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Twins, A's conclude set at the Coliseum

May 19, 2011 - 2:39 PM (Sports Network) - The Minnesota Twins know they have their work cut out for them if they are to recover from a recent nine-game losing streak, but back- to-back wins is a good start.

If the Twins hope to make it three in a row, they'll have to slow down -- or perhaps speed up -- Oakland Athletics starter Tyson Ross this afternoon in the finale of a quick two-game set at the Coliseum.

Minnesota's nine-game slide knocked them 15 games under .500 and even with consecutive victories, the defending American League Central champions are 12 1/2 games out of first place. Still, there is a lot of baseball left as the Twins try to climb back to the top of the hill.

They have posted consecutive one-run victories, ending their losing streak on Tuesday with a 2-1 victory over Seattle before besting Oakland, 4-3, in 10 innings last night. Trevor Plouffe's sacrifice fly plated Delmon Young with the go-ahead run in the 10th inning, capping his career-best three-RBI night after the Twins took advantage of an error by Oakland first baseman Daric Barton.

"We were able to bounce back," said Twins manager Ron Gardenhire. "It's always disappointing when we score, and the other teams comes back."

Justin Morneau also drove in a run and Matt Capps logged his seventh save of the season for Minnesota, which last won three straight from May 3-6 just prior to its nine-game slide. Last night's four-run output was also the club's best since a 9-7 loss on May 11.

Kevin Kouzmanoff had a two-run single for the A's, who were coming off a 14-0 win over the Angels on Tuesday and fell to 3-3 on seven-game homestand. They are also one game behind the Rangers for first place in the AL West.

"You gotta just look forward to tomorrow after a tough one like that," said A's manager Bob Geren. "That's all you can do."

The key to this game could be the right arm of Ross, who has won two straight starts and is pitching to a 1.69 earned run average. He said after his victory over the White Sox on Saturday, in which he set career highs of 7 1/3 innings pitched and eight strikeouts, that slowing down has been big for him recently.

"I felt pretty strong the entire way," Ross told Oakland's website. "I was taking my time and trying not to overthrow. I'm learning it's not how hard you throw, it's about executing a pitch. I had a great feel for my slider today and that helped everything."

The 23-year-old is 3-2 with a 2.50 ERA in eight games this season, including five starts and will make his first-career start against the Twins after facing them twice in relief.

The Twins counter with 29-year-old Nick Blackburn, who is 1-0 with a 1.74 ERA since losing four starts in a row. However, the righty has not factored into the decision of his last two outings, both Minnesota losses. He turned in a solid effort versus Toronto on Saturday, giving up three runs -- two earned -- on five hits over a season-best 7 2/3 innings while setting a career high with eight strikeouts.

Blackburn, who is 2-4 with a 3.70 ERA in eight starts this year, pitched a near gem versus Oakland back on April 9, but that outing ultimately began his losing streak. He gave up just one unearned run over six innings of a 1-0 setback, falling to 0-5 with a 5.76 ERA in eight career starts against the club.

It is unknown if Blackburn will have to face Oakland center fielder Coco Crisp, who left the club yesterday to attend a family matter and it is unknown if he will be in the lineup today. Crisp is batting a team-best .279 and leads the club with 22 runs scored.

Oakland took two of three from the Twins when these teams met at Target Field in early April.