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Athletics-Twins Preview

Aug 14, 2010 - 5:03 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Oakland (57-56) at Minnesota (65-50), 7:10 p.m. EDT

Minnesota prevented Oakland ace Trevor Cahill from winning a career-high four straight starts once already this season.

The AL Central-leading Twins must do it again in order to extend their home winning streak to six games Saturday night against the Athletics.

Though he has never lost to Minnesota, the All-Star right-hander was looking to win a fourth consecutive start when he allowed three runs and walked four in six innings of a 4-3 loss to Minnesota on June 5.

Cahill (12-4, 2.56 ERA) finds himself in the same situation after giving up two unearned runs and 11 hits over 25 innings of his last three outings. He had his 23-inning scoreless streak snapped after allowing the two in eight innings of a 3-2 win over Texas on Sunday.

"He just continues to go out there and keeps doing everything right," Oakland reliever Michael Wuertz said.

Overall against Minnesota, Cahill is 1-0 with a 3.15 ERA in three starts - all at home.

Minnesota All-Star Joe Mauer is 1 for 9 against Cahill but hitting .491 in his last 15 games despite going 0 for 4 in Friday's 4-3 win over the Athletics (57-57).

The Twins (66-50), who hold a one-game lead over the White Sox in the Central, are 20-8 since the All-Star break and look to win six straight at home for the second time this season.

Minnesota's starting pitchers have allowed five runs and struck out 30 in 33 2-3 innings during the five-game home winning streak.

After Carl Pavano gave up two in 6 1-3 innings Friday, Brian Duensing (5-1, 2.27) takes the mound trying to win for the third time in five starts. The former reliever is 2-0 with a 3.33 ERA in four starts after giving up four runs in 7 1-3 innings of a 5-4 win at Cleveland on Sunday.

In Duensing's only start against Oakland, the left-hander allowed eight hits and struck out six in seven innings of an 8-0 win Sept 13.

Danny Valencia had two RBIs and two of Minnesota's five hits Friday night. The rookie third baseman is batting .318 with 17 RBIs in 44 games since being recalled from the minors.

Minnesota's lineup could get a boost if shortstop J.J. Hardy is able to return this weekend after missing the last two games with a wrist injury. However, a return date for slugger Justin Morneau has not been determined. A concussion has kept the first baseman out of the lineup since July 7.

"Putting him in a situation where he could jeopardize his season, his career, his livelihood, we're not going to do that. It's just not going to happen," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said of Morneau, who was hitting .345 with 18 home runs and 56 RBIs before the injury.

Mark Ellis had three hits while Daric Barton and Jack Cust each had two with an RBI in the opener for Oakland. The A's had 14 hits but went 2 for 20 with runners in scoring position.

"That's frustrating when guys are hitting the ball well and not getting anything to show for it," said Cust, who is 6 for 13 against the Twins this season.

Oakland has lost 14 of 19 at Minnesota, batting .238 during those games.