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Twins go for sweep of Padres at Target Field

Jun 19, 2011 - 2:53 PM (Sports Network) - Losers of four straight, the San Diego Padres will attempt to avoid being swept in this weekend's interleague series with the suddenly surging Minnesota Twins.

While still in last place in the AL Central with a record of 30-39, Minnesota has won its last six outings.

As for San Diego, the NL West's last-place squad, it sits 9 1/2 games back of front-running San Francisco.

San Diego's Dustin Moseley has deserved a better fate so far this season, as his 2-6 record is not an accurate reflection of how he has pitched. Clearly, a lack of run support has been the culprit, as Moseley can be proud of his 3.16 ERA. The righty will take the mound today in hopes of playing the stopper role.

Moseley didn't figure in the decision of his only previous career start against Minnesota.

Minnesota's Francisco Liriano is enigmatic to say the least. At times this season, the talented lefty has been dominant, as evidenced by his no-hitter against the White Sox on May 3. This past Sunday, he carried a no-no into the eighth inning against Texas, and while he did allow three hits and an earned run by the time the game was over, the performance was tremendous nonetheless.

Still, he is just 4-6 overall with 4.76 ERA, so fans of the Twins literally have no idea what to expect today.

Liriano has never faced San Diego in his career.

Yesterday, Scott Baker pitched eight scoreless innings and Danny Valencia hit a solo homer to lift the Twins over the Padres, 1-0, in the second test of this three-game series at Target Field.

Baker (5-4) gave up just four hits for the Twins, and the right-hander also struck out a season-high 10 batters and walked one.

Chris Denorfia and Will Venable had two hits apiece for the Padres, who have lost four in a row and seven of eight overall.

Tim Stauffer (2-5) allowed the Valencia homer and six total hits over seven- plus frames to take the hard-luck loss. He also struck out five and walked zero.

The Padres went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position and stranded five, while the Twins went 0-for-8 with RISP and left six men on base.

San Diego and Minnesota are squaring off in a series for the first time since the Twins swept a three-game set at Petco Park in 2008.