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Haren, Pavano face off at Target Field

May 29, 2011 - 2:35 PM (Sports Network) - Dan Haren hopes for a little run support this afternoon when the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim play the rubber match of their three- game series against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field.

Haren won his first four decisions of the season and had totaled a 1.16 earned run average through his first five starts. However, he is 0-3 over his last seven starts, but has still pitched well, surrendering more than two runs just twice in that span.

The Angels, on the other hand, have produced a total of 27 runs while Haren has been on the mound in his 12 starts, but have scored just seven times for him over the course of his winless streak.

"I've thrown the ball well," Haren said. "My job is to put up as many zeroes as I can. I've got a job to do. Of course, I'd like to win games. I don't want four wins in August, obviously. The wins will come. I have to get back to throwing the way I was."

The right-hander, though, enters today's tilt on the heels of his worst performance of the year against Oakland on Tuesday when he allowed five runs and seven hits in seven innings to raise his ERA on the year to 2.13.

"Dan's not going to be on every pitch every night," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "They hit some balls with guys in scoring position and got a lead. We weren't getting anything going offensively."

Haren has faced the Twins seven times and is 2-3 against them with a 3.49 ERA.

Minnesota will counter with righty Carl Pavano, who is 2-4 with a 5.28 ERA and is winless in his last five starts. Still searching for career win No. 100, Pavano did not get a decision on Monday against Seattle, as he allowed four runs and nine hits in seven innings of his team's 8-7 loss.

Pavano has had success against the Angels in his career, posting a 3-1 mark to go along with a 4.32 ERA in five starts.

Both Haren and Pavano will need to be on their games this afternoon if they plan on matching the starters from Saturday's contest, as Minnesota starter Anthony Swarzak carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning, while Angels hurler Jered Weaver tossed nine scoreless innings of two-hit ball.

Minnesota pulled out the win when Danny Valencia delivered a bases-loaded hit in the 10th inning, scoring the game's only run to lift the Twins to a 1-0 victory.

"They both were letting it hang on every pitch," Scioscia said of the starters. "Both pitchers had great poise to be able to challenge hitters and make pitches when you know that one mistake could be the ball game."

Pitching for the injured Francisco Liriano, Swarzak walked just two batters -- one in the second inning, one in the third -- and struck out four in his eight innings. He retired 15 consecutive batters until Peter Bourjos, teeing off on a first-pitch slider, roped a double down the left field line with one out in the eighth for the Halos' only hit in the game.

"I knew he was going to be up there looking for something to hit and he got a good pitch to hit," Swarzak said. "If I could have it back, I would take it back."

Minnesota snapped a two-game losing streak, improving to just 2-6 in its last eight games. The major-league worst Twins are 6-14 at home this year, and a win today would secure their second home series win of the season.

Weaver, meanwhile, pitched well, but is now winless in his last six starts after opening the year with four straight wins.

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