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Twins open emotional series vs. Angels

May 27, 2011 - 3:09 PM (Sports Network) - It has been an emotional week for the Minnesota Twins and they'll try to continue honoring the late Harmon Killebrew with a victory over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim tonight in the opener of a three-game series at Target Field.

Killebrew slugged 573 homers over a 22-season Hall of Fame career, with all but one of those seasons spent with the Twins franchise dating back to its days in Washington. Killebrew passed away on May 17 at the age of 74 after a bout with esophageal cancer.

Minnesota began paying tribute to Killebrew during its recent home series against the Mariners and hosted a public memorial at Target Field on Thursday during its off day.

The Twins will look for a better offensive showing one day after honoring the legend as they were blanked, 3-0, by the Mariners in Wednesday's rubber match of a three-game series. Minnesota went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and was shut out for the fifth time this season.

Brian Duensing took the loss after yielding three runs over seven frames for the Twins, who have dropped five of six.

"I think because the pitchers start walking guys, it takes the defense out of the game a little bit," said Duensing, who walked three batters in the contest. "We have to get back to throwing more strikes and I have to keep the ball down a little bit more to be successful."

Scott Baker aims to win for the first time in four starts as he toes the rubber for the Twins this evening.

The right-hander is 0-1 with a 7.04 earned run average over his last three starts and last pitched on Saturday in Arizona. He did not factor into the decision of a 9-6 loss, yielding three runs on four hits and three walks over five-plus innings with seven strikeouts. He fell to 2-3 with a 4.12 ERA in nine starts this season, while Minnesota is 2-7 in his outings.

The 29-year-old, who is 0-1 with an 8.68 ERA in his two home starts this evening, is just 1-5 with a 5.01 ERA in nine career starts against the Angels.

Los Angeles will be looking to avoid a ninth loss in 13 games this evening after splitting a four-game series with rival Oakland. The Angels failed to earn the series win, dropping yesterday's finale, 4-3.

After getting shut out by A's starter Brett Anderson for eight innings, the Angels got on the board with Mark Trumbo's two-out, three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth. Pinch-hitter Russell Branyan, signed prior to the game after being released by Arizona on Saturday, nearly tied the game, but his deep drive to center was caught in front of the wall for the final out.

Joel Pineiro took the loss, allowing four runs on 11 hits over 6 1/3 innings.

"It was a so-so effort, a lot of balls found the hole," Pineiro said. "I had good stuff but we came up a little short. Anderson threw a good game against us."

Los Angeles made room for Branyan on its roster by placing Howie Kendrick on the 15-day disabled list because of a hamstring injury. The second baseman hasn't played since May 19 due to the injury and is hitting .322 in 45 games this season.

The Angels trail the Rangers by a game for first place in the American League West and hope that 21-year-old Tyler Chatwood can deliver a second straight victory in tonight's start.

After getting blitzed for seven runs -- five earned -- over 2 1/3 innings of a loss at Oakland on May 17, Chatwood beat the Braves five days later at home for his first victory since April 26. The right-hander gave up just a run on five hits over seven innings of work, striking out a career-high six.

"Good to bounce back and help the team win," Chatwood told the Angels' website. "I felt good the whole game. But I got into a good rhythm those last three innings, and settled in more to throw every pitch for a strike."

Chatwood, who faces the Twins for the first time, is 3-2 with a 4.06 ERA in nine starts, but has struggled to a 7.43 ERA in three road starts.

The Twins won five of seven versus the Angels last season.