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Orioles, Twins resume set at Target Field

Aug 23, 2011 - 2:58 PM (Sports Network) - The Baltimore Orioles try for a rare road winning streak this evening when they play the second test of a four-game series with the Minnesota Twins at Target Field.

The Orioles snapped a five-game slide on Monday, as J.J. Hardy and Matt Wieters each smacked home runs, helping Baltimore to a 4-1 win.

Zach Britton (7-9) returned from the disabled list and allowed one run on six hits and four walks to snap his career-high, five-game losing streak. He had been on the DL since August 5 with a left shoulder strain.

Kevin Gregg needed just eight pitches in a perfect ninth to close out the game for his 18th save of the year.

"You can just see by the way our team has been gelling we needed to get that win today. I think we turned it around and we're going to show it," said Orioles reliever Mike Gonzalez.

Baltimore's 19 road wins are the worst in baseball and the team hasn't won consecutive games away from home since beating Tampa in back-to-back games May 15-16.

Carl Pavano (6-10) went seven innings, allowing four runs on nine hits and two walks in the Twins' fourth loss in five games.

"I was trying to stay away from the inside part of the plate and the first time I [went there] he hit it out. I had a feeling he was trying to juice something," Pavano said about Hardy's home run.

Tonight the Orioles turn to righty Alfredo Simon, who is 3-6 with a 4.68 ERA. Simon was hit hard in a loss to Oakland on Wednesday, as he allowed six runs (five earned) and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings.

"I'm OK physically," Simon said after that start. "But today, I don't feel like I had good luck. And that's part of the game."

This will be his first-ever start against the Twins, but he has faced them four times in relief and has yet to allow a run to them in 4 2/3 innings.

Minnesota, meanwhile, will counter with lefty Brian Duensing, who has lost his last four starts and five of his last six. Duensing's latest defeat came at the hands of the New York Yankees on Thursday. He gave up six run and 10 hits in five innings of that one and fell to 8-12 on the year to go along with a 4.75 ERA.

"They have very good pitch selection," Duensing said after his most recent loss. "They're very aware of the zone. Tonight, I was behind in the zone a lot, and up in the zone a lot. When you're behind and up at the same time, it takes away the advantage from the pitcher and gives them the advantage."

Duensing has pitched to a 1.50 ERA in two appearances (one start) against the O's.

Baltimore has won three of its five meetings with the Twins this season.