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Twins seek third straight win

Aug 17, 2007 - 2:57 PM Texas (53-67) at Minnesota (60-60) 8:10 pm EDT

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- The Minnesota Twins are looking to repeat their late-season surge from previous years when they open a weekend series against the Texas Rangers on Friday.

Minnesota enters 6 1/2 games behind the Detroit Tigers (67-54) in the American League Central standings. Last year, the Twins battled back to overtake the Tigers in the final week of the season to capture the division.

The Twins send Carlos Silva (9-12, 4.30 ERA) to the hill after he threw seven scoreless innings but failed to figure in a 4-3 loss at the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Saturday. The righthander is winless in his past two starts despite allowing just two runs in 14 frames.

The 28-year-old Venezuelan is 2-4 with a 5.49 ERA through seven career starts against Texas. However, Silva has a 6-4 record with a 3.63 ERA at the Metrodome this season.

Rookie Kason Gabbard (5-1, 3.83) aims to bounce back from his shortened outing for the Rangers. He exited Sunday's matchup against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays after just 1 1/3 frames with stiffness in his left forearm.

The lefthanded Gabbard, who is 1-1 with a 4.15 ERA through three starts since coming over from the Boston Red Sox at the trade deadline, has never faced Minnesota.