dominant both would be coming into Thursday's series finale at Target Field between the Colorado Rockies and Minnesota Twins.

In a matchup pitting two of the game's top young pitchers, Jimenez (12-1, 1.16 ERA) easily comes in with the most buzz as his breakout season has made him the favorite for the NL Cy Young Award. He will take the mound looking to win his seventh straight start and help Colorado (33-32) avoid a sweep.

Jimenez has stopped three-game losing streaks by his team in each of his last two starts, including Friday at home against Toronto.

Pitching in the rain, the right-hander gave up a season-high three runs, walking five and striking out six over six innings of a 5-3 win that was called after the Rockies pitched in the bottom of the sixth.

Though it was by most standards a solid performance, Jimenez saw his ERA rise from 0.93 and didn't display the control he'd possessed all season.

Jimenez leads the majors in wins and ERA, with a run at Bob Gibson's record 1.12 ERA from 1968 not out of the question. His dominance has impressed Liriano.

"I'm really happy for him having a great year," the Twins' ace told MLB.com. "He throws hard. He's got good stuff and he knows what he's doing on the mound. He's a great guy too."

Liriano (6-3, 2.90) has been impressive in his own right. After struggling for two seasons following Tommy John surgery, the left-hander has regained his form. He has struck out 21 in his last two starts and 35 over his last 28 innings pitched.

"It's been fun for me because last year I didn't feel like myself throwing, the way my arm was feeling," he said. "I think it's been pretty good for me, so far, having fun and just take it game by game."

Liriano gave up one run and struck out 11 over eight innings of a 2-1 win over Atlanta on Friday. He has never faced the Rockies.

"From a baseball standpoint, it out to be a real entertaining and hopefully the billing will live up to it - at least on our side and not their side," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said.

Jimenez made his only start against the Twins in 2008, allowing three runs and eight hits over seven innings of a 4-2 home loss.

He will try to help the Rockies salvage one win in this series after losing 9-3 on Tuesday and 2-1 on Wednesday.

Scott Baker struck out a career-high 12 over seven scoreless innings while Danny Valencia and Nick Punto drove in the runs for the AL Central-leading Twins (38-27), who were held to two runs for the third time in five games.

Thanks to Baker, the lack of offense didn't hurt. Colorado's only run came on a passed ball in the eighth.

The Rockies have dropped two straight and eight of 13 to fall five games behind NL West-leading Los Angeles. They're trying to avoid their third three-game losing streak of the month and fifth of 2010.