• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Jays hope to break the brooms out on slumping Twins

May 15, 2011 - 2:45 PM (Sports Network) - (Sports Network) - Winners of four straight games, the Toronto Blue Jays will attempt to complete a three-game road sweep of the lowly Minnesota Twins this afternoon at Target Field.

On Saturday, Jose Bautista's two-run home run highlighted a six-run 11th inning, as Toronto scored a 9-3 win. J.P. Arencibia went 2-for-5 with a solo home run, three RBI, and two runs scored while Yunel Escobar added three hits and two runs scored for the Blue Jays, who moved within one game of .500 (19-20).

Jo-Jo Reyes gave up three runs -- two earned -- on 10 hits with a walk and six strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings, while Jon Rauch (2-2) got the win for throwing two scoreless innings.

Michael Cuddyer went 3-for-5 with a solo home run for the Twins, who have lost seven in a row and own the majors' worst record at 12-25.

Nick Blackburn gave up three runs -- two earned -- on five hits with two walks and eight strikeouts over 7 2/3 innings. Glen Perkins (0-1) was charged with the loss.

"It's been tough for us all over," said Blackburn. "A few things different here and there and we win that game. But that wasn't the case and we just need to all go out and do our job and things will get better."

Minnesota went just 1-for-13 with men in scoring position and left 12 men on base.

Today Toronto hands the ball to Brandon Morrow, hoping for a better effort than the last time he toed the rubber. Morrow lasted only 3 1/3 innings against Detroit on Monday and allowed five runs and three hits to take the loss. Today, he will attempt to bounce back from that shaky showing and improve both his record (1-2) and ERA (4.71).

Morrow has yet to face Minnesota this season and is 0-1 lifetime against the Twins with a 6.75 ERA.

Brian Duensing is slated to oppose Morrow this afternoon. The Twins' lefty hasn't had a normal start since April 30, as his May 7 outing against the Red Sox was cut short after two innings because of rain, then he made a relief appearance on Tuesday when Francisco Liriano was forced from the game with flu-like symptoms.

Duensing is 2-2 this season with a 3.32 ERA.

The teams played three games in April to start the season, with the Blue Jays taking two at Rogers Centre in Toronto. A win today would give the Jays their first three-game sweep in Minnesota since turning the trick from May 13-15, 2008.