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Baker, Twins look for better results, face Angels

Aug 10, 2007 - 2:19 PM Minnesota (58-56) at La Angels (66-47), 10:05 pm EDT

ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) - Just like Scott Baker has his struggles against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, his Minnesota Twins have recently been below par on the road.

Baker and the Twins hope to gain ground in the playoff race when they open a three-game series against the Angels on Friday.

Minnesota dropped a 1-0 decision to the lowly Royals on Thursday to fall to 3-8 in its last 11 road games. The loss left the Twins 6 1/2 games behind the first place Cleveland Indians and six games behind the Seattle Mariners in the wild card race.

Baker (6-4, 4.43 ERA), who has won his last two starts, looks for his first career win against the Angels. The righthander is 0-4 with a 6.64 ERA in four starts against Anaheim.

However, if Baker pitches like his last two outings, he should be fine. Baker, 25, has yielded only one run and six hits in his last 16 innings. He scattered four hits in eight innings in a 1-0 victory over Cleveland on Sunday.

The American League West-leading Angels counter with Kelvim Escobar (11-6, 2.79), who has dropped three consecutive starts. The losing streak is not all of his fault as the 6-1, 230-pound Escobar has received only two runs of support in the three losses.

It is his longest skid since he dropped a career-high five straight from May 17-June 9, 2006.

Escobar is trying to win 12 games in a season for the first time since 2003 when he was with Toronto.

Anaheim has won three of four and maintains a 2 1/2-game lead over the Seattle Mariners in the AL West.