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Angels' Santana hopes for run support, first victory against Twins

May 9, 2012 - 2:38 PM (Sports Network) - Ervin Santana takes another crack at win No. 1 this evening when the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim conclude a three-game series with the Minnesota Twins at Target Field.

Santana, who is 0-9 in 10 starts dating to Sept. 6, has been plagued by a lack of run support this season, as the Angels have managed zero runs for him over his last five starts and just two when he's been on the mound this season.

"I'm not a hitter. My position is just to pitch," Santana told the Angels' official website. "I know we're trying the best we can to score runs, but it hasn't happened for me yet."

That was the case on Friday against Toronto, as Santana gave up three runs and three hits and struck out 10 over eight innings, but absorbed the loss in the 4-0 shutout, falling to 0-6 on the year to go along with a 5.59 ERA.

Santana has faced the Twins nine times and is 3-3 against them with a 4.55 ERA.

Minnesota, meanwhile, will counter with righty Carl Pavano, who is 2-2 with a 4.62 ERA. Pavano beat the Seattle Mariners on Friday, holding them to a pair of runs and eight hits in six innings.

Pavano did not get a decision versus the Halos back on April 11, but is 4-2 lifetime against them with a 4.61 ERA in eight games.

The Twins evened this series at a game apiece on Tuesday, as Scott Diamond tossed seven scoreless innings of four-hit ball in a 5-0 win.

Diamond (1-0) fanned six and walked just one batter in the longest outing of his career to earn his second major league victory in his first start of this season.

Ryan Doumit belted a two-run homer, while Josh Willingham and Brian Dozier each added two hits, an RBI and a run scored for the Twins, who won for only the second time in their last 10 home games and are a mere 3-12 in their last 15 overall.

Dan Haren (1-3) didn't make it out of the fourth, yielding five runs on eight hits and two walks over 3 2/3 innings as the Angels offense mustered just four hits to snap their three-game win streak.

"We tried to work counts and he got ahead of us," said Angels manager Mike Scioscia about Diamond's outing. "When we got into hitting counts, he used off-speed pitches to get back in. He pitched a good game."

The Angels have won five of eight against the Twins this season. This, though, is the final series of the year between these teams.