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Twins-Brewers Preview

Jun 21, 2010 - 10:47 PM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Minnesota (40-29) at Milwaukee (29-40), 8:10 p.m. EDT

The Minnesota Twins had yet another successful road interleague series over the weekend. With Scott Baker on the mound, they seem to have a good opportunity to continue their momentum.

Winners of six straight road series against NL teams, the Twins hope for another strong interleague start from Baker as they open a three-game set with the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night.

Minnesota (40-29) won two of three games at Philadelphia over the weekend, including a 4-1 victory in the series finale Sunday to remain 1 1/2 games ahead of second-place Detroit in the AL Central. The Twins have won all six of their series in NL ballparks since dropping two of three at Colorado from May 16-18, 2008.

They've won 28 of their last 40 road interleague contests, including four series victories over the Brewers (29-40). Minnesota has a 3.49 ERA in winning nine of 13 at Milwaukee.

Baker (6-5, 4.41 ERA) has earned three wins during that stretch, including the teams' last matchup at Miller Park. He gave up three runs in six innings of a 6-4 victory June 25, 2009.

The right-hander hasn't been extraordinary on the road versus the Brewers, posting a 4.26 ERA, but is 5-0 with a 2.89 ERA in his last seven interleague outings overall, striking out 44 in 46 2-3 innings.

In his last start, Baker struck out a career-high 12 while surrendering two hits in seven shutout innings to earn a win in Minnesota's 2-1 victory over Colorado on Wednesday night.

Baker had nine strikeouts and a 5.89 ERA over his previous three outings.

"Strikeouts are nice, but it's kind of hard work sometimes to strike a bunch of guys out," Baker said. "I think you want to be super efficient, and sometimes striking guys out that's not the case."

Milwaukee will counter with Chris Narveson (5-4, 5.79), who is 4-4 with a 5.53 ERA in 10 starts since replacing Jeff Suppan in the rotation in late April. Narveson struggled in his last outing, allowing five runs and seven hits in 4 1-3 innings of a 5-1 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday night.

The left-hander has surrendered five homers in his last four games after giving up one over his previous five outings.

"He's been all right," manager Ken Macha told the Brewers' official website. "He has to avoid the homers and the big innings."

Narveson is making his first start against the Twins, who scored 22 runs in their series with the Phillies.

Justin Morneau has homered in two straight games for Minnesota. The three-time All-Star is 7 for 17 (.412) with six RBIs over his last six road games.

Delmon Young has had a strong stretch of his own at the plate for the Twins, batting .426 with three homers and 16 RBIs in his last 15 contests. Young is hitting .386 with 11 RBIs in 10 games versus the Brewers.

Milwaukee's lineup had a strong finish to its weekend series, scoring 13 runs in two games after being limited to one over its previous two contests.

The Brewers avoided a three-game sweep to Colorado, winning 6-1 on Sunday behind Corey Hart's two hits and three RBIs.

Hart has 16 RBIs over his last 12 games, but is hitting .192 with 25 strikeouts in 20 contests against the Twins.

Milwaukee lost two of three games at Minnesota from May 21-23.