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Twins continue road trip against Red Sox

May 8, 2011 - 2:45 PM (Sports Network) - The Minnesota Twins continue their lengthy nine-game road trip this afternoon as they play the third of a four-game set versus the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.

With just 12 victories thus far the Twins are tied with the Chicago White Sox for the fewest in the American League. While Minnesota has certainly seen better days, the club can at least be thankful that it is not the worst team in the league, a distinction that goes to Chicago, which is now 10 games under .500.

On Saturday afternoon the Twins had to endure not only a rain delay of more than two hours up in Beantown, they also had to deal with an inefficient offense that failed to score in a 4-0 setback. The defeat snapped a three-game win streak by Minnesota, a squad which is now seven games below .500 and 9 1/2 games out of contention in the AL Central. Michael Cuddyer accounted for two of his team's three hits.

Twins starter Brian Duensing was saddled with the loss after he allowed one run in two innings. The hurler didn't return following the rain delay, instead handing the ball to Kevin Slowey, who threw 4 1/3 innings of work after just coming off the disabled list.

"Obviously it would have been nice to win, but it will come," Slowey said after making his return to the mound.

Boston starter Clay Buchholz was able to make it through five innings, allowing just two hits as he picked up his third win of the campaign. Closer Jonathan Papelbon was one of four relievers to throw an inning for the hosts, fanning a pair as he held the Twins hitless in the ninth.

Jacoby Ellsbury recorded two hits for the Sox, plating a pair, while Marco Scutaro, Carl Crawford and Kevin Youkilis all posted a couple of hits for the club as well. In the case of Crawford, who is hitting just .210 on the season thus far, he extended his current hit streak to seven games and is batting .407 (11-for-27) during the span.

Today's matchup pits a pair of hurlers who are both vying for their third win of the season and hoping to reach .500 with a victory as Daisuke Matsuzaka steps to the hill for the hosts and the Twins call on Carl Pavano.

In the case of Minnesota's right-hander, Pavano is also shooting for the 100th win of his career. The Connecticut native who is now in his 13th year in the majors, suffered his second loss in the last three starts a week ago when he was tagged for six earned runs in just 5 1/3 innings of work versus Kansas City. Pavano gave up a season-high 12 hits and failed to register either a walk or a strikeout for the first time in 2011. Hoping to rebound from a bout of the flu, Pavano has a career mark of 3-3 against Boston with a 6.09 ERA in seven games.

As for Matsuzaka, he actually made an appearance in relief the last time he threw and ended up the hard-luck loser in the team's 5-3 setback against the Los Angeles Angels in 13 innings on Wednesday night. The pricey Japanese product was touched for two runs on three hits and a walk in just the single inning earlier this week.

The right-hander, who saw his scheduled start on Friday go to Tim Wakefield, has a career record of 2-1 with a 2.30 ERA versus the Twins.

Minnesota hurlers have had their issues over the last seven days, ranking last in the American League in strikeouts during that term with a mere 25. Opposing batters have hit a robust .279 during those six games against Twins pitchers and while Boston's staff hasn't been as soft, they too have been knocked around (.270) in the last eight outings.

From an offensive standpoint over the last week, Minnesota hitters have batted a mere .214 and the squad has but 12 RBI during that stretch. Justin Morneau has one of the team's three home runs in the last week, but with just two other singles he is batting a mere .158 during the stretch.

Boston, which has won the season series against the Twins each of the last three years, is 8-1 at Fenway dating back to 2008.