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Hunter, Twins hit the road to face Indians

May 15, 2007 - 1:55 PM Minnesota (18-19) at Cleveland (21-14) 7:05 pm EDT

CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- The Minnesota Twins are hoping to build on the momentum of a blowout win as they visit the Cleveland Indians in the first contest of a three-game series on Tuesday.

After scoring just eight runs in four games, Minnesota avoided a sweep at the hand of the Detroit Tigers on Sunday with a 16-4 rout.

Torii Hunter hit two homers and drove in a career-high seven runs for the Twins. The Gold Glove outfielder is hitting .339 with four home runs and 13 RBI over his last 14 games.

Minnesota is without one of its big bats in the lineup in Joe Mauer. The reigning American League batting champion is on the disabled list with a strained left quadriceps, and the Twins have lost five of their last seven games without him.

Ramon Ortiz (3-3, 3.80 ERA) has struggled recently after beginning the season at 3-0, dropping three of his last four decisions. The righthander will look to get back on track against Cleveland, which he is 3-1 against with a 2.20 ERA in seven appearances.

The Indians counter with Paul Byrd (2-1, 2.84), who is coming off an outing where he did not figure in a 3-2 loss against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Wednesday despite allowing two runs and nine hits in seven innings.

Byrd and the Indians return home from a 10-game road trip struggling a bit as well. Cleveland, who swept two games in Minnesota on April 23-24, went 4-6 on its road trip.