• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Dodgers, Twins play rubber match at Target Field

Jun 29, 2011 - 2:57 PM (Sports Network) - The Minnesota Twins target a series triumph over the Los Angeles Dodgers when the two clubs close out a three-game set this afternoon from Target Field.

Minnesota was able to put the brakes on a six-game losing streak and erase the memory of Monday's 15-0 loss with last night's 6-4 victory, as Luke Hughes belted a two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth to put the Twins ahead for good. Ben Revere recorded two hits, two runs scored and knocked in a run, while Alexi Casilla, Joe Mauer and Rene Rivera were each credited with an RBI.

Twins starter Brian Duensing barely earned the win by allowing four runs and four hits in five innings. Alex Burnett, Glen Perkins, Joe Nathan and Matt Capps combined to pitch four scoreless innings of relief, with Capps registering his 12th save.

"He was tough on us for awhile," Dodgers infielder Casey Blake said of Duensing. "We finally got to him and scored some runs."

Minnesota is 1-1 on a nine-game homestand versus the Dodgers, Brewers and Rays, and has won eight of nine games in the Twin Cities.

The Twins are counting on Scott Baker to get back into the swing of things when he toes the rubber today. Baker had a personal three-start winning streak stopped in last Friday's 4-3 loss at Milwaukee, as he allowed all four runs and eight hits in 6 2/3 frames. He had tossed eight scoreless innings and struck out 10 batters the previous time out on June 18 versus San Diego.

Baker is 5-5 with a 3.39 earned run average in 15 starts this season and 2-1 in five assignments at Target Field. The right-hander has never faced the Dodgers in his career.

Los Angeles lost for the fourth time in six tries Tuesday and is only 5-9 over its last 14 games. After exploding for 15 runs and 25 hits in the series opener, the Dodgers fell back down to earth with four runs and seven hits last night. Ted Lilly handled starting duties and failed miserably, allowing six runs and nine hits in 4 2/3 frames for the loss.

"It's kind of really been our story, for the most part. We've been able to put a couple games together, [or] three, it looks like we might get something going here and there, and then we just seem to fall back," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said on LA's website. "Obviously, we're going to need to win tomorrow and keep trying to put this thing together."

Aaron Miles homered and Andre Ethier added two hits and two RBI for the cash-strapped Dodgers, who are tied with San Diego for last place in the NL West at 10 1/2 games off the pace and will also visit the Angels on this six- game trek. The fate of Frank McCourt's ownership is hanging in the balance after the popular franchise filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in a Delaware court on Monday.

Rubby De La Rosa is going through the first losing streak of his career and the rookie will try to right the ship this afternoon for LA. The Dodgers had won De La Rosa's first five appearances, but has lost his previous two starts, including Friday's 8-3 setback versus the Angels in which he allowed five runs on nine hits and four walks over six innings.

De La Rosa fell to 3-2 in seven games (4 starts) this season and saw his earned run average go from 4.58 to 5.26. The right-hander will face Minnesota for the first time and is 2-0 in three games, two of which have been starts, as the visitor this season.

The Twins swept a three-game series versus LA in 2006 at the Metrodome after the Dodgers won two of three meetings at Chavez Ravine from June 10-12, 2005.