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Morneau, Twins hope to halt slump against Mariners

Aug 14, 2007 - 2:07 PM Minnesota (58-60) at Seattle (66-50) 10:05 pm EDT

SEATTLE (Ticker) -- Justin Morneau looks to help the Minnesota Twins snap a five-game losing streak when they face the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday.

Morneau has just two hits over his previous five games and has been held hitless in seven of his last 11 contests. The reigning American League MVP has gone 19 games and 74 at-bats since his last home run on July 23, his longest homer drought of the season.

The 26-year-old Morneau is batting .281 with 28 homers and 89 RBI this season. He is just 6-for-43 (.140) with no walks this month and has not driven in a run since July 29.

Matt Garza (1-3, 1.70 ERA) will take the mound for the Twins, who have lost seven of their last eight contests. The 23-year-old Garza, who has lost his last three decisions, yielded one run and four hits with six strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings in a 1-0 loss to the Kansas City Royals on Thursday.

Garza will be opposed by Horacio Ramirez (7-3, 7.12), who was the beneficiary of a great offensive performance by the Mariners in his last outing. The 27-year-old lefthander was tagged for seven runs in Thursday's 13-8 triumph over the Baltimore Orioles.

Seattle, who has won three straight and six of its last seven, remain three games behind the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the AL West race.