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Angels-Twins Preview

Aug 21, 2010 - 4:23 AM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

Los Angeles (61-61) at Minnesota (70-51), 4:10 p.m. EDT

The Minnesota Twins have received a string of solid starts during their four-game win streak over the Los Angeles Angels, including one by Kevin Slowey.

Slowey will try to extend his 15-inning scoreless streak at Target Field after flirting with a no-hitter his last time out when the Twins and Angels continue a three-game series Saturday.

Minnesota (71-51) pushed its lead atop the AL Central to 4 1/2 games over Chicago with a 7-2 victory Friday. Brian Duensing yielded one run in eight innings for the Twins, who bounced back after having their nine-game home win streak snapped Thursday by the White Sox.

Duensing's effort made Minnesota starters 4-0 with a 2.00 ERA in their last four games against Los Angeles (61-62). Slowey (11-5, 4.22 ERA) earned a 10-1 victory April 8 in Anaheim by yielding one run over 5 1-3 innings.

The right-hander was in the spotlight Sunday against Oakland. He threw 106 pitches and was pulled after seven hitless innings in a 4-2 home victory.

Manager Ron Gardenhire made the decision since elbow tendinitis caused Slowey to miss his previous start. The pitcher didn't argue.

"I was encouraged by the way it was presented to me," Slowey said. "I was encouraged by the fact that Gardy and (pitching coach Rick Anderson) care a whole lot about me as a person and as a pitcher in the long term than they do about winning one game or having one accomplishment. I think that says a lot about them, and it says a lot about our organization."

Slowey is 3-1 with a 4.00 ERA in five career starts against the Angels. He's limited Hideki Matsui to a double in eight at-bats, and Matsui is expected to be back in the lineup after sitting out Friday against the left-handed Duensing.

Juan Rivera replaced him and went 1 for 4. Matsui homered and drove in four runs in Thursday's 7-2 victory at Boston, and is 8 for 14 over his last four games.

"Hideki is swinging the bat at a higher level and is going to be in there virtually every day," manager Mike Scioscia told the Angels' official website. "It's a good day to get Juan some at-bats."

Minnesota used an 11-hit attack Friday that featured Jason Kubel's three-run homer in the third inning.

Los Angeles has dropped four of five to fall eight games behind AL West leader Texas.

Trevor Bell (1-3, 5.40) will make a spot start after two appearances in the bullpen since his last start Aug. 8 at Detroit, where he allowed six runs over 5 1-3 innings in a 9-4 loss. The Angels haven't needed a fifth starter since that contest.

"Things are feeling good," Bell said. "I'm going to keep on an even keel. I got in the mid-80s in my pitch count in Detroit and felt strong enough to keep going. If they want me to go 100, I feel I could get there, definitely."

The right-hander has thrown more than 85 pitches once in his career. He's 0-2 with a 6.43 ERA in three starts this year, and has never faced the Twins.