Twins 5 - 3 Padres
Final
  for this game

Twins turn to struggling Correia in San Diego

May 20, 2014 - 2:51 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Struggling Twins right-hander Kevin Correia looks to right the ship Tuesday night when Minnesota begins a two-game interleague series with the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.

Correia, a former Padre, is 1-5 with a 6.80 ERA through eight starts this season. He lasted just four innings against Boston last week as he gave up five earned runs on nine hits without striking out a batter. In his previous outing at Cleveland, Correia went only 4 1/3 innings after giving up four earned runs on eight hits and four walks.

"It's kind of strange," Correia said. "I don't know why things are going the way they are right now. I feel comfortable on the mound and I'm throwing all my pitches fairly where I want them. Obviously, I'm making some mistakes and they're getting hit, but it's not like I'm searching for anything."

San Diego will counter with the up-and-down Ian Kennedy, who is just 2-5 on the season but owns a respectable 3.60 ERA. He was touched up for five runs on 11 hits at Cincinnati his last time out, which followed up a 12-strikeout performance against Miami a week earlier.

San Diego has split its last six games overall and is coming off Sunday's 8-6 loss at Colorado in 10 innings.

Everth Cabrera forced extras with a two-run homer off LaTroy Hawkins in the ninth inning, which marked Hawkins' first blown save of the year. However, Colorado's Justin Morneau ended it an inning later with a two-run shot to center field off Dale Thayer.

Meanwhile, Minnesota has won its last three series but was unable to complete the three-game sweep over Seattle as the Mariners salvaged a 6-2 win in Sunday's series finale.

Mariners ace Felix Hernandez silenced the Twins offense to two runs over eight inning. Trevor Plouffe knocked in both of Minnesota's runs with a two-out RBI single in the third inning.

"We always feel like we can win," Gardenhire said of his team's recent stretch. "It's a different feeling in the dugout. The guys are into it and rooting really hard. It's not like they haven't in the past, but they're making things happen.

"I think some of our guys have a little more experience now. Our pitching has been giving us a chance, which is huge. It's all part of the process. But it's a fun atmosphere and it's pretty loose and fun to watch."

These teams have not met since Minnesota swept San Diego at Target Field in June 2011.






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