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Division leaders meet when Red Sox visit Twins

May 9, 2008 - 1:54 PM Boston (23-14) at Minnesota (17-16) 8:10 pm EDT

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- The American League Central-leading Minnesota Twins host the AL East-leading Boston Red Sox on Friday in the opener of a four-game series.

While the Red Sox were expected to fight for the East crown this season, the Twins are more of a surprise, taking advantage of slow starts by the Cleveland Indians and Detroit Tigers and a recent stumble by the Chicago White Sox to lay claim to the top spot as the lone above-.500 team in the division.

Minnesota ranks fifth in the AL with a 4.04 team ERA and third with a .264 team batting average, using that balanced attack to win four of its past six games.

The Twins fell to the White Sox on Thursday, however, as righthander Kevin Slowey tired in the fifth inning - yielding three runs in the frame - in his first start back off the disabled list.

Boston took three of four against the Tigers this week and has won six of its past seven overall. The Red Sox are averaging over seven runs per game during that span.

Kevin Youkilis hit a two-run homer in Thursday's 5-1 win and has five blasts in the last five games. Boston's first baseman leads the AL in OPS and ranks second with 20 extra-base hits.

The Red Sox will send Jon Lester (2-2, 3.94 ERA) to the mound on Friday. The 24-year-old lefthander has been outstanding in his last two starts, going 1-0 while allowing one run and five hits over 14 innings and striking out 11.

The Twins will counter with righthander Boof Bonser (2-4, 4.29). The burly 26-year-old did not factor in the decision Sunday against Detroit when he surrendered six runs - five earned - and eight hits in six innings of a 7-6 Minnesota victory.